Trauma Informed Parents
MeettheTeam!
ExecutiveEditor-SarahNaish SarahisaTherapeuticParent,an Adopteroffivesiblings,Bestselling internationalAuthor,Keynote Speakerandfounderofthree IndependentTherapeuticFostering Agencies.SarahisalsoandcofounderandCEOatTheCentreof ExcellenceinChildTraumaCIC
ManagingEditor-Kathryn Talbot
Kathrynisco-founderandDirector ofTheCentreofExcellenceinChild TraumaC.I.Cspecialisingin communicationsandpublic relations
Contributor-GarethThomas GarethisaKinshipCarertothree children,andhasvolunteered withchildrenforfifteenyears He hostsandproducesthenew CoECTPodcastseries"Trauma Talks".GarethisalsoaSenior TrainerandAmbassadorfor WalesatTheCentreofExcellence inChildTraumaC.I.C.
Contributor-JoanneWilson Joanneisanexperienced assessorwhohasbeenpartof ourqualificationsteamforseveral years Shehasrecentlystepped intotheroleofOperations ManageratTheCentreof ExcellenceinChildTraumaC.I.C., andsheisbasedatourHead OfficeinGloucestershire
ExecutiveEditor-SairPenna Sair(Sarah)isaTherapeuticParent, Author,ParentCoachandHavening practitioner.Sairisalsoco-founder andDirectorofTraining,Qualifications &QualityatTheCentreofExcellence inChildTraumaC.I.C
Contributor-EmmaEdwards EmmaisaTherapeuticParent, Adopter,ParentCoach Emmais alsoco-founderandDirectorof TherapeuticServicesand AmbassadorforEnglandatThe CentreofExcellenceinChildTrauma CIC
Contributor-JessicaSpenceley Jessicaisatherapeuticsocial workerwithover20yearsof experiencehelpingadoptiveparents navigatetheirparentingjourneys usingtheattachment-based, trauma-informedparenting approachofTBRI®
Contributor-AmandaMauger-Jones Mandieisatherapeuticfosterparentwithexpertisein empathiclistening Sheisapractitionerinformedby DyadicDevelopmentalPsychotherapy(DDP),aTraumaInformedTrainerandpractitionerforourTherapeutic Services,includingthenewlylaunchedSupportive ListeningService
Contributor-DanielleWhatlingGleadall
Danielleisanexperiencedmemberof theCOECTteam,havingoverseenthe trainingdivisionforseveralyears.She nowsupportsourCorporateMembers, atourHeadOfficeinGloucestershire
Written By Sarah Naish
FromitsbeginningsasaTherapeuticParenting GrouponFacebookadecadeago,wehave evolvedintoaCommunityInterestCompany dedicatedtosupportingparentsofchildrenwho havefacedearlylifetraumaanddisplay neurodiversecharachteristics.Thiseditionfocuses onTheCentreofExcellenceinChildTraumaC.I.C.
Editor’s Note
Welcome to May's edition of TIPS magazine!
This is a special issue that we have been eagerly awaiting to publish, as it shares some exciting news For the past six months, we have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to merge the companies that provide Training, Peer support, and Therapeutic services As of 1 May 2025, we proudly announce that we are now The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma C I C!
In this edition, we will showcase our new membership, which brings all services in one place I will leave our CEO, Sarah Naish, to tell you more about this in the article she has written in this edition of TIPs
We also have contributions from Joanne Wilson, our new Operations Manager, and Danielle WhatlingGleadall, our Corporate Members Coordinator They will discuss their roles in supporting our members, the benefits of membership, and how they can help you access these services
We join our Director of Therapeutic Services, Emma Edwards, who introduces our new peer support services, and Amanda Mauger-Jones has written an article on her new role in the Supportive Listening Call service, which all members can access as part of the new membership Gareth Thomas, our Trainer and Ambassador for Wales, will also share details about our exciting new COeCT podcast series, "Trauma Talks," which he is hosting
We are also joined by our resident writer Jessica Spenceley who has written about family time/meeting with family members which some refer to as contact, and how parents and carers can support children in navigating their time with their birth families
As always, we would love to hear from you Do get in contact with us by emailing tips@coect.co.uk.
Warmest wishes
Sair, Sarah & The Team at The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma C I C
“Justbecauseourpenguinshavewings, itdoesn’tmeantheycanflyLet’shelpthemlearntoswiminstead!”
SarahNaish
Written By Sarah Naish
We are delighted to announce that all our companies have now merged into one not-for-profit company called The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma
We made the decision to combine the National Association of Therapeutic Parents, Inspire Training Group, and The Haven Parenting and Wellbeing Centre Ltd to make things easier for our members and service users.
