Sun 2nd Feb, 11am-1pm (Old Library): Coercive control- in cults & relationships -Part 1
- Space for Soul
- Jan 1
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 2
Sue Winter will lead a session on the psychology of coercive control, and the ways in which these dynamics can operate in personal relationships and in groups, including cults. There will be an opportunity to answer a few questions during her presentation, with a Q&A/ discussion at the end.
We will explore how coercive control and spiritual abuse can manifest on a Micro level (in relationships), on a Meso level (cults, extremist groups, workplaces) and on a Macro level (governments, judiciary etc), look at the manipulative techniques used, and the process of recovery from these experiences.
Sue is a Modern Linguist with a background in working with vulnerable young people. She has an MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control, is embarking on a PhD- Examining the Impact of co-occurring Proximal and Distal Experiences of Coercive Control on Health Outcomes in 1950s-Born Women, and has had multiple personal cultic experiences.
This is a discussion rather than a therapeutic session, but we can recommend resources such as Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse by Gillie Jenkinson and the podcast below:
The Language Of Control w/ Rachel Bernstein & Sue Winter

A fascinating session- thank you Sue! A really important topic that left us all thinking.