Trauma and Mental Health
Trauma is not defined by the event itself, but by how the nervous system experiences and adapts to overwhelming stress, threat, or loss.
For many children and adolescents, trauma can stem from experiences such as chronic instability, family violence, neglect, bullying, medical procedures, grief, or community violence. Over time, these experiences shape how the developing brain interprets safety, relationships, and emotional input.
The long-term effects of trauma can influence every aspect of mental health. Children who have survived trauma may be more likely to experience anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, sensory sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, or difficulty trusting others.
Without understanding these deeper neurological and relational impacts, trauma-impacted behaviours are often misinterpreted as defiance, laziness, or deliberate disruption rather than survival responses.
Supporting trauma-impacted children requires compassion, awareness, and education. Professionals and carers also need to be mindful of vicarious trauma, where witnessing distress, aggression, or ongoing adversity in others begins to affect their own wellbeing.
For this reason, trauma-responsive practice emphasises not only the needs of survivors, but also the importance of reflective supervision, self-care, and access to additional support when needed.
Our online course helps learners deepen their understanding of trauma within a mental health context, including the importance of recognising signs and symptoms early, understanding how trauma affects development over time, and knowing when to refer to a clinical psychologist, counsellor, or other mental health professional for further support.
While the course strengthens your ability to support children and adolescents day-to-day, it also acknowledges that trauma is complex, and that collaborative, multidisciplinary care improves long-term outcomes.
Trauma Informed Approaches
A trauma-informed approach recognises that behaviour is communication and that safety, trust, predictability, and relationships form the foundation of healing. Rather than focusing solely on behaviour correction, trauma-informed practice prioritises emotional safety, connection, and dignity. This means understanding how the brain adapts to chronic stress and using trauma-informed care strategies to reduce triggers and build healthy regulation.
Key principles include:
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Safety - creating environments where children feel physically and emotionally secure
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Predictability - establishing routines and expectations that reduce uncertainty
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Connection - using relational strategies to build trust and co-regulation
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Choice & Autonomy - supporting agency and reducing power struggles
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Collaboration - involving families, educators, and professionals in consistent support
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Empowerment - building skills that replace survival responses with healthier coping mechanisms
Our Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) course aligns with these principles and applies them to real-world settings such as classrooms, homes, and community environments. Learners explore how trauma influences communication, attachment, behaviour, and learning - and how to respond in ways that minimise harm and promote resilience.
The course also explores how trauma intersects with mental health across the lifespan, and how trauma-informed practice can prevent escalation, reduce exclusionary discipline, and improve participation and learning outcomes for trauma-impacted young people.
While the training is not a replacement for therapy, it equips you with practical skills to recognise trauma-impacted behaviour, respond safely and compassionately, collaborate with allied health teams, and support survivors in accessing clinical care when needed. By increasing awareness and confidence, trauma-informed approaches improve outcomes not only for children, but for families, educators, support staff, and broader communities.