Trish Guise, MSc MBA
Coercive Control Behavioral Consultant
Forensic Coercive Control Solutions Inc.
403-875-9965
Behavioral consultant specializing in the psychology of coercive control, family violence, and post-separation abuse. One of a small number of professionals in Canada to hold the Litigation and Evaluation Involving Abuse Allegations in Family Court Cases (LEFCC) speciality certification form the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT).
Provides independent, non-clinical expert analysis based on structured document review and behavioral pattern analysis in family, civil, and criminal law matters. Recognized as an expert witness in coercive control by the Superior Court of California (County of Sacramento) and has delivered expert reports across multiple jurisdictions including Canada, the United States and Europe.
Professional Experience
Coercive Control Behavioral Consultant
Forensic Coercive Control Solutions Inc. 2024- Present
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Qualified as an expert witness in coercive control by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento.
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Provides expert reports and testimony on coercive control in family and civil law proceedings across multiple jurisdictions, including New York, California, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and the Netherlands.
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Conducts coercive control and domestic violence risk assessments.
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Provides litigation support in family law matters involving coercive control allegations through structured evidence review, pattern analysis, case mapping, and strategic consultation with legal counsel.
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Develops and delivers professional education to lawyers, mediators and justice professionals.
Research Associate - Directorate of Psychology and Sport
School of Health & Society, University of Salford 2024 - present
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Conducts interdisciplinary research on the psychology of coercive control, with a focus on post-separation abuse. Areas of specialization include judicial and legal education, institutional betrayal, secondary trauma, the application of coercive control in criminal law, and coercion within sport contexts.
Supporting Wellness Psychological & Family Services 2021 – 2024
Career break 2010 - 2021
Co-Founder & COO
Critical Workplace Solutions (CWS) Inc. 2006 - 2010
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Co-founded and managed operations for an oil and gas safety consultancy, overseeing business development, strategic planning, and financial management.
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Advised on the development and implementation of workplace safety and substance use policies, with a focus on compliance, risk mitigation, and employee well-being.
Human Resources Manager, Western Canada
Laura Canada, McKesson Canada, Molson Canada 1996 – 2006
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Led regional HR strategy and operations across Western Canada, supporting multi-site teams and aligning talent management initiatives with organizational goals in highly regulated and unionized environments.
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Provided strategic guidance to senior leadership on workforce planning, employee relations, performance management, and organizational development, fostering high performing, engaged teams.
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Oversaw implementation of HR policies and programs, including recruitment, succession planning, labor relations, and health and safety compliance, ensuring alignment with national standards and local business needs.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Guise, T., & R. Dubrow-Marshall. Expectations versus reality in coercive control survivors’ legal representation: identifying gaps in knowledge amongst family law practitioners. Family Court Review
Accepted for publication following peer review, 2026
Professional Publications
Bridging the Gap: Applying trauma-informed interviewing from criminal to family law .
Law Now magazine. May 2024
Vicarious Trauma in Criminal and Family Lawyers: The unseen burden of advocating for victims.
Law Now magazine March 2024
Research
Master's Thesis: An Investigation into Differences between Expectations of Coercive Control Victim-survivors and their Lived Experience of Legal Representation – Identifying Gaps in Knowledge Amongst Family Law Practitioners.
Presentations and Teaching Experience
Curriculum Developer & Trainer. Alberta Ministry of Justice. September/October 2025
Selected by Alberta Justice to develop and deliver a foundational training program for more than 160 professionals across Alberta Justice, including civil mediators, family mediators, family court counsellors, information coordinators, and Family Violence Court Liaisons.
Originally developed for newly established Family Violence Court Liaison role, the program expanded to multiple in person and virtual sessions due to demand from justice professionals and contracted mediators.
Curriculum focused on:
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Coercive control and post-separation abuse
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Impact on adult and child victim-survivors
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Institutional responses and risk identification
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Reducing secondary victimization within justice systems
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Supporting trauma-informed, evidence-informed practice
Presenter. Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA). 2025
Coercive Control: How to Recognize, Respond, and Prevent Further Harm to Your Family Law Clients
Invited Speaker. Masters Program, Psychology of Coercive Control. University of Salford. 2024
The expectation gap of post-separation abuse victims when accessing family legal counsel post-Divorce Act Amendments.
