This workshop has been designed to assist professionals to develop a better understanding of how to proactively support and de-escalate clients who have complex needs (including neurodevelopmental challenges or a history of complex relational trauma).

This training aims to simplify contemporary research, and through integration with practice wisdom, provide real hands-on strategies for building safe connections, co-regulating clients and facilitating repair.

Overview of Training

Basic Anatomy of the brain
Human Response to Threat and the Neurobiology of Trauma
Developmental Attachment
Understanding complex attachment-seeking behaviours
Critical cognitive skills

Proactive Strategies (Maintaining Baseline)

Building Emotional Regulation and repairing the brain-stem with the Neuro-sequential Model of Therapeutics (Bruce Perry)
Modifying the environment – proactive sensory interventions
Building Safety through increasing Predictability
Reducing Shame through a competence framework

Co-regulation Strategies (Pre-escalated)

PACE (DDP Attachment principles)
Vagus nerve as a regulating tool
Responding to miscues

De-escalation Strategies (Outburst)

Providing containment/safety
Modelling self-regulation

Repair Strategies (Recovery)

Leading Repair through PACE
Integrating Needs and Building skills

Event details

Available Dates:

Date: Thursday 10 October 2024
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm AEST
Location: Cairns

Date: Friday 11 October 2024
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm AEST
Location: Hilton Hotel Cairns, 34 Esplanade, Cairns City, QLD, 4870

Please note: this is a single day workshop, participants only need to register for one date.

Travel support is available – click here to apply. If you are unable to download the application form please email workforce@healingfoundation.org.au to receive a copy.

Learning outcomes

Participants will develop a better understanding of:

How brains function and process information when under threat (hyperarousal/hypoarousal)
Impact of trauma, disrupted attachment and cognitive/relational skill deficits on functioning, relationships and behaviour
Proactive Relational and Environmental strategies for reducing escalations
Strategies for identifying and responding to clients with complex attachment-seeking behaviours
Proactive strategies for building a client’s capacity to tolerate distress and better self-regulate when triggered
Strategies for self-regulation and co-regulation during escalations (staying calm and calming clients during incidents)
Strategies for responding to mistrust/fear driven resistance and oppositional defiance
Strategies for reducing shame in clients, while promoting accountability
Strategies for maintaining relationships and facilitating repair with complex clients

Who should attend

This training is for workers in specialist domestic and family violence, sexual violence and women's health and wellbeing services.

About the facilitator

Trent Savill BSc(Psych), PGradDip(Psych)

Trent has worked in private practice and as the Director of Complex Care for the last 16 years and has supported children with complex behavioural needs in other various roles within the child protection/out of home care sector for a total of 20 years. As the Director, Trent leads and supervises a team of therapists and specialist behaviour support practitioners and continues to practice as a therapist and provide training and clinical guidance to the child protection/vulnerable family, education, early years, mental health and disability sectors. Trent has expertise in the areas of complex trauma and attachment in maltreated children and responding to complex presentations such as PTSD, Disorganised attachment, BPD, children presenting with high-risk violence in non-restrictive education and care settings, and working with harmful sexual behaviours, suicidality and self-injury.