Invisible Chains

Domestic Violence

Familicide: Domestic Abusers Killing Multiple Family Members

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on June 10, 2025

Recent high profile family annihilations reveal the lethality of domestic abuse. Learn some of the psychology behind these murders and how to protect victims of domestic violence.

Recent high profile family annihilations reveal the lethality of domestic abuse. Learn some of the psychology behind these murders and how to protect victims of domestic violence.

Sexual Abuse

Words Matter in the Sean Diddy Combs Legal Case

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on May 14, 2025

Learn the right terms to discuss sexual violence. Victims are suffering.

Learn the right terms to discuss sexual violence. Victims are suffering.

Parental Alienation

11 Takeaways From "Someone Said Parental Alienation" Book

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on April 5, 2025

Family courts harm children when they base decisions on the questionable concepts of parental alienation and reunification therapy. Learn a dozen findings from a new book.

Family courts harm children when they base decisions on the questionable concepts of parental alienation and reunification therapy. Learn a dozen findings from a new book.

Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD vs. PTSD After Domestic Violence

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on March 24, 2025

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is more common in survivors of domestic abuse than PTSD. This requires a different approach to recovery and treatment.

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is more common in survivors of domestic abuse than PTSD. This requires a different approach to recovery and treatment.

Divorce

Is This High-Conflict Divorce or Litigation Abuse?

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on February 22, 2025

Learn how to distinguish between litigation abuse and high-conflict divorce. Shared decision-making is impossible when one party is determined to dominate the other.

Learn how to distinguish between litigation abuse and high-conflict divorce. Shared decision-making is impossible when one party is determined to dominate the other.

Domestic Violence

Soldiers Who Are Domestic Violence Victims

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on February 16, 2025

Military training ideas such as "embrace the suck" can make people more likely to submit to domestic abuse. Knowledge of these ideas and resources available promotes empowerment.

Military training ideas such as "embrace the suck" can make people more likely to submit to domestic abuse. Knowledge of these ideas and resources available promotes empowerment.

Divorce

Domestic Abusers Punish Their Exes Post-Separation

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on February 7, 2025

After separation, domestic abusers cause as much pain as they can, and try to win at all costs. Learn how to protect your client or yourself from an abuser's punishing strategy.

After separation, domestic abusers cause as much pain as they can, and try to win at all costs. Learn how to protect your client or yourself from an abuser's punishing strategy.

Relationships

Romance Fraud: When Abusers Are Motivated by Greed, Not Love

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on January 28, 2025

Sometimes abusers pretend they are in love to get access to their target's money or home. It feels like love to the victim—but is actually a form of exploitation.

Sometimes abusers pretend they are in love to get access to their target's money or home. It feels like love to the victim—but is actually a form of exploitation.

Domestic Violence

Eldest Children Suffer Under Coercive Control Domestic Violence

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on January 26, 2025

The eldest child may especially suffer from exposure to coercive control domestic abuse. Learn how to help children recover from the trauma and chaos.

The eldest child may especially suffer from exposure to coercive control domestic abuse. Learn how to help children recover from the trauma and chaos.

Domestic Violence

Spiteful Disregard in Post-Separation Abuse

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on December 5, 2024

When a domestic abuser harms children to spite the other parent, that's called spiteful disregard. Therapists and court-involved professionals need to learn to spot this.

When a domestic abuser harms children to spite the other parent, that's called spiteful disregard. Therapists and court-involved professionals need to learn to spot this.

Forensic Psychology

How Should I Dress for Court?

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on September 5, 2024

Psychology research shows that your clothes shape first impressions, and first impressions matter. Dressing appropriately for court will help you get your desired outcome.

Psychology research shows that your clothes shape first impressions, and first impressions matter. Dressing appropriately for court will help you get your desired outcome.

Therapy

Reunification Therapy for Children With a Domestic Abuser?

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on June 19, 2024

Should therapy be used to hasten contact between children and an abusive parent?

Should therapy be used to hasten contact between children and an abusive parent?

Gaslighting

7 Tips to Un-Gaslight Yourself After Domestic Abuse

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on November 13, 2023

Healing psychologically from an abusive relationship is not easy. In many cases, taking steps to "un-gaslight" oneself can help.

Healing psychologically from an abusive relationship is not easy. In many cases, taking steps to "un-gaslight" oneself can help.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Missocialization: When Abusers Teach Children to Do Wrong

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on September 29, 2023

Domestic abusers often model objectionable behavior such as substance abuse, lying, and hate. Whatever your role with a child, you can help counteract this missocialiation.

Domestic abusers often model objectionable behavior such as substance abuse, lying, and hate. Whatever your role with a child, you can help counteract this missocialiation.

Domestic Violence

10 Tips to Protect Children From Abusers After a Separation

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on April 28, 2023

Is your young child's other parent abusive to you? Learn steps to keep your child safe.

Is your young child's other parent abusive to you? Learn steps to keep your child safe.

Embarrassment

Understanding Coercive Control and Intrafamilial Child Torture

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on November 18, 2022

Isolation, humiliation, and labor exploitation are some of the tactics abusers frequently use. But victims can find help.

Isolation, humiliation, and labor exploitation are some of the tactics abusers frequently use. But victims can find help.

Parenting

7 Common Post-Separation Abuse Tactics

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on August 6, 2022

Domestic abuse often continues long after the relationship is "over." Learn about abusers' post-separation tactics so that you can offer survivors the right kind of support.

Domestic abuse often continues long after the relationship is "over." Learn about abusers' post-separation tactics so that you can offer survivors the right kind of support.

Domestic Violence

Even After Escape, Children Still Suffer Domestic Abuse

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on April 21, 2022

Where one parent is a domestic abuser, shared custody puts the children at risk of continued harm.

Where one parent is a domestic abuser, shared custody puts the children at risk of continued harm.

Divorce

It's Post-Separation Legal Abuse, Not High Conflict Divorce

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on January 18, 2022

After separation, abusers often torment their ex-partners through the courts. Judges sometimes fail to see this abuse for what it is and blame both parties.

After separation, abusers often torment their ex-partners through the courts. Judges sometimes fail to see this abuse for what it is and blame both parties.

Sexual Abuse

"I Think Someone Drugged Me"

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on December 26, 2021

Know what to do if you think someone has slipped you drugs.

Know what to do if you think someone has slipped you drugs.