Space To Breathe Therapy

The Power and Control Wheel

Recognising patterns of power, control and abuse within relationships

The Power and Control Wheel is an educational model that can help make patterns of abusive behaviour easier to recognise when individual incidents may initially appear disconnected.

This resource explores the different behaviours represented within the model while also acknowledging its history and limitations. Rather than using the Wheel as a diagnostic checklist, it encourages readers to consider patterns, context, fear, restriction and changes to personal freedom.

It also expands beyond the original model to consider contemporary forms of abuse.

It includes:

What the Power and Control Wheel represents
Coercion, threats and intimidation
Emotional abuse
Isolation
Minimising, denying and blaming
Using children
Entitlement and privilege
Economic abuse
Technology-facilitated abuse
Post-separation abuse
Identity-related abuse
Questions for personal reflection
Routes to specialist support

A reflective resource for recognising how different behaviours can combine to create a wider pattern of power and control.

Space to Breathe Therapy