Belonging, met in the place
visited briefly, a person who
remembered us, the friendly
face, a welcome home
even when they knew
we had never visited this
place before, a show of kindness
welcoming words, an open
heart, inviting spaces to be still,
not expected to repeat
life stories in all our phases
acceptance met, upon
return, our hearts belonged
loved unconditionally, the
welcome, remains lifelong.
Chrissy Kelly
Care Experienced Poet
In our professional roles, we often encounter children who have experienced domestic abuse. This blog provides an overview of trauma-informed practices, essential for supporting children and young people. By recognising and addressing the unique needs of children affected by domestic abuse, we can foster their healing and growth.
The impact of domestic abuse on children is profound and multifaceted. It's not just the physical harm; the psychological and emotional scars can be deep and lasting. These children may show signs of trauma, including heightened anxiety, behavioral changes, and difficulty concentrating. Early recognition of these signs is crucial for effective intervention.
To support children who have faced domestic abuse, we need targeted strategies that address their complex needs for safety, stability, and emotional healing. Establishing a stable environment is key, ensuring that children feel secure both physically and emotionally. This can be achieved through consistent routines and calming spaces. Active listening and validating their feelings are essential, as is using gentle questioning to allow children to share their experiences at their own pace. Creative outlets like art, drama, and music can help them express their feelings without the pressure of finding the right words.
Empowering children by offering choices and involving them in age-appropriate decision-making helps restore a sense of control that may have been undermined by abuse. Expressive activities such as art and play provide alternative ways for children to communicate and process their emotions. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including educators, social workers, and mental health professionals—creates a comprehensive support system. Culturally sensitive, trauma-focused therapies like Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) are crucial for addressing the psychological impact of abuse.
It's also vital to support parents and caregivers, provided it is safe to do so. Educating them on how to meet their child's emotional needs at home can significantly enhance the healing process.
It is important that we take a broader perspective: In undertaking this life course perspective, we consider the children yet to be born into this family and the potential to heal relationships with the adults who came before. We think beyond the present moment and understand the intergenerational context of our work.
In conclusion, trauma-informed practices provide hope for children affected by domestic abuse, guiding them toward recovery and resilience. The strategies outlined here reflect a holistic approach that recognizes the multifaceted impact of abuse and equips professionals with the tools needed to create a nurturing environment. As we deepen our understanding of trauma-informed care, it is our collective responsibility to integrate these insights into our daily interactions with children. The collaborative efforts of caregivers, educators, and mental health professionals are crucial, ensuring that every child who has experienced domestic abuse can step into a brighter future. Through informed and dedicated action, we can help children not just survive but thrive in the aftermath of trauma.
Poverty is a multifaceted issue with deep societal, cultural, and historical roots. It manifests in numerous ways, often affecting both the individual and community levels. Living in poverty means constantly worrying about basic needs like food and heating, causing stress that can dominate a person’s thoughts from morning until night. This cycle of deprivation can lead to feelings of isolation and despair, making it difficult to participate fully in society.
Poverty lacks a single, universally accepted definition, but it is generally understood through four key levels:
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) defines poverty as occurring when "your resources are well below your minimum needs."
Several systemic causes contribute to poverty in the UK:
In addition to these economic factors, poverty is also influenced by social aspects, such as:
Tackling poverty requires collaboration from multiple sectors, including government, businesses, communities, and individuals. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but a multi-pronged approach is necessary. Both the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) propose key strategies, including:
A trauma-informed approach can provide valuable insights into addressing poverty by focusing on safety, trust, transparency, collaboration, and empowerment. Relationships and community support are key protective factors that help individuals and families thrive despite the challenges of poverty.
Systemic Protective Factors:
Interpersonal Protective Factors:
By strengthening both systemic and interpersonal protective factors, we can develop personal protective factors such as:
Poverty is everyone’s concern because it affects all aspects of life and has lasting impacts across generations. A trauma-informed approach focuses on fostering relationships and building community resilience, which can help break the cycle of poverty. Prevention should be at the forefront, with a strong emphasis on supporting families and communities.
If you're interested in learning more or seeking training and consultancy on these topics, contact Lyndsay, our Working Together Lead, at hello@ticservicesltd.com for support on your journey.
In the realm of children's services, where the well-being and development of young minds take precedence, establishing psychological safety is essential. A psychologically safe environment nurtures both the growth of children and the effectiveness of the professionals who care for them (Gilroy, 2023). In this article, we explore practical strategies for creating such an environment in children’s services.
Psychological safety begins with open, non-judgmental communication (Tucker & Hoyling, 2023). When professionals, children, and parents feel free to express their thoughts, concerns, and ideas, trust flourishes. This open dialogue fosters collaboration, strengthens teams, and ultimately enhances individual psychological safety (Gilroy, 2023).