Since forming Inspire Training Group in 2014, I have become more committed to making sure we can provide services for parents of neurodiverse children, whether through trauma or any other way, social workers and other supporting professionals. We felt it was only by combining all our services into one place that we could make it easy for everyone who needs access
As a trainer and author in the field, I have become aware that there are still
huge gaps in training and meaningful support for parents who are trying to get their head around therapeutic parenting One of these shortfalls is in social work training, where social workers are still woefully unprepared to meet the challenges of behaviours our children demonstrate due to their past trauma. Now, The Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma will be able to roll out free training for social workers who are working for Local Authority teams or in charities.
Our First Steps in Trauma Informed Practise will make relationships easier for social workers and the families they support. This month, I have delivered training in Universities and Local Authorities. Our training team go out every single day delivering this essential trauma-informed basis We work with schools, we have our own
ANEW CHAPTER FORCOECT
The
Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma C.I.C
own education team and we continue to work away at changing the world for you
We can now be confident that parents who feel isolated, alone, and judged no longer need to stay in that lonely place The support network which ran through The National Association of Therapeutic Parents will be able to access enhanced support through our TIPS Hub. We have also joined up with Kinship Carers UK to increase the number of support groups available, both online and face to face.
Virtually everybody who works in our team, has firsthand experience of parenting neurodiverse children, or indeed are people who spent some of their childhood in care It is this unique perspective that allows us to really identify the issues of the day and come up with practical
strategies and solutions for them.
Along with my long-suffering business partner, Sair Penna, I believe we have managed to overcome so many of the obstacles and challenges placed in our path Sair has now put together a whole raft of Trauma Informed qualifications All are independently accredited and truly help parents and supporting professionals to upskill, see behaviours through the lens of
trauma and neurodiversity, and to meet all those unmet needs
Our mindset is one of solving complex problems Finding outdated models and methods of intervention and changing them!
When my five adopted children were young, there was very little help for me. I was largely left to raise them and work it all out for myself as I went along. This is not right. It is not a good service for families who adopt or foster. It is
Introducing
Are you looking for a supportive space to explore real-life challenges in therapeutic parenting and trauma-informed care?
The CoECT team invites you to our monthly Virtual Group Meet-Up called TIPS Consult a welcoming online support group designed to empower you with practical, solutionfocused strategies.
Led by our expert-byexperience team including Sarah Naish, Sarah Dillon, Sair Penna, Emma Edwards, Gareth Thomas, Dave Edwards and our team of trainers - each
not a good service for kinship carers, and it definitely fails our children
By bringing all our services under one umbrella, on a notfor-profit basis, we can now address the root of the problems facing professionals and families.
session is packed with insight, empathy, and real-world advice. These aren’t just conversations they’re opportunities to develop insight, connect with others and bring clarity to situations relating to parenting children who have experienced early life trauma, or those who display neurodiverse charachteristcs,
Whether you're a parent, carer, or professional, this
is your chance to be part of a community that truly understands Join us, share your story, and leave with tools you can use to support your family.
WhenMeetingwith FamilyStirsUpBig Feelings:Howto SupportYourChild
Written By Jessica Spenceley
Spendingtimewithpast caregiversorrelativescanstirupa mixofemotionsandtriggerpast traumas. Trust-BasedRelational Intervention(TBRI)offersyoua rangeofstrategiestohelpyour childnavigatetheseexperiences. Throughincreasingcontainment, recognisingfeelings,and supportingfelt-safety,youcan helpyourchildfeelmoresecure andregulatedastheyprocessthe complexitiesoftheserelationships
Increase Containment
Whetherfamilytimeinvolves seeingpeopleinperson,calls,or letters,creatingagreatersenseof containmentaroundthe experiencewillhelpyourchildto feelsafer Itcanbeassimpleas walkingyourchildthroughwhat’s goingtohappensotheyknow whattoexpect:
“We’regoingtomeetyourbrother andhisparentsattheparkon Saturdaymorning We’llplayfora bit,andthenwe’llheadtothecafé forlunch Whenwe’realldone withlunch,we’llsayourgoodbyes andcomehome. Andwe’lllook forwardtoseeingyourbrother againduringyournextschool break.”
Havingaclearsenseofstructure aroundcontactwillhelpyour childmanagetheuncertainty
they’lllikelybefeeling.Howe wordsalonearen’tenough. Adoptedchildrenoftenneed visualcuestohelpthempro informationandunderstand what’shappening. Considerwhat yourchildmightrespondto: maybeit’sacalendaronthe fridgewiththedateofthe meetingclearlymarked;maybe it’spicturesshowingeachpartof yourupcomingvisit;ormaybe youcreatedrawingstogether Theideaistoconnectyourwords andthevisualssothatyourchild hasasenseofstructurearound whatwillbehappening
Role-playingoractingoutpartsof theexperienceaheadoftimecan alsohelp Youmightusestuffed animalstopracticesaying goodbyeoractoutdifferentparts ofthevisit.Creatingasafewayfor yourchildto“tryon”the experiencebeforeithappenscan helpeaseuncertaintyandprovide reassurance.
