Do you ever notice moments where connection feels harder to reach with the children and young people you support? When care workers feel angry, overwhelmed, or emotionally distant, it isn’t a personal failure—it’s often a natural brain response to ongoing stress and distress. This experience, known as “blocked care”, can emerge when our nervous system becomes overloaded by the challenges of caring for children who have been impacted by relational trauma. 

At the same time, many children and young people carry experiences of early trauma that lead to “blocked trust", making closeness, safety, and connection with adults feel risky. Blocked care and blocked trust can create a painful cycle that leaves both the adult and young person feeling stuck and disconnected, and can lead to ruptures in relationships. 

This workshop explores the neuroscience and attachment foundations behind blocked care and blocked trust, and why children and young people can struggle to build trust and engage in the relationship. The workshop offers a compassionate lens for understanding what is happening beneath the behaviour and explores how to use attachment-focused care to break the cycle. Drawing on the work of John Baylin and Dan Hughes, participants will be invited to reflect, learn, and grow in their practice. 

You will gain practical, relationship-focused strategies to meet the individual needs of children and young people with greater compassion, while also supporting your own wellbeing.
 

About the facilitator

This training is delivered by experienced professional trainers with expertise and experience in trauma-informed intervention and practice. Our trainers have a strong understanding of trauma and its impact on children and families, translating this knowledge into practice in a range of professional contexts. A focus on application to practice via discussion and strategy is a core component of the workshop.
 

Other information

• Timezones: all course and workshop times are displayed in Sydney/Melbourne/Canberra time zones. Please ensure you convert to your current time zone.
• Payment: All workshop payments must be made by credit card.
• Group bookings: Invoicing is only available for group bookings of 5 or more for the same workshop date. Contact us through support@childhood.org.au for group bookings.

This workshop is designed for professionals in helping roles who support children and young people impacted by trauma. It is suited to those seeking deeper understanding, practical strategies, and renewed confidence to build connection, trust, and sustainable care in their work.