Trauma-Informed Practice: Understanding Behaviour Through a Relational Lens

This engaging and practical course introduces professionals to the principles and application of trauma-informed practice when working with children and young people. Drawing upon psychological theory, contemporary research, and real-world experience, the session explores how trauma can influence behaviour, relationships, emotional regulation, learning, and engagement with support services.

📅 Date & Time: 2nd June, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Live Online via Teams
📢 Early Bird Price: £104 (VAT included) – Register 2+ weeks before
🎟️ Standard Price: £134 (VAT included) – Group Discount available for groups of 5+

By focusing on relationships as the foundation for healing and development, the course supports practitioners to move beyond behaviour management approaches and towards interventions that recognise the impact of adversity, attachment disruptions, and developmental trauma. Participants will gain practical strategies that can be applied across children’s social care, education, fostering, and community settings to promote safety, trust, resilience, and positive outcomes.

Course Content

This course explores the foundations of trauma-informed practice and examines how adverse experiences can affect children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development. Participants will develop an understanding of trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), attachment theory, emotional regulation, and the ways in which behaviour often communicates underlying needs and experiences.

The session explores how professionals can create psychologically informed environments that promote safety, predictability, and emotional wellbeing. Participants will examine therapeutic communication techniques, relationship-based approaches, and practical strategies for supporting children and young people who have experienced trauma. Throughout the course, the focus remains on helping practitioners understand behaviour through a relational lens and develop interventions that support recovery, growth, and resilience.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of trauma-informed practice and their application within children’s services.
• Recognise the impact of trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on child development and behaviour.
• Understand the relationship between attachment, emotional regulation, and wellbeing.
• Apply relationship-based approaches that promote safety, trust, and positive outcomes.
• Recognise behaviour as a form of communication and respond more effectively to underlying needs.
• Create psychologically informed environments that support recovery and resilience.
• Utilise therapeutic communication techniques when working with children and young people.
• Strengthen trauma-informed approaches within their own professional practice.

Intended Audience

This course is designed for professionals working with children and young people across children’s social care, education, fostering, youth services, and related sectors. It will be particularly relevant for Residential Childcare Practitioners, Supported Accommodation Staff, Foster Carers, Social Workers, Supervising Social Workers, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Family Support Workers, Team Leaders, Deputy Managers, Registered Managers, and other professionals seeking to strengthen their understanding of trauma-informed and relationship-based practice.

Course Facilitator

Gareth Thomas brings a wealth of experience and passion for working with vulnerable children and young people. Inspired by his role as a single foster parent and his work with The Clarified Company, Gareth collaborates with leading organisations including The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma to deliver educational programmes that promote trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches.

With a background in trauma-informed care, therapeutic parenting, child development, and psychological wellbeing, Gareth combines professional expertise with lived experience to provide engaging, reflective, and practical learning. His approach helps professionals develop a deeper understanding of children’s experiences while building confidence in applying trauma-informed strategies within their own settings.

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