Invisible Chains

March 23, 2015
This comprehensive, exceptionally helpful guide to coercive relationships will enable readers to identify abusive patterns, determine safe responses, and plan exit strategies. Fontes (Interviewing Clients Across Cultures) has a doctorate in counseling psychology and is an expert in family and domestic violence. Her expertise comes out in every page as she outlines problem behaviors and presents multiple options (leaving, defining new boundaries, determining how to safely stay in a relationship) in a non-judgmental but pragmatic fashion. She is also sensitive to issues around coercive relationships for teens and the LGBT community, cautioning readers to not think of coercive relationships as only involving male-on-female abuse. Overall, Fontes has a firm command of both the explanations and descriptions of coercive behavior, as well as how people in such relationships can extricate themselves. She is careful to detail numerous ways coercive behavior can occur, making sure readers know that physical violence is not always inevitable. Fontes minimizes clinical terminology, resulting in an eminently readable book. Readers who want to check their own relationships or keep an eye out for their loved ones will find this to be a fascinating, disturbing read.

Starred review from April 1, 2015

Fontes (psychology, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst; Child Abuse and Culture) has experience with coercive control as a psychotherapist and a survivor. After reading Evan Stark's landmark Coercive Control and recognizing in it what happened to her, she was inspired to write her own book. Fontes aims to help people avoid coercive control, stop it in their relationships, and extricate themselves from unsalvageable relationships. The book is divided into sections on defining coercive control, explaining why it happens, stopping its pattern, and how readers can support someone they know who is subject to such behavior. A chapter explores coercive control outside heteronormative relationships by looking at the LGBT and teenage communities. A list of organizations that readers can contact for more information is provided. While some are international, none is offered outside of English-speaking countries, which is disappointing. There is also a short list of books for further reading. VERDICT Excellent for people who are under someone's coercive control or know someone who might be. The book is also recommended for those who have the opportunity to help victims in their work such as therapists, lawyers, and police officers.--Jennifer M. Schlau, Elgin Community Coll., IL

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.