At TICS, we prioritize the needs of our Associates and staff, emphasizing transparency, mutual respect, and flexibility. We recognize the importance of diverse working patterns and embrace neurodiversity and lived experiences, alongside academic knowledge. By creating a space of belonging, we ensure everyone feels valued and supported.
Does your organization promote non-judgmental communication? If not, it's worth considering the immense impact this approach can have on employee well-being, productivity, and the quality of services provided. Creating a culture of open communication not only enhances staff morale but also leads to better outcomes for the children under your care.
Staying updated on the latest research and best practices is crucial for professionals in children's services. Continuous training and professional development empower staff to provide the best care. However, it's vital that leadership allocates time and resources for this development, ensuring that staff are not overwhelmed by their regular workload while pursuing further education. Without proper support, encouragement for growth can feel like an added burden, leading to burnout.
Creating a psychologically safe environment requires collaboration among professionals from various disciplines (Miller et al., 2023). A team-based approach is vital to providing holistic support for a child’s physical, emotional, and educational needs. At TICS, we strongly believe in the proverb, "It takes a village"—and that collaboration is essential for a child’s well-being.
A psychologically safe work environment helps prevent burnout while fostering resilience. Professionals who feel supported can navigate challenges more effectively, ensuring consistent, high-quality care for children (Lane et al., 2023). This kind of environment leads to stronger, more resilient teams and better outcomes for everyone involved.
Creating a psychologically safe environment in children's services is more than just a goal—it's a necessity. By promoting open communication, supporting professional development, and encouraging collaboration, we can cultivate an atmosphere of trust and empathy. This not only benefits the children but also enhances the well-being of the dedicated professionals working to nurture their growth.
References
Join Karen Treisman and Lisa Cherry in a conversation on 14th December at 7pm, recorded for the Podcast, on all things Trauma Informed Culture Change. Where do we go next? How do we get there? How do we layer the change that will see services and systems fit for 21st Century practice?
Back in the Summer of 2022, Lisa wrote a tweet highlighting an emerging finding in her doctoral research regarding relationships that ‘saved my life’ and were ‘a game-changer’. The response on Twitter was immediate and a subject that people really wanted to explore. A meeting was set up online out of which a Steering Group was created alongside a larger online group space. The Steering Group (Lisa Cherry, Danica Darley and Peter Blundell), started to gather and create content for a website, with a real vision for collective input, ownership and collaboration at the core.
The Context
Professional boundaries are there for the safety and security of those using services and professionals. However, there are factors that can increase professionals’ use of boundaries that can lead to defensive and distance-based practice rather than relational and effective practice. The best professional social care practice is relational, yet boundaries (if used ineffectively) can interfere rather than foster those relationships.
The Launch
Join the Steering Group for a webinar (recorded for the Podcast) on 30th November at 10am for our LAUNCH event of Breaking The Boundaries Website!
You may have noticed that I have a slight obsession with coffee and you wouldn’t be wrong. This can be a challenge as a UK resident as I often need to try a few cups in each area I am in before I find a good coffee blend, a machine that is cleaned properly every day and a barista that knows what they’re doing simultaneously. Incidentally, one of my faves in the UK is UE Roastery. Where they roast, they also have a cafe so it’s not in the best location (an industrial estate) but it is sooooo worth a drive in. They supply to plenty of places in the area but it’s not just about the coffee remember? In my limited experience in Victoria, Australia, you can order a coffee literally anywhere and it’s amazing. Whether you’re in Melbourne, Werribee, Castlemaine, Daylesford, Macedon and stops in between, the coffee is fantastic!
Staying with the food and drink theme, I was very blessed to try some Bush Tucker at the event that I was speaking at last night and my tastebuds have now been introduced to Wattleseed and dried Ooray, goodies provided by local catering company Murnong Mummas. All the food provided was nutritious, sourced from nature’s wisdom, delicious and wholesome and has been sustaining this land’s people for over 65,000 years.
I had a day at leisure today and after waking up to a beautiful sunrise overlooking Macedon Mountain (in the pic above) and the sound of birdsong, I drove to Daylesford and sat and wrote some of this post in Koukla, acompanied by yet another fabulous coffee.
In the afternoon I met a Twitter friend in The Trading Post, a stunning foodie heaven and post office rolled into one. I can’t remember the last time I arrived in a town anywhere in the world where I didn’t have a friend to meet that I hadn’t met yet. Twitter has been incredible for the traveller that I am; professional connections that morph into long lost friends. I love that! It’s relational connection on speed.
