These materials are designed to assist psychologists and therapists to better understand the dynamics of coercive control and support clients who are subjected to this kind of abuse. My hope is that these resources will strengthen your work with clients, provide practical tools for practice, and contribute to a deeper collective response to this form of violence.
For additional recommendations for clients, please visit my Personal Resources.
The Australian National Domestic And Family Violence Bench Book – The central resource for judicial officers considering legal issues relevant to DV cases. It provides background information and knowledge supported by research, links to a range of legal and related resources, and practical guidelines for courtroom management.
Anne Summer’s Research “The Cost and Consequences of DV” – Investigating the cost and consequences of domestic and family violence in Australia. The report influenced the federal government to make changes in its 2023 federal budget.
The prevalence of intimate partner violence in Australia: A National survey – The Medical Journal of Australia, 2025.
Timelines of psychological, physical and sexual intimate partner violence among a nationally representative sample of Australian women – Women’s Health Journal, 2025.
Ten To Men Australian Study – The use of intimate partner violence among Australian men, Aus Institute of Family Studies, 2025.
The National Principles to Address Coercive Control in Family and Domestic Violence – Released by The Attorneys-General Department in 2023 to set out a shared understanding of the common features and impacts of coercive control.
Harm in the Name of Safety – A 2025 Australian report into frontline workers’ attitudes towards police responses and the harm they cause to family violence survivors.
ANROWS Research and Resources – This is Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, an independent, not-for-profit research organisation established to produce evidence for the reduction of violence against women and children.
Psychological Violence in Relationships (PAR) Scale – The PAR is a contemporary, concise and comprehensive 20-item measure of psychological abuse. It was validated among a sample of 765 adult women in Australia.
Risk Assessment Checklist – Based on the key evidence-based risk factors from the MARAM Framework, useful for therapists assessing family violence.
The Power and Control Wheel – A chart that demonstrates the various tactics an abusive partner uses to maintain power and control in a relationship.
Safer Families’ Toolkit for Professionals – The Safer Families Centre is part of the Sexual and Family Violence program within The University of Melbourne.
MARAM Comprehensive Risk Assessment Training – Safe and Equal (Victoria) delivers various training modules for practitioners.
Webinars by ANROWS – Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, not-for-profit research organisation producing evidence to support the reduction of violence against women and children.
Uncovering Coercive Control and The Perpetrator Pattern Mapping Tool – developed by the Safe & Together Institute, these web-based tools empower professionals to better expose the nuanced aspects of coercive control.
Safe & Together Institute’s Online Courses – A wide range of free and paid options.