Attachment Theory and Trauma  

In recent years, our understanding of trauma has grown exponentially and there is both a greater awareness of its long-term effects on survivors and its prevalence in society.

Trauma can be caused by an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening, and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual wellbeing. Experiences that may be traumatic include:

• Physical, sexual and emotional abuse
• Childhood neglect
• Living with a family member with mental health or substance use disorders
• Sudden, unexplained separation from a loved one
• Poverty
• Racism, discrimination and oppression
• Violence in the community, war or terrorism

Although trauma can occur at any age, it has particularly debilitating long-term effects on children. Often referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), exposure to these experiences is common across all sectors of society.

Regardless of the type of trauma a person has experienced, traumatic experiences impact relationships. This includes, but is not limited to, relationships between people, communities, and the delivery systems that support individuals' health and social needs. When a person experiences trauma, they may feel unsafe, betrayed and/or have difficulty trusting others. This can lead to heightened emotions, such as anger or aggression, or a tendency toward shame, numbing and/or isolation.

When children experience early loss, separation, abuse or neglect, their brain development is affected in significant ways. They often experience what is known as relational or developmental trauma.

Trauma-informed care is focused on creating conditions within services and/or organisations that reduce harm and promote healing, especially for individuals who have already experienced trauma. It recognises that past experience of trauma can affect how a person perceives and responds to their environment in the present.

Trauma-informed care is actively mindful that, in these ways and others, service design and delivery have the potential to perpetuate distress and disengagement in traumatised people. Based on this awareness, it endeavours to bring about organisational changes that will, at a minimum, prevent services from reawakening individuals' old traumas or causing them new traumas, and at best, create an environment that is sufficiently understanding and safe for healing to take place.

Mental health and education professionals at all levels, and any professional who applies attachment theory, neuroscience, relational and developmental science to their practice.

This training is suitable for all professionals who work with children, young people and their families or carers who experience relational and attachment difficulties. This could include parents, adoptive parents, foster parents, kinship carers, or caregivers such as those in residential care.

Mental Health Professionals: All mental health professionals including, but not limited to, psychologists, play therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers, child protection and disability workers, guidance officers, residential care workers and foster support workers, and all other mental health professionals looking to enhance their therapeutic skills.

Education Professionals: Professionals who work with children or youth including, but not limited to, K-12 school counsellors, school paraprofessionals and all other professionals who support behavioural challenges and complex learning needs.

Yes, we can send one of our trainers to your workplace.

For more details, please contact us.

Payment can be made by:

1. Bank transfer (invoice)
2. Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards (fee free)

Group discounts are available.