JENNIFER FRENCH TOMASIC, MSc
Coercive Control Psychologist Integrated Trauma Practitioner Expert Witness Researcher Educator
I hold a lot of hope for our world, despite the topics my work exposes me to. I believe we have an innate capacity to heal and transform despite the hurdles and valleys of our life’s journey. I embrace and celebrate how human we are and allow compassion to lead and guide me.
I believe in inner wisdom and encourage others to navigate the discovery of their own truth. I do my best to use the knowledge I have to support and honor each one’s autonomy, human rights, and well-being.
Here is what I do:
In my practice, I am dedicated to empowering individuals and families with a supportive, research-based approach to healing and recovery. Leveraging my expertise in Internal Family Systems and cult and religious recovery, I guide clients in understanding and overcoming various personal hurdles, fostering a pathway to personal empowerment and growth.
For families handling challenging dynamics, I provide compassionate strategies to effectively navigate high-control situations, helping them communicate and support each other better. To learn more about how my services can be tailored to your needs, please visit my services page.
Coercive Control
I have a master’s in the psychology of coercive control and work with families and individuals who have been impacted by cults, religious and spiritual abuse, and coercive relationships. My expert witness work exposes me to cases within the family court system and topics that expand to the world of cults, sex trafficking, the troubled teen industry, and groups or situations of undue influence, manipulation, and coercion.
Coercive control is a strategic pattern of behavior designed to exploit, control, create dependency and dominate. The victim's every day existence is micromanaged and their space for action as well as potential as a human being is limited and controlled by the abuser.
Initially love bombing and charm may occur to get the victim into the relationship. Gaslighting, isolation, economic control, financial abuse and rules and regulations are gradually introduced over time once the victim is emotionally invested. A consequence will exist if these spoken or unspoken rules are broken. The rules apply to the victim rather than the perpetrator which creates a double standard and the victim fears the consequence if they break a rule.
Over time, coercively controlling behavior erodes the victim's sense of self, their confidence and self-esteem, agency and autonomy.
The abuser creates an unreal world of contradiction, confusion and fear. Moreover, 51% of victims do not even know that they are being abused, manipulated, and controlled. Excerpt is modified from (Richards, 2022).
While coercive control was initially understood within domestic or intimate relationships, it also plays a large role in abusive group environments...aka cults or harmful high-demand/high-control religions. We often find these dynamics in cases of sex trafficking and gangs as well.
This category of high-control or high-demand groups can span from those that are religious, spiritual, new age, high-performance, self-improvement, meditation & yoga groups, online groups, MLMs (multi-level marketing), political groups, philosophy & psychology groups, and even psychotherapy groups.
How do we help you grow?
With easy-to-follow discussions and real-life stories, Jennifer helps you understand what coercive control is and how it affects people’s lives. Whether you’re looking for support, trying to help someone you care about, or just want to learn more, Jennifer’s podcast is here to help. Tune in, subscribe, and empower yourself with knowledge and awareness.
60 million+
6.494+
Timeline of
Jennifer French Tomasic's Life
It’s a pleasure to share some of life’s moments with you all. I take my work with survivors (or thrivers!) very seriously, and part of that is recognizing that in systems of abuse, there exists a hierarchy and warping of power dynamics. I speak about this with those who choose to work with me. One of the ways I try to level this dynamic with someone who is trusting me enough to allow me into their inner life is to be willing to share personally with those who have questions or curiosities. I certainly reserve the right to not share, but I most often find that questions bring us closer together, and sharing allows us to see our humanity and create trust. I see myself as an educated helper to journey and navigate all you are going through in a way that’s collaborative, transparent, and empowering for you.
top 5 episode
What My Clients Say About Me
-
I highly recommend Jennifer. She has been a tremendously helpful to me as well also my daughter. Her wisdom is vast! Her kindness and care was felt every time we... read more
Studio Blu interior design
May 28, 2024Jennifer is a thoughtful and gracious podcast host. It was a delight being on her show. I love the work she’s doing with and for cult survivors and their families.
Alexandra Amor
March 28, 2024In my experience I found Jennifer to be a great communicator, a deep thinker and a friendly and warm person.
Stephen Mather
March 28, 2024 -
Loved guesting on the Project Hope podcast! Such a great experience. I felt it, and still feel it, in my heart.
Helen Zuman
March 28, 2024Jennifer is deeply sensitive and an incredible listener. Her grounded integrity is easy to lean in to and I’m grateful after every session. I recommend her without reservation.
Marialicia González (DARALUZ WISDOM)
March 28, 2024Jennifer's experience, education, and training make her a natural fit for those coming out of high-demand groups. She is compassionate and knowledgable. I highly recommend Jennifer.
Janice Selbie
March 28, 2024 -
Jennifer French is a brilliant & empathic podcaster! Her thoughtful prep shapes important conversations about coercive control, a fraught & painful topic. Her humor & compassion make for engaging ... read more
Esther Friedman
March 28, 2024I've had the honor be being interviewed by Jennifer for her Project Hope podcast and I'd like to share how impressed I am by her ease, grace, humility and clarity.... read more
Gerette Buglion
March 28, 2024Jennifer is one of the kindest, most compassionate humans I have ever met. What’s more, she’s a highly skilled professional working in the much-needed realm of cult recovery services. I... read more
Emilie Pryor
March 28, 2024 -
Genuinely caring ~ JF is the real deal ♥️✨
John Tomasic
March 28, 2024Jennifer French is gaining acclaim as a leader in coercive control and cult abuse recovery. As a survivor herself, she brings both her experience and advanced educational credentials to her... read more
N
March 28, 2024Jennifer has been a tremendous resource. Throughout the past two years of working with her, I've been able to understand and recover from my experience in a coercive control... read more
Jennifer Pacelli
March 28, 2024 -
Jennifer has remarkable wisdom, energy, and compassion, especially for those recovering from traumas inflicted by high demand, coercive religious communities. I could not more highly recommend her services.
Kirt Lewis
March 28, 2024Jennifer's journey though her cultic experiences make her an excellent guide through a myriad of different cultic situations. Her personal knowledge and experience are an invaluable asset to both her practice... read more
robert andre
March 28, 2024