What is coercive control

Coercive control isn’t just about physical violence, sometimes its nothing physical at all. it’s a pattern of behaviour used to dominate, isolate, and undermine another person over time.

It can look like:

• Monitoring your messages, calls, or location

• Controlling what you wear, who you see, or where you go

• Constant criticism, put-downs, or making you feel “not good enough”

• Gaslighting — making you doubt your own memory or reality

• Financial control, like restricting access to money or forcing you to account for every purchase

• Threats, intimidation, or subtle pressure that makes you feel afraid to say no

Individually, some of these behaviours might seem small. But together, they create an environment where someone feels trapped, dependent, and unsure of themselves.

A key sign is how it makes you feel:

• Do you feel like you’re “walking on eggshells”?

• Do you second-guess your choices or feel anxious about upsetting them?

• Have you become more isolated from friends or family?

Coercive control is about power — not love, not care, not protection.

If this resonates with you or someone you know, it’s okay to take it seriously. You deserve relationships built on respect, safety, and trust.

If you need support, please contact us.

You don’t have to navigate it alone.