Trauma Informed Conversations

Jessica Parker
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Hosted by the team behind Trauma Informed Consultancy Services, led by Jessica Parker, Director at TICS. This podcast explores how trauma-informed principles can transform the way we live, work, lead, and support others. Each episode dives into real-world conversations with experts, educators, and practitioners who are driving positive change through compassion, understanding, and awareness. Whether you’re a leader, educator, clinician, or simply someone who wants to build safer and more supportive environments, Trauma Informed Conversations offers practical insights, reflective dialogue, and inspiring stories to help you embed trauma-informed approaches in every aspect of life and work. Join us as we create space for empathy, learning, and meaningful connection — one conversation at a time.

  1. 1d ago

    What if PSHE and RSHE Were Central to Education? with Becky Dawson

    In this episode, Jessica is joined by Becky Dawson, National Wellbeing Lead at Twinkl, former secondary teacher, Head of Year, and SENCo. Together, they dive into why PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) and RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) need to be treated as central to safety, wellbeing, and future life outcomes for children and young people, rather than peripheral subjects tucked away in registration slots or side projects alongside the main curriculum.  Jessica and Becky explore: The "Crucial Curriculum": Why PSHE and RSHE are foundational life skills that teach young people critical thinking, online safety, media literacy, financial management, and how to identify healthy, safe relationships. Supporting the Whole Child: How trauma-informed practice, relational approaches, and psychological safety directly impact attendance, engagement, regulation, and academic achievement across the entire school. The Educator Reality: The challenges facing non-specialist teachers expected to deliver complex or sensitive topics without adequate training, time, or funding - and how schools can better support staff. Inclusive & Whole-School Approaches: The necessity of ensuring SEND learners access meaningful RSHE, navigating parental engagement and transparency, and creating cross-curricular links that ease the burden on timetable space. About Becky Dawson Becky Dawson is currently the National Wellbeing Lead at Twinkl, bringing over 25 years of hands-on experience in secondary education. Beginning her career as a drama teacher, she quickly moved into pastoral leadership, overseeing PSHE, RSE, and year-group leadership. Her passion for inclusion and learner support also led her to serve as a SENCo, advocating for equitable curriculum access for young people with SEND.  Becky later worked with the London Borough of Newham as part of their Head Start initiative, implementing whole-school approaches to mental health and wellbeing. Today, she works to equip educators, school leaders, and support staff with high-quality resources, CPD training, and actionable guidance to help create safe, supportive, and trauma-informed environments for all young people.  Send us Fan Mail Subscribe to Trauma Informed Conversations for more honest discussions about trauma, recovery, and building systems rooted in care and humanity.

  2. Aug 19

    What If Behaviour Makes Perfect Sense? with Sarah Naish

    In this episode of Trauma Informed Conversations, host Jessica Parker is joined by adoptive parent, former social worker, foster carer, and author Sarah Naish. Drawing on over 40 years of lived and professional experience across social care and education, Sarah explores the transformative question: What if behaviour makes perfect sense?  Jess and Sarah discuss how shifting to a trauma lens allows us to look beyond surface-level reactions and understand that all trauma-based behaviour is an expression of an underlying, unmet need. From practical strategies like "naming the need" to addressing systemic gaps in social work, school, and inspection frameworks (like Ofsted), this conversation provides a realistic, deeply compassionate roadmap for supporting care-experienced children, families, and the professionals who care for them.  Key Takeaways Looking Behind the Behaviour: Understanding that challenging actions are not personal attacks ("doing this to me"), but rather a child's attempt to communicate inner distress and seek safety or nurture. The "Gift of Why" & Naming the Need: Why asking children "Why did you do that?" is unhelpful, and how adults can step in to gently name the underlying fear or unmet need for them. Decoding Hurtful Statements: Viewing painful phrases (like "I hate you") as a discharge of internal pain rather than calculated malice, allowing caregivers to respond with empathy instead of defense. Systemic & Training Gaps: Addressing the urgent need for trauma-informed training top-down—from universities to social work teams and Ofsted inspectors—to prevent burnout and protect placement stability. Reframing Professional Language: Why shifting away from clinical jargon (e.g., replacing "dysregulated" with "terrified" or "placement" with "home") helps adults stay connected to the stark reality of childhood trauma. Guest Sarah Naish is an international best-selling author, keynote speaker, and CEO of the Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma (CoECT). Bringing over 40 years of lived and professional experience to her work, Sarah's background spans across social work, nursery nursing, fostering over 40 children, and adopting a sibling group of five.  Recognised as a trailblazer in therapeutic parenting, she is the founder of the National Association of Therapeutic Parents (NATP) and founder/director of two trauma-informed fostering agencies in England and Wales (TRUE Fostering and SAfER Fostering). Sarah has authored numerous sector-defining books—including the No. 1 bestseller The A–Z of Therapeutic Parenting—and works continuously to reform foster care assessments, kinship support tools, and trauma training across education and social care systems globally.  Resources Mentioned in This Episode Sophie Spikey Has a Very Big ProblemThe A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Professional Companion: Tools for Proactive Practice.The Essential Guide to Kinship Care (Co-authored with Enza Smith MBE)Free Resource – Allegation Support PackLevel 4 Trauma-Informed Practitioner QualificationSend us Fan Mail Subscribe to Trauma Informed Conversations for more honest discussions about trauma, recovery, and building systems rooted in care and humanity.

