The Rising Beyond Podcast

Ep 147: Co-Parenting with a Manipulative Ex: How to Shield Your Child from Coercive Control

Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS Season 1 Episode 147

Abusers who use coercive control don’t just manipulate one person—they manipulate everyone around them, including their own children. As a protective parent, whether you’ve left the relationship or are still navigating it, how can you empower your child to recognize manipulation and maintain their sense of self?

In this episode, we dive deep into:

✔️ How coercive control tactics—like triangulation, gaslighting, and emotional withholding—are used against children
 ✔️ The subtle and overt ways abusers condition kids to doubt themselves and comply with their demands
 ✔️ Why strengthening your bond with your child is the first and most critical step in protecting them
 ✔️ How to foster open communication and critical thinking without “disparaging” the other parent (and putting your legal case at risk)
 ✔️ Practical strategies to help children recognize manipulation and trust their own perceptions
 ✔️ How to teach emotional intelligence, body awareness, and discernment in an age-appropriate way

🎙 Why This Matters:
Coercive control isn’t always loud—it’s often the silent conditioning that strips a child of their developing identity. As a safe parent, you can give your child the tools to recognize manipulation and make empowered choices, even in the most challenging co-parenting situations.

Referrenced Links:"
Episode 101: The Protective Parent’s Guide to Parenting with Guest Robyn Gobbel, MSW - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/15091121

Register for the Moral Injury workshop here - https://mailchi.mp/risingbeyondpc/moral-injury


Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest

If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Enjoy some of our freebies!