Kate Amber, MSc

Kate Amber, MSc

Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, End Coercive Control USA

Kate Amber, MSc, is an internationally recognized expert in coercive control, trauma-informed practices, psychological safety and child protection. She is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of End Coercive Control USA (ECCUSA), where she leads national efforts in education and research to address coercive control and to transform systems—shifting from policies that enable domination to practices that promote partnership and equality.

Kate holds a Master of Science in the Psychology of Coercive Control and is the creator of The Quicksand Model®, a pioneering conceptual framework that synthesizes decades of research on coercive and controlling abuse of power and the trauma it causes. Her award-winning dissertation on The Quicksand Model® has contributed significant research to the understanding of how individuals, including children, become entrapped in abusive and controlling relationships and groups.

Kate’s expertise extends to child protection and the coercive control of children, with a focus on the impact of domestic abuse and coercive dynamics within families. She is frequently called upon as an expert witness in civil, family, and criminal cases involving domestic abuse, child abuse, and coercive control. In this role, she educates judges and juries about the dynamics of coercive control and its effects on both adults and children, drawing on scientific and specialized knowledge. She is a seasoned trainer and consultant, providing workshops, lectures, and professional development for practitioners in mental health, legal, social service, and advocacy fields. Her work integrates the latest evidence base with survivor-informed insights to promote trauma-informed, rights-based responses to abuse.

As a core member of the SHERA Research Group, Kate brings her expertise in coercive control, trauma-informed systems, child protection, and her innovative research on The Quicksand Model® to collaborative research and knowledge exchange.

Areas of Expertise:

 Coercive Control, Undue Influence & Psychological Abuse

 The Quicksand Model®

 Child Protection

 Coercive Control of Children

 Expert Witness Testimony (Civil, Family, and Criminal Cases)

 Trauma-Informed Practice

 Survivor-Centered Research

For more information about Kate’s ongoing work, visit End Coercive Control USA.

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