  3. Aug 5

    Nature, Belonging, and Regulation with Cat Jolleys

    In this episode of Trauma Informed Conversations, host Jessica Parker is joined by TICS Associate Cat Jolleys. Drawing on her 24-year background as a primary school deputy head and SENCo, as well as her current work as a forest school leader and nature practitioner, Cat explores the deep connection between the natural environment and nervous system regulation.  Starting with John Muir’s famous quote "We are now in the mountains and they are in us" - Jess and Cat discuss how stepping outside shifts us from "what is wrong with you" to an environment of low demand, safety, and sensory restoration. From neuroplasticity and tree climbing to mindfulness around a campfire, this conversation highlights how nature serves as a powerful co-regulator for care-experienced young people, neurodivergent children, and exhausted adults alike.  Key Takeaways The Neurobiology of Outdoors: How natural environments reduce sensory and cognitive overload, allowing children - especially those with additional needs - to regulate faster and stay regulated for longer. Safety in the Woods: Understanding how ancestral instincts influence our need for safety, such as leaning against a tree to guard our backs or creating "dens" to feel cocooned. Attention Restoration Theory: Why just 15 to 20 minutes of scanning nature, feeling sunlight, or hearing bird song can clear cognitive capacity and restore an overwhelmed nervous system. Healing for Parents and Carers: The role of "Nature Well" sessions in offering trauma-informed space for parents of SEND children - giving them permission to rest, be restored, and leave home pressures behind. Practical Inclusivity: How urban schools, social workers, and office workers without direct access to forests can bring nature into daily practice through houseplants, sunlight, and small noticing walks. Guest Cat Jolleys is a TICS Associate, qualified Forest School Leader, and Nature Health and Wellbeing Practitioner based in Greater Manchester. Following a nearly 24-year career in primary education as a Deputy Headteacher and SENCo, Cat pivoted her work toward nature-based wellbeing. She specialises in facilitating child-led outdoor learning, supporting care-experienced and neurodivergent young people, and delivering nature wellbeing sessions that foster relaxation, restoration, and revitalisation.  Send us Fan Mail Subscribe to Trauma Informed Conversations for more honest discussions about trauma, recovery, and building systems rooted in care and humanity.

  4. Jul 21

    Public Health, Prevention, and VR: Shifting Violence from Bad Behaviour to Trauma Responses with Misty Carey

    In this episode, host Jessica is joined by Misty Carey from Tide Education all the way over in Perth, Australia. Misty is a nurse of 30 years who is currently studying a social work masters, bringing a unique lens to the social determinants of health and trauma-informed care.  Together, they explore a fascinating question: What if we approached our first childhood experiences in the same way we approach infectious diseases? Misty unpacks the science behind adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and explains how we can shift our perspective from seeing aggression or dysregulation as "bad behaviour" to understanding it as a survival response from a stressed nervous system.  Join us as we discuss: The Power of Early Prevention: Viewing childhood adversity through a public health lens to prevent downstream violence and health issues. Creating "Off-Ramps": Practical tools and baseline strategies to support individuals who are escalating in high-stress environments like hospitals or youth detention. Systemic and Community Support: Moving away from a culture of blame to wrap our arms around vulnerable families and children. Innovation through VR: How Tide Education is using cutting-edge virtual reality and AI to safely train professionals in empathetic de-escalation and co-regulation. About the Guest Misty Carey is a dedicated healthcare professional with 30 years of nursing experience, currently expanding her expertise by pursuing a Master’s in Social Work. Based in Perth, Australia, she is the founder of Tide Education, where she merges her extensive clinical background with a deep interest in the social determinants of health and human behaviour.  Driven by both professional insight and personal lived experience, Misty is a passionate advocate for trauma-informed care and public health approaches to childhood adversity. Through Tide Education, she pioneers innovative training methods - including the use of cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence - to help professionals across healthcare, justice, and community sectors recognise nervous system dysregulation, provide safety, and master the art of empathetic de-escalation.  Send us Fan Mail Subscribe to Trauma Informed Conversations for more honest discussions about trauma, recovery, and building systems rooted in care and humanity.