Finally, Australia is really the best country I have visited (and I’ve been to a few!) in exploring belonging, intergenerational trauma and collective trauma. As a country, Australia is leaning into taking responsibility for the impact of the European invasion and the destruction that was created that continues to reverberate in every aspect of Indigenous life here. With taking responsibility comes the responsibility of repair; the hardest part of rupture(s) whether on a macro (country) level or on a micro level in our day to day relationships. Courage, curiosity and connection are the building blocks. So I say leaning into because there is still resistance to this repair work that I have picked up from watching the news. I am working with services here where intergenerational trauma is very much understood so the news provides a different view that I wouldn’t have picked up in the spaces I’m in. I see the fear of power sharing and a mentality of scarcity and repair begins with centralising lived experiences which will be a confronting concept to many. However, I challenge anyone to compare where Australia is at with the UK or the US. There is simply no comparison. The UK and the US are not even close. There is some serious global healing that needs to take place if we are ever to move forward from environmental and cultural harm (violence) and Indigenous people understand that in ways that we have to learn from. The time is now. It always is.
It’s Tuesday at the Australian Childhood Foundation Trauma Conference 2022 and it’s been yet another full day! There were several speakers that I had the pleasure of listening to today but I’m going to share the learnings from Louis Cozolino and Judy Atkinson as their work resonates with me the most (for very different reasons)!
Louis Cozolino, focuses on interpersonal neurobiology and the interface of mind, body, brain and relationships.
He asks us to reconsider how we understand executive functioning and how it connects with lived experience. The standard dogma is that executive functioning is located in the prefrontal cortex. However, the brain he argues, is more like a govt of systems; complicated, doesn’t work very easily together and doesn’t always get things right.
Why is executive functioning so vulnerable? It exists in our body, in our relationships. It’s not just a brain function: it’s a social and community function. We can only go so far if we don’t have the ability to connect and empathise along with the ability to self-regulate, it doesn’t matter how clever we are!
He prefers to refer to it as The Executive Suite rather than executive functioning. There is not one CEO but rather:
The Primitive Executive – amygdala centric. The job is to keep us alive. Mechanisms and systems help us to stay calm, to be our own amygdala whisperer. Amygdala system is anti-correlational to other two execs and has the most power. It’s the hub, designed to keep us safe but it’s not necessarily that intelligent, eg. doesn’t always know the difference between actual threat, perceived threat or an old threat.
The Task Executive – links goals to planning and execution. Links our thoughts, behaviours and emotions. This gives us a model to understand how somatic therapies might work. An Integration of mind and body – Cognition/relationship/emotion. It is focused on planning, goal setting and oversight.
The Social Executive – the default mode network (DMN) is active when we become involved in tasks involving self-awareness, understanding others, imagination and memory. Self-awareness – conscious awareness, self-reflection, auto memory. Social awareness – processing relationships, social rules. Perception and cognition – time travel, anticipation, imagination, create goals, environmental navigation, memory scene construction. In therapy we have to be the amygdala whisperer but also quiet down and inhibit the 2nd and 3rd execs.
Optimal executive functioning requires:
Judy Atkinson then takes us on a journey about the different forms of listening, how feeling comes before thinking. Thinking is last. I think this is something that most systems and services get very wrong because culturally there is a real terror about ‘feeling,’ a theme which is situated in my research about the kind of relationships that make a real difference for those with relational poverty
Judy, with emotional clarity, tells the room that the oldest living culture carries historic and collective trauma in the form of massacre sites, invasions, the killing times and fields. Indigenous healing practices are our gift of courage and hope to an oppressive world she tells us.
Hope comes through the communal storying, redefining our common humanity. When the unspeakable is spoken and heard, where there are no words, they are simply acted out. (The acting out is then punished I think to myself).
Healing:
Whole community crisis intervention:
We must create culturally safe spaces that allow us to
find and tell our stories, make sense of our stories, name and own our feelings and move through layers and loss
Tomorrow I’m delivering two sessions, one on my research about care experience, school exclusion and belonging and one on the trauma-informed education research insight undertaken in West Yorkshire. Luckily, there are a couple of keynotes I am attending first so I will still have a post for you tomorrow with lots of nuggets!
A gentle start to a week long conference designed to create a somewhat calmer space for 3000 people to register across a Sunday afternoon, opens with a conversation and you know how much I love conversations! I’m going to share the wisdom from the first conversation with you which was facilitated by the very lovely Janise Mitchell of the Australian Childhood Foundation interviewing who I have affectionately come to call The Boys; Jon Baylin and Dan Hughes.