RecogniseFeelings
Meetingwithfamilycantrigger complicatedfeelings,andholding boththe“positive”and“negative” emotionsarounditcanbe confusingandoverwhelmingfor yourchild However,asimple acknowledgmentofwhatthey’re feelingcanhelpmakethingsfeel moremanageableforyourchild:
bithappyandalsoabitmad?"
Meetingwithbirthfamilycanbe complex,andsoareyourchild’s feelingsaboutit Thesesortsof responseshelpyourchildmake senseofwhat’shappeningfor themontheinsideandknowthat it’soktofeeldifferentemotionsat thesametime Evenifyourchild doesn’tgiveyoualotoffeedback inthemoment,they’llbetakingin theverybigmessagethatyou understandthemandthatthey aren’talone
Youmightalsonoticethatyour childneedsextraconnection beforeoraftercontact. These shiftsaresignalsthattheyneed moresupport,andplayfully engaging,doingsensory activities,andsimplybeing presentcanhelpthemregulate
SupportFelt-Safety
Familytime/contactoftenstirsup theimpactofthepast Youmight noticethatdifficultiessuddenly resurface,behavioursbecome challenging,oryourchildjustseems off Oneofthewaysyoucanhelp yourchildtofeelmoresecureandin balanceisthroughsupportingtheir senseoffelt-safety
Aprimarywaytodothisisthrough increasingyourconnectionin intentionalways TBRIoffersyoua lotofstrategiestodothis,like offeringyourundividedattention, usingreassuringtouch,being mindfulofyourtoneofvoice,or playing Sometimes,yourchild’s nervoussystemwillneedextra supporttoreturntobalance Simple,regulatingactivitieslike rocking,swinging,deeppressure, orevenquiettimetogethercan help Payattentiontowhathelps yourchildfeelcalmandusethose strategieswhenyounotice dysregulation.
FinalThoughts
Supportingyourchildthrough meetingswithfamilymembersisa journey Byincreasing containment,recognisingtheir feelings,andbuildingfelt-safety, youcanhelpthemnavigateits complexitiesinawaythatfeels reassuring Overtime,yourchild willfeelmoreequippedtomanage thecomplexitiesthatfamilytime brings.
98%
https://saferfostering org uk
JessicaisthefounderofNurturedBelongingwhereshehelpsparents andadoptedchildrenovercomechallenges,healfromthepast,and buildstrong,connectedrelationships
ToconnectwithJessica,gotohttps://nurturedbelonging.com/.
That’s the percentage of SAfER foster families who stay together, year after year.
In a system where children too often move between homes and lose vital relationships, stability is everything.
At SAfER, we’re here to help families stay strong so that children can stay where they belong—in safe, loving homes that last.
Stability is possible. We’ll help you get there.
Timeaftertime,weseechildrenwhohavebeentraumatised bybirthparentsbeingorderedtoseethemorreturnedto theminappropriately.Thechildrenarere-traumatisedeach time.
Wewouldlovetohearyourthoughts. Pleasecanyoutakeafewminutestocompleteoursurvey?
https://tinyurl.com/yc39tb7a
Working Together: Aligned in a Trauma-Informed Approach
Written By Sair Penna
The term "trauma-informed" can sometimes be perceived as a buzzword, which isn’t a bad thing; buzzwords can raise awareness about important concepts and encourage practitioners and the organisations they work for to adopt supportive practices However, there is the risk, with anything, that a term can be used superficially, lacking a true understanding of its principles and used as a “tick-box exercise,” which can lead to the approach not meeting the needs of the individuals it is there to support
Recognising the impact of Trauma
To be truly trauma-informed allows you to understand what it means for an individual to experience a traumatic event. There are many causes of trauma; physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, bereavement, domestic abuse, war, illness, injury or witnessing a traumatic event can all impact a person in some way, shape or form The way trauma affects a person can also be a uniquely individual experience and vary from person to person What might be traumatic for one person may not impact another person similarly Our ability to cope with experiences depends on our emotional and mental landscape and its resilience In other words if we possess a robust set of personal
qualities and resources that enable us to cope with and recover from adversity effectively, then our landscape has resilience to experiences How resilient a person ’ s landscape is depends on many factors, including our life experiences and the impact that they have had on us, our relationships with others, and whether we have secure attachments to significant others who can give encouragement, care, and guidance. Epigenetics can impact how we have adapted through generations to manage traumatic events which can then impact our biological makeup Also, having the resources like education and information to adjust to situations can affect whether
Our brains are able to find patterns in the things we see, hear, smell, taste and do, mainly to perceive threat and danger and keep us safe, which has been a great tool in keeping us safe since we existed on earth, especially as it kept people safe from fierce predatory animals, by triggering our fight & flight response Sometimes our brains recognise patterns that are similar but not exactly the same
This can lead to problems when specific situations are associated with traumatic memories potentially triggering a child or young person ’ s emotional response These triggers can include a whole
range of stimuli, like people, buildings, objects, places, smells, other actions and routines to name a few Parents and carers of children and young people who have experienced trauma often become very attuned to these triggers, particularly if they are familiar with the child’s early life experiences and life story and the impact those experiences have had on the child's internal working model
Trauma-informed Families
Caring for a child who has experienced trauma adds a new dimension to the concept of a trauma-informed approach
Families raising children with a history of early life trauma often find themselves deeply affected by the after-effects of that trauma They experience its impact through both the subconscious and conscious behaviours of the child, and for some families this can be a daily reality which is often compassionately accepted as part of the norm of their family life
Parents and carers can be powerful advocates for their children particularly when they understand their child's triggers and how to provide support
This awareness can be incredibly beneficial for the professionals working with the child whether in social care healthcare, or educational settings.
