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Trish Guise, MSc MBA 

Behavioral Scientist

Forensic Coercive Control Solutions Inc.

403-875-9965

Behavioral scientist 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

                            

Behavioral Scientist                                    

Forensic Coercive Control Solutions Inc.  2024- Present

  • Qualified as an expert witness in coercive control by the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento.

  • 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.

  • Conducts coercive control and domestic violence risk assessments.

  • 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.

  • 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    

  • 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.

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Supporting Wellness Psychological & Family Services 2021 – 2024

 

Career break     2010 - 2021

 

Co-Founder & COO    

Critical Workplace Solutions (CWS) Inc.    2006 - 2010

  • Co-founded and managed operations for an oil and gas safety consultancy, overseeing business development, strategic planning, and financial management.

  • 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 

  • 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.

  • Provided strategic guidance to senior leadership on workforce planning, employee relations, performance management, and organizational development, fostering high performing, engaged teams.

  • 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.

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

Publications 

 

Under Review. Expectations versus reality in coercive control survivors’ legal representation: identifying gaps in knowledge amongst family law practitioners. 

 

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 

Dissertation: 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

 

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:

  • Coercive control and post-separation abuse

  • Impact on adult and child victim-survivors

  • Institutional responses and risk identification

  • Reducing secondary victimization within justice systems

  • 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.  

Presenter Recognizing coercive control and doing something about it.

Divorce Coaches Academy (DCA).                   

 

Presenter. Supporting Wellness Psychological & Family Services 2023

Coercive Control: What is it?

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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

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Business College Instructor. Mount Royal University & Red Deer Polytechnic (formerly College) 1996-1998 

Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Introduction to Management 

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Education

                            

MSc. Psychology of Coercive Control (with Distinction) 2023        

University of Salford    

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MBA, Human Resource Management 1996    

Simon Fraser University

                            

BA, Psychology 1992                            

University of Calgary

Certifications & Training

 

LEFCC Litigation and Evaluation involving Abuse Allegations in Family Court Cases 

Specialty Certification for Family Court Professionals 

Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma 2024 

 

Parenting Plan Evaluations AFCC 2024    

 

Family DOORS Australian Institute of Family Studies 2024    

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SAFer Risk Assessment Battered Womens Justice Project (BWJP) 2023

 

Stepfamily Clinician Stepfamily Matters     2022    

    

Pre-Mediation Divorce Coach™ Divorce Coaches Academy 2021    

    

New Ways for Families® Coach High Conflict Institute     2020

 

Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) 2003 

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*Full training list upon request

Professional Affiliations

 

  • Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (AFCC) - National & Provincial Chapters

  • Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)

  • American Psychological Association (APA) 

  • Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) - past

  • Canadian Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (CATAP) - past

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