Dr. Grisel Lopez-Escobar, PhD (in Counseling),
Licensed Mental Health Counselor Providing Virtual Therapy to Adult Clients
in the States of AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, IN, LA, MA, ME, NV, OR, SC, TX, UT, VT, WI & WY, USA
Specializing in Supporting Clients who are Newly Secular or Deconstructing from High Control Religions, Groups or Cults: Religious Trauma / Faith Crisis, Religious Deconstruction / Purity Culture / Religious Residue / Mixed-Faith Relationships / Secular Therapy
Coercive Control
Manipulative behavior used to dominate and restrict autonomy
You're shamed by leaders or peers when your behavior doesn’t match group expectations.
You’re threatened with losing your salvation or spiritual worth if you question authority.
Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)
Asserting autonomy may trigger fear of punishment or loss.
Identifying manipulative behaviors may be difficult.
Suppressed anger or resentment can surface later in life.