Parents will be able to work with professionals to share information about their child and this partnership can greatly benefit the child in helping them thrive and meet their full potential with therapeutically aligned support When there is a gap in knowledge or skills between the family and professionals, it can become a barrier to the family receiving the necessary support for their child
At COECT the parents families
social workers, teachers, and healthcare professionals we work with share a common goal: to understand developmental trauma They seek to comprehend why children display behaviours that can be considered challenging or socially unacceptable, and they want to learn how they can support these children in their growth, learning development and healing More often than not they want to learn about trauma-informed practices and therapeutic parenting strategies because it enables them to support and advocate for the child or young person, they are caring for in the best possible way for their child’s needs to be met
The best-selling A-Z books by Sarah Naish and the COECT team have proven to be valuable resources for parents and professionals alike, helping to bridge the knowledge gap regarding trauma-informed practices through real-life perspectives Many parents and carers have shared that they purchased a copy for their child’s school or social work team to support their understanding of their child’s needs and get them on the same page, so it is easier to come up with a plan to help the child
Closing the gap
This is where we began to think about how we could help support parents and the professionals they work with further understand trauma, including the impact which parental compassion fatigue can have on the parent and family, and how underestimating how much compassion fatigue does impact the family can also be detrimental to family stability In the therapeutic foster agencies, we work with in the COECT community; we know that having supporting professionals who see the impact of trauma on families can prevent family breakdowns and the need for children to move homes
It also empowers those working in the social, health and education sector to use their underpinning knowledge and tools to support children and their families, with confidence Having someone who understands that the behaviours children display is a way of communicating their experiences can be life changing
It is important to acknowledge the support families need and recognise the resources a child may require to adapt and learn We know of thousands of professionals who have accessed our training and implemented trauma-informed practices We often hear about dedicated professionals who provide invaluable support to families, making a significant difference in their lives through the assistance they offer
As part of our mission at COECT we want to support as many
The Social Care Sector
supporting professionals as we can seeking to access trauma informed training to support the children and families they work with Our Social Care Sector Hub was established as a platform offering webinars on various aspects of a traumainformed approach This resource is accessible to Local Authority social care services and charities
Additionally, we provide training sessions for Universities within the Social Work and Care Sector. We believe that these initiatives will ultimately help children, and their
families receive the support they need to change their narrative. A child's past experiences do not have to dictate their future and by supporting them in their healing journey with a trauma-informed approach can give them the opportunity to choose how the next chapter of their life story unfolds
“IHearYou”
Introducingour newSupportive ListeningService
Written By Amanda Mauger-Jones
Ihearyou.
Whatdoesyoursupportnetworklook like?Doyouhavesomeonewho understandsyourchild’sneeds?Can youspeaktosomeonewhotruly understandswhatitisliketoparenta traumaexperiencedchild?Iamsure itwillbeofnosurprisetoyouthat mostofthetimetheanswerstothese questionsareoften‘No’ Weallneed tobeheardandsupportedandthat iswheretheSupportiveListening Sessionscanhelpyou
Doyouhave‘that’friend? Youknow theone Theonewhoisa reincarnationof MotherTheresa The onewhoisalwayssuperorganised, makingorganichealthypacklunches andhavingtheabilitytotaketheir childrentoeverysingleafterschool clubtheywanttoattend. Aretheya greatperson? I’msuretheyare
Aretheyabletoempathisewithmy inabilitytogetmychildtoeat anythingotherthanchickennuggets andcheesestrings?Probablynot.
CanItellthemwhatitisliketonotbe abletoshowerfor3daysinthe holidaysasmy10yearoldis constantlystucktomyhipfrom5in themorninguntil11atnight?
Erm no Willtheytrytosharetheir parentingwisdomwithmewhenItry toexplainhowchallengingmy morningschoolrunhasbeen?