  5. Jul 7

    Validation, Expression, and Storytelling: Shifting Emotional Literacy from Control to Connection with Sharon Paterson

    How can parents, educators, and professionals support children in navigating their complex internal worlds and developing true emotional literacy? Far too often, emotional literacy gets confused with emotional control—praising children simply for being calm rather than teaching them how to safely feel, process, and express their big emotions.  In this episode of Trauma Informed Conversations, we sit down with author, illustrator, and children's services veteran Sharon Paterson. Drawing from her 15 years of experience working across secure welfare units, residential homes, and area referral offices, Sharon shares how noticing patterns of unaddressed trauma, neurodiversity, and grief led her to write gentle, non-clinical resources to help children feel safe, held, and validated.  Together, we explore: The Somatic Connection: Helping children look beyond just naming emotions to understand the physical and somatic cues—like a tight tummy or a pounding heart—that their bodies are giving them. High-Status Modeling: Why it is a strength, not a weakness, for adults to model vulnerability, own their mistakes, and offer authentic apologies to children. The Digital Disconnection: How today’s selectively curated and constantly connected social media landscape amplifies youth anxiety, distorts reality, and deepens feelings of isolation. The Power of Bibliotherapy: Using her Bunny and B book series—including Astrin (for bereavement), Tufty (for bullying), and Pitt (for ADHD)—as beautiful co-regulation tools that validate a child's uniqueness. By shifting our lens from judging a child's behavior to being curious about their experiences, we can offer the holistic approach they truly need. Tune in to discover practical insights on building strong emotional foundations and reminding the children in your life that they are always enough.  About the Guest: Sharon Paterson is an author, illustrator, and dedicated advocate for children's emotional wellbeing. Sharon brings an exceptional depth of knowledge to our conversation, backed by nearly 15 years of hands-on experience working within Children’s Services. Her career has spanned critical sectors of youth care, including working in secure welfare units, residential children’s homes, and managing referrals for secure placements.  Throughout her career, Sharon noticed a stark, repeating pattern: a devastatingly high number of young people entering secure care had suffered the unaddressed loss of a primary caregiver or sibling. Driven by these professional insights, her own lived experience as a neurodiverse individual, and her journey supporting her neurodiverse grandson through emotional meltdowns, she realized that children's feelings simply weren't being validated enough. This sparked the creation of Bunny and B - a gorgeous catalog of non-clinical bibliotherapy books designed to give children the vocabulary to understand and own their feelings.  Links & Resources Pip and her Heart Pebble Asterin and the Memory Stone Tufty gets her Guardian Wings Send us Fan Mail Subscribe to Trauma Informed Conversations for more honest discussions about trauma, recovery, and building systems rooted in care and humanity.

  6. Jun 25

    Empathy, Grief, and Partnership: Shifting Home-School Dynamics from Conflict to Collaboration with Graham Chatterley