I always love listening to Jon and Dan because they demonstrate the beautiful practice of ‘always learning.’ I get frustrated and also sad in equal measure when people tell me they’ve ‘done trauma’ which unfortunately means that they haven’t even begun to understand the work. I’m going to take a guess that these accomplished men are in their 80’s and they continue to talk about what needs exploring next, shifting the paradigms, unlearning and developing the collective wisdom of all the different lenses we apply to this work across many disciplines.
The ’conversation’ format is informal but even in that context there were many nuggets that I can share with you. There was much exploration about blocked care which refers to the experiences of carers struggling to care for a child who has blocked trust. The acknowledgment being one of compassion which understands is that it is very hard to care for children who don’t want to be cared for. It is vital that this isn’t pathologised as it is when we talk about disorders but rather, that it is noticed and that the child is not lost in this ‘perfect storm.’
Jon talked about the power of being prepared to be moved (I love that so much) and how that has required ‘unlearning’ much of what is taught in some therapy spaces and developing a deep understanding that if we don’t feel ‘it’ we can’t help ‘it’. This sits very closely within my own emerging research findings which highlight the depth a relationship needs to go to in order to have the impact that we so often desire.
Dan went on to provide what could be described of as a model for relational practice; centralise safety, co-regulate and then co-create meaning. This is very much how emotion coaching and restorative practice work. The co-creation of sense making, of developing a language, a narrative, by which to understand something troubling, is a key part of healing. It helps us to share stories.
Janise had opened up this conversation to share the sad passing of Archie Roach this weekend who said that it is the sharing of stories that helps us survive. A child of the Stolen Generations, he was forcibly removed from the age of two years old by the Government and placed in an orphanage. He was a musician and a campaigner for the rights of Indigenous Australians and I am going to make a point of listening to his song, to his melody, to his ‘tune’, to the journey of healing after experiencing such a violent assault in his childhood along with so many others.
I could write so much more, but for now let me leave you with thoughts of story telling, of song and of being prepared to be moved by sitting alongside that which can often feel too much, overwhelming, even unbearable. It is in these spaces that healing resides…
In this short series of exploring trauma informed ways of being, we are being invited to think about developing what it is that sits behind was has been termed Trauma Informed Practice (TIP). #1 started us off with sitting in a place of love and curiosity, not fear and judgement.
Setting the scene in thinking about TIP, each post in this series will remind us what the 6 guiding trauma informed principles are that have been developed by the CDC and SAMSHA. These are:
Safety
Trustworthiness & transparency
Peer support
Collaboration & mutuality
Empowerment & choice
Cultural, historical & gender issues
The #2 area that I am going to look at is awareness. Developing awareness of who we are, what we bring and how we impact others takes decisive action that involves learning the art of ‘noticing’ where we are in the moment. How can we know what we bring if we don’t ever stop to notice who we are?
The research completed by Dr Tasha Eurich (2018) helps us to understand awareness and support a deeper understanding as to where work might need doing in this regard. Can you see yourself in any of the self-awareness archetypes below?
The attraction of mindfulness and yoga really come into their own in developing awareness as they invite us to harness the skill of stopping and in us starting to become aware of (a) the internal chatter, (b) where we are holding tension in our bodies and (c) developing a connection with our breath. In teams that have worked on safety, starting the day or starting a team meeting taking 3 deep breaths will bring deep rewards. But a word of caution, many people have never consciously taken this moment of stillness before so anything that raises awareness of self needs to be gentle and with the caveat of it being done only if it feels safe to that person to do so. This can be modeled by those who do feel safe enough.
Alongside developing self awareness comes an awareness of others too and should enhance curiosity about the ways in which people behave through their adaptations to the experiences that they have had.
What does this look like?
Unawareness looks like:
1. Judgment
2. Defensiveness
3. Arrogance
4. Self as a yardstick for understanding all
5. Neglect
Awareness looks like:
1. Curiosity
2. Compassion
3. Boundaries
4. Perception
5. Self regulation
As always, these are not exhaustive lists, rather they are support to stimulate thinking. Why not take the concept of awareness into your team meeting and discuss what it means to each person, introduce the idea of taking 3 breaths at the beginning of a meeting or invite a Yogi or mindfulness practitioner to come and talk about developing awareness for self-regulation. When you work with trauma every day, this investment in the self, with the space created by the organisational leadership, is an investment in every single person you come into contact with.
*Before any discussion that explores these areas, focus on safety. We will look at creating safety in more detail another time, but if we don’t feel safe, we can’t explore these things deeply as they require vulnerability.
Next time I’ll look at another trauma informed way of being that supports us ‘leaning in’ on this journey of understanding how we can respond better to the legacy of trauma. We are always aiming rather than arriving!