Presenter & Panelist. Divorce Coaches Academy. 2024
Helping or Hurting: The Role of Professionals in Supporting Victim-Survivors of Coercive Control.
Recognizing coercive control and doing something about it.
Divorce Coaches Academy (DCA).
Presenter. Supporting Wellness Psychological & Family Services 2023
Coercive Control: What is it?
Co-Presenter, New America's Conference to End Coercive Control. 2022
Myths about Coercive Control: The Implications for Protective Parents & Children of Divorce
Presenter. Community Now 5th Annual Mental Health Event. 2022
Changing the Narrative
Business College Instructor. Mount Royal University & Red Deer Polytechnic (formerly College) 1996-1998
Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Introduction to Management
Professional Activities
Peer Reviewer for Academic Journals 2025 - present
Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.
ORCID 0009-0008-5943-490X
Peer Facilitator - Finding Our Voices
Sagesse (Domestic Violence Prevention Society) Peer Facilitator 2024-2025
Education
MSc. Psychology of Coercive Control (with Distinction) 2023
University of Salford
MBA, Human Resource Management 1996
Simon Fraser University
BA, Psychology 1992
University of Calgary
Certifications & Training
Specialty Forensic Certification
LEFCC Litigation and Evaluation involving Abuse Allegations in Family Court Cases
Specialty Certification for Family Court Professionals
Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (2024, 30 hours)
Specialized forensic training focused on evaluating and analyzing abuse allegations in family court matters, including coercive control, intimate partner violence, child abuse allegations, risk assessment considerations, and the interpretation of behavioral patterns within documentary and collateral evidence. Training addresses the role and boundaries of forensic experts, evidentiary analysis, and the presentation of abuse-related findings in legal proceedings.
Perpetrator Intervention and Accountability Approaches
Safe and Together Model CORE Training
Safe and Together Institute (2026, 22 hours)
Specialized training in an evidence informed framework for analyzing domestic violence cases, with application to forensic and court-involved contexts. Focused on identification and documentation of perpetrator patterns of coercive control, assessment of impact on children, and differentiation of parenting roles without mutualizing blame. Emphasis on structured pattern mapping, child-centered analysis, and maintaining perpetrator accountability within evidentiary and decision-making frameworks.
Working with Fathers Who Harm
Western Canada University Continuing Education (2026, 9 hours)
Training focused on engaging fathers who have used abusive or harmful behavior, accountability processes, and behaviour change approaches in family violence contexts. Emphasis on behavioral intervention and responsibility taking rather than therapeutic treatment.
Risk Assessment and Family Violence Analysis
Selected Training
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Parenting Plan Evaluations
AFCC 2024
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Family DOORS
Australian Institute of Family Studies 2024
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Brief Focused Assessments
AFCC 2024
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Homicide Timeline
Jane Moncton-Smith 2024
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SAFer Risk Assessment
Battered Womens Justice Project (BWJP) 2023 & Refresher in 2024
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Neurodiverse Children & Parents in Family Court
AFCC (2023)
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Evidence-Based Approaches to Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Global
Institute of Research (GIFR) (2023)
Coercive Control and Post-Separation Abuse
Selected Training
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Legal Abuse as a Continuation of Coercive Control
AFCC (2025)
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Intimate Partner Violence & Gender Discrimination in the Family Court
UC Berkeley Center for Comparative Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law (2024)
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Recognizing Legal Abuse as a Form of Family Violence
Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (2023)
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Understanding the Implications of Coercive Control on Children
Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (2023)
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Severe Separation Conflict or Domestic Violence: Clarifying Assessment
Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (2023)
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Enhancing Responses to Survivors & Perpetrators of Strangulation
Resolve (2023)
Full training list available upon request
Other Certifications
Pre-Mediation Divorce Coach™ Divorce Coaches Academy 2021
New Ways for Families® Coach High Conflict Institute 2020
Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) 2003
Professional Affiliations
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Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (AFCC) - National & Provincial Chapters
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Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
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American Psychological Association (APA)
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Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) - past
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Canadian Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (CATAP) - past