Enmeshed Families: When Control Is Disguised as Closeness

Most people value close, supportive family relationships. We want to feel loved, understood, and connected. But when families become too tightly connected—or enmeshed—that closeness can interfere with our ability to develop our own identity, make independent choices, and pursue our goals. What Is Enmeshment? Enmeshment is often confused with closeness or intimacy, both of which […]

Eldest Children Suffer Under Coercive Control Domestic Violence

Co-authored with Julie Nee All children suffer in families where one partner abuses and controls the other (Stark, 2023). In our work, we have seen that first-born child often suffer the most. In coercive control, one person dominates their partner through tactics including intimidation, isolation, and emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse (Fontes, 2015). Coercive […]