Empowering Women Through Family Law: A Conversation with Heather QuickIn this episode of 'Grey Minds Think Alike,' host Ali Kessler interviews attorney Heather Quick, founder and CEO of the Florida Law Firm Women's Law Group. They discuss the unique challenges faced by women during divorce and family law proceedings, the importance of laws like Greyson's Law, and the necessity of specialized training for judges handling cases of domestic abuse and coercive control. Heather emphasizes the significance of legal representation that truly understands and advocates for women, recounting various cases and common patterns of power imbalance in relationships. Additionally, the conversation explores the complexities of custody battles, the potential difficulties in divorce proceedings, and resources available for women seeking help. Chapters: Introduction and Guest WelcomeImpact of Greyson's LawChallenges Women Face in DivorceAddressing Domestic Violence and Coercive ControlLegal Strategies and Support SystemsDifficulties in Co-ParentingTrends and Challenges in Divorce Without ChildrenResources and Final ThoughtsAbout Heather Quick:Heather B Quick is the founder and CEO of Florida Women’s Law Group. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Florida (1998) and a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law (2000). Before starting Florida Women's Law Group, Heather was an Associate Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an Adjunct Professor at Florida Coastal School of Law. With 24 years of legal experience, including 19 years specializing in family law, Heather is a current member of the Florida Bar Association, Jacksonville Bar Association, and Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.Contact:WebsiteAbout Ali KesslerAli Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate parent advocate, and founder of Greyson’s Choice, a 501(c)(3) created to raise awareness about the risk of domestic abuse on children. Greyson’s Choice was founded by Ali Kessler in memory of her sweet, vibrant, and fearless 4.5-year-old son, Greyson, who was murdered by his biological father in a murder-suicide during an unsupervised, court-approved visit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 2021. This came just hours after her petition for a domestic violence injunction was denied by a Broward County judge, citing that the “petitioner has failed to allege any overt acts by the respondent which would constitute domestic violence under Florida Statute.”Ali’s advocacy efforts culminated in successfully passing Greyson’s Law during the 2023 legislative session. This bill now requires the court to consider threats against ex-partners or spouses when making child visitation and custody determinations in the court, expanding to include the following factors: evidence of domestic violence, whether a parent in the past or currently has reasonable cause to believe that they or a minor child is, or has been in imminent danger of becoming the victim of domestic/sexual violence by the other parent, even if no other legal action has been brought or is currently pending in court. Contact Ali:EmailLinkedInWebsiteSubscribe, donate, listen, learn. 

In this conversation, Dr. Christine Cocchiola chats with hosts Ali Kessler and Erin Cooper to discuss the critical issue of coercive control in abusive relationships, emphasizing its insidious nature and the challenges victims face in the legal system. They explore the spectrum of abusers, the impact of coercive control on families, and the difficulties protective parents encounter in navigating family court. The discussion highlights the need for greater awareness and systemic change to support victims and hold abusers accountable.Takeaways:Coercive control is the foundation of all forms of abuse.Abusers often mirror their victims to gain trust.The legal system frequently fails to protect victims of coercive control.Victims should document abusive behaviors to recognize patterns.Coercive control can escalate into physical violence over time.Many judges and court professionals lack an understanding of coercive control.Parental alienation is often misused in court to discredit protective parents.The court system tends to favor fathers, even in abusive situations.Victims are often disbelieved when reporting abuse in family court.There is a pressing need for advocacy and education on coercive control.Sound Bites"Coercive control is the underpinning of all abuse.""Abusers are very good at mirroring who they are with.""The court system contributes to the abuse."ChaptersChapter 1: Understanding Coercive ControlChapter 2: The Spectrum of AbusersChapter 3: The Impact of Coercive Control on FamiliesChapter 4: Recognizing Coercive ControlChapter 5: Navigating the Court SystemChapter 6: The Role of the Legal SystemChapter 7: The Challenges of Parental AlienationChapter 8: The Court's Perception of AbuseChapter 9: The Epidemic of AbuseChapter 10: Creating Change and Awareness  About Dr. Christine Cocchiola:Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola, DSW, LCSW, is a Coercive Control Educator, Researcher, and survivor. She has been a tenured college professor teaching social work for the last twenty years and has been a social justice advocate since the age of 19, volunteering for a local domestic violence/sexual assault agency.She supports protective parents in strategizing how best to navigate the family court system, including divorce proceedings and custody arrangements. Our family court system is often set up to harm further and betray adult victims-survivors and their children, unacknowledged child abuse victims.Most importantly, Dr. Cocchiola is a protective parent. Through her own clinical expertise, research, and personal experiences, she understands the impact that coercive control has on children. She coaches victims and survivors as they navigate parenting their harmed children. She has created programming to educate Allies, including protective parents, clinicians, coaches, and court professionals, on the experiences of children victims of the coercive controller.Dr. Cocchiola is a Founding Member of the International Coercive Control Conference and a member of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Board. She has actively supported codifying coercive control, writing numerous policy briefs to support these efforts.Contact: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/Instagram: @dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrolGet her new book, “FRAMED” at: www.narcfreepress.com About Ali KesslerAli Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate...

