Unlearning Myths About Coercive Control: A Survivor’s Perspective
Tracks
Room 1: In-Person and Online
| Monday, November 24, 2025 |
| 4:10 PM - 5:10 PM |
Overview
Adam Joel, Aggressively Compassionate Llc
Details
1. List and describe 10 Myths about Coercive Control
2. List and describe 10 Healthy Relationship Lessons to build safer behavior patterns
3. Synthesize the complexities of coercive control into a more memorable, digestible format for students, clients, and other community groups
Speaker
Mr. Adam Joel
Abuse Prevention Activist And Educator
Aggressively Compassionate Llc
Unlearning Myths About Coercive Control: A Survivor’s Perspective
Presentation Overview
Abuse starts young–and so should relationship safety education. In Australia, a 2023 study estimated 3 in 10 adolescents ages 18-19 experienced intimate partner violence in the past year. Worldwide, the WHO reported 1 in 4 adolescent girls, ages 15-19, have experienced physical or sexual abuse.
Research has demonstrated the long-term benefits of integrating healthy relationship education into sex education curricula (Goldfarb & Lieberman, 2021); and yet, comprehensive relationship safety education is still widely uncommon.
As a result of this glaring gap in relationship education— as well as the magnetic effects of psychological abuse— many survivors resist the idea that they’re experiencing abuse at all until they’ve reached a breaking point in terms of physical danger. So— how can we help survivors realize they’re experiencing abuse BEFORE they reach that breaking point? For one, we need to teach youth about coercive control from a young age– ideally before they even start dating.
In this workshop, survivor and activist Adam Joel does a deep dive on how to have The Relationship Safety Talk with youth in an engaging, relatable, and age-appropriate way. His approach includes breaking down the complexities of coercive control into 10 Toxic Relationship Myths (which are perpetuated by Hollywood films, TV, and media), and replacing them with 10 Healthy Relationship Lessons.
Adam has given this workshop at dozens of events, providing over 5,400 Education Units for judges, educators, social workers, and more. His mission is to shine a spotlight on the most pervasive myths on coercive control and the lesser-known forms of abuse that typically occur BEFORE a relationship turns violent. His workshop will show attendees how they can lead their own Relationship Safety Talks, unmasking the signs of coercive control all around the world.
Research has demonstrated the long-term benefits of integrating healthy relationship education into sex education curricula (Goldfarb & Lieberman, 2021); and yet, comprehensive relationship safety education is still widely uncommon.
As a result of this glaring gap in relationship education— as well as the magnetic effects of psychological abuse— many survivors resist the idea that they’re experiencing abuse at all until they’ve reached a breaking point in terms of physical danger. So— how can we help survivors realize they’re experiencing abuse BEFORE they reach that breaking point? For one, we need to teach youth about coercive control from a young age– ideally before they even start dating.
In this workshop, survivor and activist Adam Joel does a deep dive on how to have The Relationship Safety Talk with youth in an engaging, relatable, and age-appropriate way. His approach includes breaking down the complexities of coercive control into 10 Toxic Relationship Myths (which are perpetuated by Hollywood films, TV, and media), and replacing them with 10 Healthy Relationship Lessons.
Adam has given this workshop at dozens of events, providing over 5,400 Education Units for judges, educators, social workers, and more. His mission is to shine a spotlight on the most pervasive myths on coercive control and the lesser-known forms of abuse that typically occur BEFORE a relationship turns violent. His workshop will show attendees how they can lead their own Relationship Safety Talks, unmasking the signs of coercive control all around the world.
Biography
Adam Joel is a survivor of relationship abuse, a TEDx speaker, and the Writer/Director of The Last Drop— an abuse prevention film inspired by memories of real survivors. He’s been featured as a speaker at 50+ conferences and training events for professionals including advocates, judges, social workers, perpetrator intervention experts, military bases, police officers, and more. As a survivor & activist, Adam is uniquely positioned to challenge toxic relationship myths that we often learn through the media. His workshop shows attendees how they can lead their own Relationship Safety Talks, unmasking the signs of coercive control all around the world.