    How can schools and professionals move past performative empathy to build genuine, supportive partnerships with the parents of children with SEND? Far too often, the intense pressures within the educational system pit schools and families against each other, creating defensiveness instead of a united team around the child.  In this episode of Trauma Informed Conversations, we sit down with trauma-informed trainer, author, and educator Graham Chatterley to bridge this gap. Drawing from both his extensive professional career in special education and his deeply personal lived experience as a father to his son Daniel, who has complex medical and neurodivergent needs, Graham shines a vital light on the unseen realities of SEND parenting.  Together, we unpack the psychological journey and emotional grief that parents navigate, the exhausting physical toll of around-the-clock caregiving, and the critical need for schools to offer genuine validation and emotional safety rather than lip service. Graham shares practical insights into rethinking the use of one-to-one support, prioritizing proactive sensory regulation over reactive crisis management, and why protecting legal safeguards like EHCPs is more vital than ever in today’s challenging landscape.  What We Cover: Bridging the Home-School Divide: Overcoming the "us versus them" narrative to establish a foundation of emotional safety, mutual trust, and effective collaboration. The Realities of Performative Empathy: Why parents see right through standard procedural responses and how listening to hear—rather than just to respond—can save relationships. The "Grief" and Journey of SEND Parenting: Understanding the emotional phases families go through—denial, anger, bargaining, and eventually acceptance—and why schools must meet parents exactly where they are. Preventative vs. Reactive Interventions: The resource-saving power of early, short interventions (like sensory circuits) compared to managing a child in full crisis. Rethinking One-to-One Support: How to frame and utilise individual adult support to facilitate safety and independence without causing environmental manipulation. The High Stakes of SEND Reform: A look at why parents are deeply anxious about shifts to the EHCP framework and the essential nature of legal protections for vulnerable young people. About the Guest:  Graham Chatterley is a highly respected behaviour specialist, consultant, and author of Building Positive Behaviour and Changing Perceptions: Deciphering the Language of Behaviour. As the Director of Changing Perceptions Limited, an advisor with When the Adults Change, and a senior licensed tutor for Team Teach, he has dedicated his career to embedding empathy, relational strategies, and trauma-informed practices across all sectors of education. A former primary and secondary school teacher, Graham went on to lead specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) outreach provisions designed to support children at risk of exclusion. Beyond his professional expertise, Graham sits on "both sides of the fence" as a parent. His first hand lived experience caring for his son, Daniel who has complex medical and neurodivergent needs including autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and epilepsy - deeply fuels his passionate advocacy for building authentic emotional safety and collaboration between schools and families.  Links & Resources Building Positive Behaviour Changing Perceptions: Deciphering the Language of Behaviour Send us Fan Mail Subscribe to Trauma Informed Conversations for more honest discussions about trauma, recovery, and building systems rooted in care and humanity.

  7. Jun 15

    Movement, Regulation, and Belonging: Shifting Behaviour Management from Penalisation to Partnership with Neil Moggan

    Episode Description Can physical activity become a core vehicle for trauma recovery, emotional regulation, and deep belonging in our schools? Far too often, educational environments inadvertently re-traumatise children through behaviour management policies focused purely on sanctions and isolation. In this episode of Trauma Informed Conversations, host Jessica Parker is joined by former Director of Sport and founder of the Rise Up program, Neil Moggan.  Driven by a striking discovery regarding community health inequalities and a noticeable decline in children's mental health, Neil shares his journey toward adopting a trauma-informed lens that completely transformed behavioural outcomes across secondary and special school settings. Together, Jessica and Neil dive into the practicalities of his 'Recover' framework and the unique 'RISE' acronym designed to guide emotional regulation through intentional, care-wrapped movement.  They explore how moving away from rigid behaviourist systems to find a balance between nurture and structure can successfully prevent exclusions, shrink behaviour boundaries, and heal the ruptures that block a young person's ability to learn. Whether you are a PE specialist, a classroom teacher, or an educational leader, this conversation offers a powerful testament to the impact of knowing a child's story, using sensory strategies for core regulation, and building a lifelong self-care toolkit.  Key Takeaways From Disparities to Action: How a staggering 13-year life expectancy gap outside an inner-city school fueled Neil's transition from a standard sports curriculum to early intervention wellbeing programmes. The 95% Drop in Send-Outs: The rapid transformation that occurs when a department switches from rigid discipline to psychological safety, instantly lowering classroom removals. Decoding the RISE Acronym: A practical look at Repeaters, Inclusive teams, Stress busters, and Energisers as intentional tools to widen a student’s window of tolerance. Slashing Physical Restraints: A moving case study from a specialist school where proactive movement strategies and emotional self-awareness reduced physical interventions from 50 down to 10. The Lifelong Self-Care Toolkit: Breaking the mental health stigma and utilising a "happiness chemical menu" to give young people emotional intelligence skills that outlast their school years. Balancing Nurture and Structure: Addressing the common misconception that trauma-informed practice is a "soft touch" by proving that clear boundaries and high expectations are actually expressions of care. Guest Profile Neil Moggan is an award-winning educator, author, and the Founding Director of Future Action, an organisation dedicated to transforming children’s life chances through trauma-informed mental wellbeing strategies. Over a 19-year career in physical education, Neil served as a Director of Sport and a Health and RSHE lead at an inner-city secondary school in Norwich. After qualifying as a Trauma-Informed Schools UK (TISUK) practitioner, Neil road-tested a relational and movement-based approach that radically lowered his department's student removals by 95% in a single term, while dramatically boosting student grades and attendance. This transformative success became the foundation for his acclaimed 'Recover Roadmap' and the 'RISE Up' Early Intervention Programme. Recognising the modern youth mental health crisis, Neil's curriculum has empowered hundreds of primary, secondary, and special schools globally to build sustainable cultures of care. He is also the author of the Amazon-bestselling book, Time to RISE Up: Supporting Students’ Mental Health in Schools, published by PE Scholar. Links & Resources Download the free Trauma Informed Frontline Educator Scorecard mentioned in this episode from here. Connect with Neil Moggan and explore his training programmes at Future Action.Find Neil's bestselling book: Time to RISE Up: Supporting Students’ Mental Health in Schools.To learn more about trauma-informed educational programmes or to collaborate on school case studies, visit the Trauma Informed Consultancy Services (TICS) website. Send us Fan Mail Subscribe to Trauma Informed Conversations for more honest discussions about trauma, recovery, and building systems rooted in care and humanity.