Absolutely!Whilstalsotellingme howdifficulttheirlittleJohnnyisin themorningwhenheisbeinga ‘pickle’ It’sjustnotthesame
Asafosterparent,Ihavebeen luckyenoughtohaveasocial workerwhowilllistentome rambleonabouthowhardmylife isandhowmychildren‘justwon’t listen!’whilsthavingacupoftea inthecomfortofmyownhome I knowthatthisisnotalwaysthe case. Butthisissomethingthat weallneed. Parentinga neurodiverseortrauma experiencedchildmeansthatwe havetobesuperparents
Allthetime
Anditsexhausting. Andisolating
Nowbreathe
Thegoodnewsisthereis someoneheretohelpyou
Someonetolisten. Someonetofill yourempathycup. Thiswillthen allowyou,asthepredictable, consistentparent,tobeabletobe thatgreatamazingparentagain thatyouwanttobe
Howdoesthiswork?
Letmetellyou.
Ispeaktoparentsandcarers everyweekwhoarefindingthings trickyandofferthemasafespace
tooffload,withoutjudgement Then whentheyarereadytohearthem,I offerstrategieswhichmayhelp themmovingforwardoutoftherut theyarefindingthemselvesinat themoment.
WhatdoIknow?
AsIhavealreadymentionedIhave beenafosterparentforover10 yearsandduringthattime,Ihave beenluckyenoughtoseelotsof differentbehaviours,reactionsand outcomes Ihavealsofeltrubbish anduselesswhenmychildisgoing intoarageforthe4thtimethat day Ihaveexperiencedthelowsof compassionfatiguebutalsothe highswhenIhavetriedsomething newandithasworked
Basedonallthisexperienceand theknowledgeIhavegained throughmyDDPtrainingand TherapeuticParenting qualifications,Icanalsoexplain whatisgoingonforyourchildat thistime,howtheymightbefeeling andthedrivingforcebehind. And letmetellyou,mostofthetime,it’s notyou,it’showtheyseetheworld But,mygosh,itcanfeelso personalwhenyouareinit!
Ifyouareseeingitasaproblemor anissue,oryouarejustfeelingrun downbyit,Icanstillhelp. Itcould bethatthelackofunderstanding withschoolisstressingyououtor
thattheyjustwon’tputtheirshoes oninthemorning Oritcouldbethat youarehavingtolockyourselfin anotherroomtostaysafeorthey havestolenyourcreditcardand nowyouhaveamassivebill.It doesn’tmatter.Ifitisimpactingon youbeingabletobeyourbestself,I canhelp Remember,aproblem sharedisaproblemhalved!
Whatifthereisnoquickfix?
Sometimestherejustisn’t somethingthatIcansuggestthat willmakeadifferenceinonecall. That’sok. HereattheCOECT,we workasateamaroundyou,the parent,andtherearemany differentoptionswecansuggest fromtrainingcourses,toHavening, toregularsessionsstrategizing withme Thesupportweofferis individualtoyourneeds Youare themostimportantpersoninallof thisandweareheretohelpyou feelthat.
OK,SohowdoIbookasession?
WhatifIdon’tlikeyou?
Youcanphoneheadofficeor poponthewebsiteandbooka call Ifyouarenotsurewhat supportyouneedthenbooka quick20minutecallthroughthe HavenorbookaSupportive Listeningcallfor45minutes. We canthenfindouthowbestto supportyoumovingforward. Oncewehavespoken,wecan discussyouroptions Fairpoint.Butthishasn’t happenedbefore(asfarasI know!). Wecanstillhelpand supportyouthroughanother memberofteam. Myroleisnot to‘fix’youor‘rescue’youbutto helpsupportyouthrough listeningandunderstanding
Soreally,theonlyquestionlefttoansweriswillthishelpyou?
Asamember,youareabletobookonecallwithmeeverymonthatno extracost
Whathaveyougottolose?
MembershipBenefit
Membersbenefitfrom12sessionseachyear ofSupportiveListeningCallsincludedwith theirTIPsmembership.Thesesessionscan beeasilybookedonlineviathemembership huborbycallingHeadOffice Forfurther details,pleasevisitwwwcoectcoukorscan theQRcodeprovided.
