Why Traumatized Children Are Often Misunderstood

About this episode

Dr. Christine Cocchiola explores the connection between coercive control, childhood trauma, and behavioral disorders in children.

In this solo episode of Perfect Prey , Dr. Christine Cocchiola explores the connection between coercive control, childhood trauma, attachment, and the growing number of children being diagnosed with ADHD and other behavioral disorders. Dr. Cocchiola challenges listeners to consider a critical question: what if many of the behaviors we label as “problematic” are actually trauma responses? What if children living within coercively controlling family systems are being misunderstood rather than truly seen? Drawing from the work of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Gabor Maté, Dr. Bruce Perry, and betrayal trauma theory, this episode examines how trauma can manifest as fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses in children — and how coercive control fractures attachment, identity, safety, and regulation. Dr. Cocchiola also discusses how predatory parents weaponize children, how attachment is intentionally disrupted, and why protective parents play such a critical role in healing and rebuilding safety for their children. What we cover This episode is essential listening for protective parents, clinicians, educators, advocates, and anyone trying to better understand trauma, child behavior…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Christine Cocchiola

Topics covered

• coercive control
• childhood trauma
• ADHD symptoms
• attachment
• behavioral disorders
• trauma responses

Keywords

• coercive control
• child trauma
• ADHD
• attachment
• behavioral disorders
• trauma responses
• protective parents

More episodes of Perfect Prey: A Coercive Control Podcast

• The Hidden Impact of Trauma Across a Lifetime with Dr. Ann Burgess · June 5, 2026 · 36 min
• Why Survivors Must Be Heard to Heal with Dr. Judith Lewis Herman · May 8, 2026 · 47 min
• Greyson’s Choice: Ali Kessler’s Mission to Protect Children · April 24, 2026 · 35 min
• Children Are Not Witnesses: The Truth About Coercive Control with Emma Katz · April 10, 2026 · 43 min
• Jane Doe No More: Story of Survival and Accountability with Donna Palomba · March 27, 2026 · 37 min
• Family Court Harm and Institutional Betrayal with Dr. Elizabeth Dalgarno · March 13, 2026 · 42 min