  8. May 26

    The Art of Listening - Moving from "Fixer" to Supporter

    The Art of Listening - Moving from "Fixer" to Supporter In a world that moves quickly toward solutions, simply sitting with someone in their discomfort can feel counterintuitive. Yet, as we explore in this episode, true support often comes from doing less, not more. We are joined by Angelique Tavernier, founder of Clarity Ahead, to discuss the transition from being a "rescuer" to becoming a genuine listener. We often jump into "fixer mode" because emotions make us uncomfortable, and providing a solution helps us feel more in control of the situation. However, rushing to "fix" can inadvertently invalidate the other person's experience and shut down their internal processing. In this episode, we explore: The Psychology of the Fixer: How our desire to feel useful often leads us to bypass the emotional work necessary for healing.The "At Least" Trap: Why well-meaning phrases like "at least..." or "everything happens for a reason" can make a listener feel judged or dismissed.The Three Components of Active Listening:Asking Open Questions: Using "what" and "how" to encourage reflection instead of defensiveness.Summarising: Reflecting back what you’ve heard in the speaker's own words to check understanding.Reflecting Emotions: Recognising the feelings behind the words to show the person they are truly seen.Silence as a Tool: Understanding that silence equals "processing" and learning to resist the urge to fill the gap.Setting the Stage: The power of asking a simple question before a conversation starts: "Do you want to vent, do you want advice, or do you need a distraction?".Building Psychological Safety: How managers can use coaching skills to foster trust and confidence within their teams.Practical Takeaways: Drop the "Why": Replacing "why" with "what" or "how" prevents people from feeling defensive and forced to justify their feelings. Practice in Low Stakes: Start honing your active listening skills during casual conversations about holidays or meetings before applying them to high-stress situations.By embracing the idea that "less is more," we allow others the space to find their own solutions while ensuring they don't feel alone in their struggle. About Our Guest: Angelique Tavernier is the founder of Clarity Ahead, a consultancy dedicated to helping individuals and organisations overcome barriers to professional progress through reflective, empowering coaching. With over 12 years of experience in higher education, learning design, and professional development, Angelique holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Career Guidance and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice. Her work is grounded in values of clarity, empowerment, and inclusivity, blending mindset coaching with strategic training to build human-centered learning cultures. Whether supporting a transition to hybrid learning or helping managers foster psychological safety, Angelique’s mission is to help people build the confidence and self-sufficiency needed to take ownership of their own growth. Learn More: To learn more about Angelique's work, visit Clarity Ahead. For more resources on trauma-informed communication and to explore upcoming workshops, visit the Trauma-Informed Consultancy Services website. Send us Fan Mail Subscribe to Trauma Informed Conversations for more honest discussions about trauma, recovery, and building systems rooted in care and humanity.

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About

Hosted by the team behind Trauma Informed Consultancy Services, led by Jessica Parker, Director at TICS. This podcast explores how trauma-informed principles can transform the way we live, work, lead, and support others. Each episode dives into real-world conversations with experts, educators, and practitioners who are driving positive change through compassion, understanding, and awareness. Whether you’re a leader, educator, clinician, or simply someone who wants to build safer and more supportive environments, Trauma Informed Conversations offers practical insights, reflective dialogue, and inspiring stories to help you embed trauma-informed approaches in every aspect of life and work. Join us as we create space for empathy, learning, and meaningful connection — one conversation at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Parker
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Trauma Informed Consultancy Services Ltd
  • Show Website
    Trauma Informed Conversations