Photo:©CoectviaCanva
“Let’s
Meet-Up”
Finding Strength in Shared Experience: The Power of Peer Support at COECT
Written By Emma Edwards
What are TIPs Meet-Ups? Whenachildhasexperiencedtrauma,the journeytohealingcanfeeloverwhelming Parentsandcarersoftenfindthemselves searchingforanswers,forunderstanding,for someonewhotrulygetsit That’swhere COECTstepsin abeaconofhope,aplace wherenoonewalksthispathalone
AtCOECT,peersupportisn’tjustaservice;it’s alifeline ThroughtheTIPs(Trauma-Informed Parents)membership,familiesgainaccess toacompassionate,understanding communitythatoffersstrengththrough sharedexperience
Oneparentdescribedtheirexperienceof findingCOECTas"likefinallytakingabreath afterholdingitfortoolong."Thatbreath comesthroughconnection whetherit’sthe regionalandvirtualTIPsMeet-Ups,family gatherings,orTIPsConsult,avirtualproblemsolvingsessionledbyCOECT’sExpertsby Experienceteam Thesespacesallowparents toexchangestrategies,gaininsights,and findreassurancethattheyarenotalone
Thesesupportivegatheringsaredesignedfor parentsjustlikeyou thoseseeking understanding,reassurance,andconnectionin theirjourneythroughtrauma-informed parenting.Heldbothvirtuallyandin-person,TIPs Meet-Upscreatesafe,welcomingspaceswhere youcanconnectwithotherswhotruly understand
Ourin-personTIPsMeet-Upstakeplaceacross thecountry,hostedbyourincrediblevolunteers inlocalcafes,communityspaces,andother relaxedsettings.There'snoformalagenda,no expectations justachancetoshareexperiences overawarmdrink(andoftenasliceofcake!) Whetheryou'rereadytoopenuporsimplywant tolisten,there’snopressuretospeak.Youcan participateasmuchoraslittleasyoufeel comfortable
One parent described their experience of finding COECT as "like finally taking a breath after holding it for too long"
Morethanjustmeetings,TIPsMeetUpsareplaceswherereal connectionsaremade,andlasting friendshipsareformed.Nojudgment, noexpectations justacommunity readytosupportyoueverystepof theway
Ourvirtualmeetupsofferthesame supportiveexperienceasourinpersonones,withtheadded convenienceofjoiningfromthe comfortofyourownhome Notravel, nohassle justconnection Perfect forthosewithbusyschedules,these sessionsmakeiteasytoaccess encouragementandunderstanding withoutdisruptingdailylife
Whetheryoupreferface-to-faceor virtualmeetups,there’snoobligation toattendeverysession Youcanjoin wheneveryouneedsupport, guidance,orsimplythereassurance thatothersarewalkingthisjourney alongsideyou Ourgoalistomake thesemeetupsahelpfulresource neveranaddedpressureinyour alreadyhecticworld
FamilyMeetups:Connectionfor theWholeFamily
Inadditiontoregularmeetups, someregionsalsoofferfamily meetups,whereyouandyourloved onescanconnectwithothersina welcoming,judgment-freespace. Thesegatheringsprovidean opportunitytorelax,share experiences,andreceivesupport, allwhileyourchildrenplayand enjoythemselves
Thebeautyoffamilymeet-upsis thedeepunderstandingwithinthe community ifyourchildfeels overwhelmedorstruggleswith socialsituations,youwon’tbemet withjudgmentordisapproving glances Instead,you’llfind empathy,patience,andunwavering supportfromthosewhotruly understand.
BeyondMeetups:AWealthof Support
COECTprovidesmemberswithan onlinetrainingportal,awell-being programme,andanextensive collectionofTrauma-Informed
Parentingresourceseverythingneededtonavigate thecomplexrealitiesof parentingachildaffectedby trauma.Andwhentheweight feelstooheavy,COECToffers one-to-onesupportivelistening calls,ensuringthatnoparent everfacesthisjourneyalone.
Youareneveraloneinthis," readsoneofCOECT’smost sharedmessagesofhope.And that’stheheartofitall.Through sharedexperiences,parents andcaregiversgrowstronger, discoveringthattogether, healingisn’tjustpossible it’s inevitable
Ifyou’veeverfeltaloneinthis journey,COECTisheretoremind you you’renot Throughthe TIPsmembership,acommunity iswaitingtoliftyouup,sharein yourstruggles,andcelebrate yourvictories
For more information click on the QR code or go to To find out more about our meet-ups click on the link and search “Meet-Ups”
Formoreinformation clickontheQRcodeor goto https://wwwcoectcouk/ coect-training-events
Photo: ©Coect via Canva
UnveilingtheNewTIPsHub Membership
WrittenBy JoanneWilson& DanielleWhatling-Gleadall
TheCentreofExcellenceinChild TraumaCIC wascreatedtomakea meaningfuldifferenceinthelivesof childrenandtheirfamilies.Weare gratefultohaveanexperiencedteam oftrainers,socialworkers,coaches, andtherapistswhounderstandfirsthandwhatitmeanstocarefor childrenwhohaveexperiencedearly lifetraumaorwhodisplay neurodiversecharacteristics.
Wewouldliketotellyoumoreabout thenewmembershipforindividual andcorporatemembers,whichgives accesstoourTrauma-Informed ParentshuborTIPSHubforshort We areJoanneandDanielle, andweare basedatTheCentreofExcellencein ChildTrauma’sHeadOfficein Gloucestershireontheoutskirtsofthe Cotswolds
AsOperationsManager,Joanne ensuresourinternalsystemsand processesrunsmoothlysoourteam cansupportourmembersbest.By streamliningoperations,managing resources,andimprovingworkflows, helpingtocreateastablefoundation thatallowsourservicesandeventsto bedeliveredefficientlyandeffectively, alwayswithourmembers’needsin mind
DanielleservesasourCorporate Membership&EventsCoordinator Sheistheprimarypointofcontactfor ourcorporatemembersandassists themincustomisingtheirsupportand trainingforthememberstheyhave registered Additionally,Danielleplays avitalrolebehindthescenesduring oureventsandannualconferences, workingalongsideourotherDirector Kathryntoensureeverythingruns smoothlyontheday!
