Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Children & Young People with Dr. Karen Treisman

Training from the The Sunflower Network

This training day offers an abundance of learning on the impact of trauma, neglect, toxic stress, and disrupted attachment on children, adolescents, and on their surrounding adults. The day includes the impact of trauma and disrupted attachment on the body (physical and sensory), brain (cognitive and neuropsychological), emotions, behaviours, learning, and relationships. This day uses a range of metaphors, props, video clips, experiential learning, and case studies to bring the contents alive. This day also draws on the latest evidence-base and neuroscience findings but delivers them in an accessible, engaging and applicable way. This training draws on the attachment, loss, stress, and trauma theory base, however, with a focus of translating the findings into day-to-day child protection and children in care case work and practical tips.

Outline of The Day:

• Explore what is meant by the terms relational and developmental trauma? 


• Provide a rational framework for relationship-based trauma-informed 
practice. 


• Consider and reflect on some of the trauma and loss experiences which many 
children have to face .

• Learn about why children’s social and emotional age can be different to their 
chronological age. 


• Consider some of the impact that these experiences have on children’s 
brains, bodies, relationships, behaviours, and emotions. This includes areas 
such as emotional-regulation, sensory processing, and impulse control. 


• Reflect on key elements such as “behaviour as communication”, and 
identifying children's needs as well as our own multi-layered triggers. 


• Reflect on some of the wider impact of trauma on the surrounding systems 
such as the family, school, and organisations. 


• Consider some of the literature and examples around resilience, hope, and 
strengths-based practice. 


Learning Methods: 


The day will utilise an array of learning and teaching styles including small group discussions, experiential hands-on learning, multimedia methods, and lecture delivery. Case studies and live examples will be interwoven throughout. Props and interactive learning materials will also be used to illustrate the model of being whole-brain informed. Handouts, additional learning resources, and recommended reading will be provided.

Aims and Objectives of the Day:

• Develop further knowledge and understanding about the impact of early trauma and disrupted attachment on children’s overall development.


• Gain further insight into the latest brain science and neurobiology around childhood trauma and neglect. 


• Link trauma and attachment theories to real life case examples. 


• Consider how emotional regulation develops in childhood, and how it can be 
influenced by trauma and disrupted attachment. 


• Reflect on how trauma can impact a child’s developmental trajectory, chronological and developmental 
“age”. 


• Consider typical behavioural presentations within this client group and how 
these can be formulated from an attachment and trauma perspective.


• Learn about how to identify children’s multi-sensory triggers and emotional 
hotspots. 


• Gain further understanding as to why therapeutic re-parenting and 
relationship-based trauma-informed practice is so fundamental to children’s progress.

 PLEASE NOTE: Due to the range of discussions around trauma covered on this day, it will go into some detail about domestic violence, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect – all of which are highly emotive subjects and can be triggering for some people. Please take this into consideration when booking and consider your own self-care around each and all of these issues.

DR. KAREN TREISMAN

Dr Karen Treisman is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist who has worked in the National Health System and children’s services for several years. Karen has also worked cross-culturally in both Africa and Asia with groups ranging from former child soldiers to survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. Karen has extensive experience in the areas of trauma, parenting, adversity (ACE’s) and attachment, and works clinically using a range of therapeutic approaches with families, systems, and children in or on the edge of care, unaccompanied asylum- seeking young people, and adopted children. Karen also specialises in supporting organisations and systems to move towards being, and to sustain adversity, culturally and, trauma-informed and trauma-responsive practice. This work focuses on creating meaningful and multi-layered cultural and paradigm shift across whole systems.

In addition to holding a doctorate in clinical psychology, Karen has undergone a range of specialist training courses including in EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Video Interaction Guidance, Sensory Approaches, and Theraplay.

Karen has previously worked in both Milton Keynes’s and Kensington and Chelsea’s Looked after Children (LAC) and fostering services, and within the National Implementation Service for evidence-based interventions for LAC, children on the edge of care, and children in custody at the Michael Rutter Centre in the Maudsley Hospital; and as Clinical Lead for a court assessment and intensive intervention team for children on the edge of care and in proceedings in Islington.

Karen was also awarded the 2018 Psychology Professional of the Year Award for Excellence in Attachment and Trauma.

Price: Early Bird Price £100 per person OR £120 General Price - lunch, refreshments are included.

For more information and booking head to HERE