This is your go-to Podcast, where we help parents navigate the complexities of family life. Hosted by Ali Kessler of Greyson’s Choice, we’ll cover everything from understanding domestic violence to navigating the legal system, finding the right therapists, life hacks, family law, mental health, custody battles, and how to protect children in dangerous situations. Episode 1: Meet Your Host, Ali KesslerFor our very first podcast at Grey Minds Think Ali.Ke, we thought it would be helpful to learn more about your host, Ali Kessler. Not only is she the founder of Greyson’s Choice and a passionate parent advocate, but Ali is also a survivor of Domestic Violence. In 2021, Ali’s son Greyson was murdered by his father during a court-ordered timesharing in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Hosted today by Erin Cooper, Greyson’s Choice board member and lifelong friend of Ali’s, listen to Erin and Ali have an insightful conversation about Ali before and after her worst nightmare came true. You will hear Ali share the story of what she was like before motherhood, how she met Greyson’s father, and some truly heartbreaking revelations that became her new norm. Greyson was the present that Ali couldn’t keep, but she perseveres and now finds comfort in helping others fighting similar battles. This is a don’t-miss episode! Listen now! In this episode:·     Chapter 1: Introduction and Ali’s Life Before Motherhood·     Chapter 2: Ali Moves to NYC·     Chapter 3: Ali’s Pregnancy & Decision to Have a Baby·     Chapter 4: Welcome to the World, Greyson Kessler & Co-Parenting Challenges·     Chapter 5: Escalating Negative Behaviors from Greyson’s Father·     Chapter 6: Alarming and Erratic Behavior that Led to Greyson’s Death·     Chapter 7: The Impact of Coercive Control·     Chapter 8: Loss and Grief– The Aftermath·     Chapter 9: Advocacy and Greyson’s Choice·     Chapter 10: Upcoming Projects and Fundraising About Ali KesslerAli Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate parent advocate, and founder of Greyson’s Choice, a 501(c)(3) created to raise awareness about the risk of domestic abuse on children. Greyson’s Choice was founded by Ali Kessler in memory of her sweet, vibrant, and fearless 4.5-year-old son, Greyson, who was murdered by his biological father in a murder-suicide during an unsupervised, court-approved visit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 2021. This came just hours after her petition for a domestic violence injunction was denied by a Broward County judge, citing that the “petitioner has failed to allege any overt acts by the respondent which would constitute domestic violence under Florida Statute.”Ali’s advocacy efforts culminated in successfully passing Greyson’s Law during the 2023 legislative session. This bill now requires the court to consider threats against ex-partners or spouses when making child visitation and custody determinations in the court, expanding to include the following factors: evidence of domestic violence, whether a parent in the past or currently has reasonable cause to believe that they or a minor child is, or has been in imminent danger of becoming the victim of domestic/sexual violence by the other parent, even if no other legal action has been brought or is currently pending in court.Contact Ali:...