SupportingParentsThrough Challenges
Weunderstandthatparentingcan bedifficult,particularlyincomplex situations Ourcommitmentisto equipparentswiththenecessary toolsandguidancetosuccessfully navigatethejourneyofparenthood
Ournewmembershipintegrates TherapeuticParenting,TraumaInformedTraining,aWellbeing Platformfocusedonrecoveryfrom andpreventionofcompassion fatigue,alongwithpeersupport,all inonecomprehensivepackage
Here’swhatweprovideforparents:
HelpandSupport
Ourtherapeuticservicesare designedtoassistfamiliesin trauma-informed/therapeutic parenting,interruptandrelieve symptomsofcompassionfatigue throughapsychosensory techniquecalledHavening®and supportthosefamiliesexperiencing child-on-parentviolenceand contemplatingSection20(Children Act1989)whereweoffersupport packagesforfamiliesontheverge
ofcrisis,providingparental supportduringdifficulttimesto supportthefamilytostay together.
Training
Weoffercomprehensivecourses onTherapeuticandTraumaInformedParenting,from managingcompassionfatigue, tosupportingyourchildoryoung personinmanagingchallenging orviolentbehaviour Wealso haveanintroductorycoursefor individualswhoareinterestedin learningmoreaboutor becomingaTrauma-Informed LifeStoryWorkPractitioner Trainingisheldonlineandin person.Docheckoutourevents sectiontoseespecificdatesand locationsoftraining
Qualifications
Aspartofourmembership,we offera25%discountonselected qualifications,includingour accreditedprogramsthrough NCFECACHE Thesequalifications aredesignedforbothparents andprofessionals,andthey rangefromLevels1to4 Our offeringsincludecourseson therapeuticparenting,trauma-
Photo:©Coect
informedlifestorywork,parent coaching,andtrauma-informed practitionerqualifications
PeerSupport
OurTrauma-InformedParents Hubmembershipoffersa valuableconnectiontolikemindedparentsthroughsupport groupsknownasTIPSMeet-Ups. Eachmonth,youhavethe chancetomeetupwithother parentseitherinperson,or virtually.
OnlineTrainingPortal
Ouronlinetrainingportaloffers valuableinsightsintotherapeutic parentingtechniques,managing challengingbehaviors,and understandingtheimpactof trauma.Itfeatureswebinarsand resourcestailoredforboth parentsandprofessionals
WellbeingPlatform
TheWellbeingplatformassists parentsandprofessionalsin addressingcompassionfatigue throughavarietyofresources,
includingvideos,guided meditations,andself-caretips Itisdesignedtocomplement thetherapeuticserviceswe provide,specificallyfocusingon alleviatingthesymptoms associatedwithcompassion fatigue
TIPSConsult&Topical Discussions-VirtualEvents Engageinproblem-solving strategieswithourexpertteam duringouronlineQ&Asessions Additionally,wehostmonthly virtualdiscussionson parenting-relatedtopics thoughourtopicaldiscussion eventseries“Throughthe Keyhole.”
FamilyMeet-Ups
Joinourvolunteer-ledgatherings whereyouandyourfamilycan connectwithothersandbuilda supportivecommunity
SupportiveListeningCalls
AspartoftheTIPSHub membership,schedulea
Peersupportforums
Accesstrauma-informed parentingstrategiesand connectwithotherparentson ourmemberportalorclosed Facebookgroup.
monthlysupportivelistening callwheneveryouneed someonetotalkto Each membersisentitledtoa45 minutecalleverymonth Discounts
Benefitfroma25%discount onselectedparentalsupport servicesandqualifications
Formoreinformationortojoin asamember,visitourwebsite orcontactustoday
Weareheretosupportyouto navigateyourmembership benefits
Contactus info@coectcoik
wwwcoectcouk
NewLimitedSeries:Trauma Talks–fromTheTherapeutic ParentingPodcast
WrittenbyGarethThomas
I’mthrilledtoannounceTraumaTalks abrand-new,limited-series podcastwithinTheTherapeutic ParentingPodcast,createdforanyone parentingorsupportingchildrenwho haveexperiencedearly-lifetrauma Sinceitslaunch,thepodcasthasbeen downloadedover500,000times,and thisnewseriestakestheconversation evendeeper
AcrosstheepisodeswithinTrauma Talks,I’mjoinedbySarahNaish a therapeuticparent,trainer,andauthor ofseveralbest-sellingbookson therapeuticparenting andSarah Dillon atherapist,author,and keynotespeakerspecialisingin
developmentaltrauma,fostering, andadoption We’llalsobe welcomingarangeofspecial gueststhroughouttheseries.
Together,weexploretheraw, honest,andoftenmessyrealitiesof traumaandtherapeuticparenting andwhatactuallyhelps Expect honestconversations,practical insight,andthekindofconnection thatremindsyouyou’renotalone.
Whetheryou’reafosterparent, adoptiveparent,kinshipcarer,or workingineducation,socialcare,or mentalhealth TraumaTalksisfor you
�� Listenandsubscribe: wwwcoectcouk/podcasts
ortellyoursmartspeakertoplay
TheTherapeuticParenting Podcasttolistentoprevious episodes,andsubscribetoget thisnewseries
Phot o: ©G Thomas
TIPSMEET-UPS
Our virtual support groups are organised on a monthly basis. Keep an eye out for a regional online group, where you can connect with others prior to attending an inperson event.
Introducing Our New Peer Support Groups We are excited to announce our new peer support groups, which are hosted in cafés, community rooms and green spaces across the UK.
There are also opportunities to create your own local “village of support”.
For more information click on the QR code or go to https://www.coect.co.uk/coect-training-events and search “Meet-Ups”
UPCOMING EVENTS
In- Person Training
MAY - JULY 2025
Exploring the Foundations of Attachment
th
Tuesday 17 June 2025 - 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (BST) Carmarthenshire
First Steps in Therapeutic Parenting
Wednesday 25 June 2025 - 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (BST) th Bath
First Steps in Therapeutic Parenting
Tuesday 1 July 2025 - 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (BST) st Manchester
Exploring the Foundations of Attachment
Thursday 3 July 2025 – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (BST) rd Essex
Managing Feelings for Parents (CF)
Wednesday 9 July 2025 – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (BST) th Bristol
Managing Feelings for Supporting Professionals (CF)
Wednesday 9 July 2025 - 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (BST) th Bristol
Compassion Fatigue Day Retreat
Friday 11 July 2025 – 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (BST) th Brockworth, Gloucestershire
Managing Challenging & Violent Behaviour at Home for Parents
Tuesday 15 & Wednesday 16 July 2025 th th 10: 00 am – 4:00 pm (BST) Cardiff
UPCOMINGEVENTS VIRTUALTRAININGDATES
MAY - JULY 2025
The A-Z of Trauma-Informed Teaching –Controlling Behaviours & Defiance
Wednesday 21 May 2025 - 4.00 pm (BST) st
The A-Z of Trauma-Informed Teaching –Coparenting
Thursday 5 June 2025 - 4.00 pm (BST) th
Through the keyhole - Summer Holidays Prep
Friday 6 June 2025 - 12 noon - 1pm th
The A-Z of Trauma-Informed Teaching –Damaging and Disruption
Tuesday 17 June 2025 - 4.00 pm (BST) th
The A-Z of Trauma-Informed Teaching –Emotional Age & Regulation
Monday 30 June 2025 - 4.00 pm (BST) th
Through the Keyhole – Compassion Fatigue in Summer Holidays
th
Friday 4 July 2025 - 12 noon (BST)
The A-Z of Trauma-Informed Teaching – False Allegations
Thursday 10 July 2025 - 4.00 pm (BST) th
The A-Z of Trauma-Informed Teaching –Holidays
Friday 18 July 2025 - 4.00 pm (BST) th
For more information click on the QR code or go to https://wwwcoectcouk/coect-training-events
Desperate to Belong
My fragile heart is broken
Locked inside a cage
Shattered through rejection
Defended by my rage
Fear that you wont love me
Will make me move away
Scared that you will hurt me
Surviving every day
Trapped inside my body
Memories of the past
Terror coursing through me
My time with you won’t last
Searching for acceptance
A home where I belong
More than just a focus
On all that I do wrong
A family where I’m wanted
A place where I can stay
Not terrified of settling
Till they make me go away
A home that offers nurture
Where adults see behind
My challenging behaviour
To the lonely child inside
Although I say I hate you
Surely you can see
The one I really hate
Is evidently me!
Thrown around the system
Will never solve the issue
My behaviours will reduce
When I’m certain I’ll stay with you
How can you achieve this
I hear you think out loud
You’ve told me that you want me
You love me and you’re proud
Before I can receive it
Firstly you must recognise
That I just don’t believe it
It may take many years
Validate my feelings
Let me know you see
Why I sabotage connection
Warmth and empathy
Help me build a story
An honest gift of why I push you all away
And don’t appear to try
I haven’t learned to do this
Trust that you will be
A ever present source Of comfort and safety
Therapeutic Parenting will give you what you need
To see beyond my armour so we can both succeed
You’ll interrupt the cycle of other kids like me
Desperate to belong in a forever family
Written By Sarah Dillon ©2025
