What Every Practitioner Should Know About ACT | #TRIBETalk Ep. 39

Send us Fan MailDoes your child struggle when your attention is focused on someone else?Perhaps they interrupt conversations, become louder or more demanding when you're talking to another child, struggle when you spend time with their sibling, or suddenly need you the moment your attention moves elsewhere.For children who have experienced trauma, this isn't always simply about wanting attention. Sharing an important adult can feel difficult when relationships, safety and connection haven't always been predictable.In this episode of TRIBE Talk, Laura Neal and Rachel Evans explore what may be happening underneath these behaviours and why some children have a particularly strong need to keep the attention of the adults they trust.We look at how past experiences can influence relationships, why behaviours that look demanding or attention-seeking may be communicating something very different, and practical ways parents and carers can help children feel more secure while gradually learning to cope when attention is shared.Most importantly, we discuss how you can respond without making your child feel that their need for connection is wrong — while still creating healthy boundaries for the whole family.If you've ever thought, "Why can't my child cope when I'm giving someone else attention?", this episode is for you.Find out more about us here:https://www.tribecare.orghttps://www.thebehaviourclinic.co.uk

Send us Fan MailFor children and young people who have experienced trauma, Exam Results Day can mean much more than the grades written on a piece of paper.Many care-experienced and trauma-experienced children have faced disruption to their education. They may have changed schools, experienced periods of absence, struggled to concentrate or learn while coping with trauma, or simply not had the same opportunities as their peers. When results arrive, those experiences can suddenly feel very visible.In this episode of TRIBE Talk, Laura Neal and Rachel Evans explore how parents and carers can support children who may not achieve the results they hoped for — particularly when trauma and missed education have shaped their educational journey.We discuss managing expectations, recognising the progress that exam grades don't capture, responding sensitively to disappointment, avoiding comparisons with other young people, and helping your child look towards what comes next.Most importantly, we explore how to make sure Exam Results Day doesn't become another experience that tells a young person they have failed, when their journey to get there may already have required extraordinary resilience.Whatever is written on that results sheet, their story is bigger than their grades.Find out more about us here:https://www.tribecare.orghttps://www.thebehaviourclinic.comAnd don't forget to subscribe and join the Trauma-Informed TRIBE.

Send us Fan MailHave you ever said a simple "no" to your child and been completely unprepared for the reaction that followed?Crying, shouting, arguing, aggression or a full emotional explosion can leave parents wondering: Why has such a small word caused such a huge reaction?In this episode of TRIBE Talk, Laura Neal and Rachel Evans explore why some children find hearing "no" particularly difficult. We look beyond the behaviour to understand what may be happening emotionally, why previous experiences and trauma can influence a child's response, and how parents can hold necessary boundaries while responding in a trauma-informed way.We discuss why the goal isn't simply to avoid saying no, but to understand what "no" means to your child and help them gradually develop the skills to cope with disappointment, frustration and limits.If you're parenting a child whose reaction to boundaries can feel much bigger than the situation itself, this episode is for you.If you want to see more of our Why You Child Video's check these out:Why Endings Are So Hard For Care Experienced Children: https://youtu.be/njTsI8QBsawFind out more about us here:https://www.tribecare.orghttps://www.thebehaviourclinic.co.ukAnd don't forget to subscribe

Send us Fan MailWhy does staff consistency matter so much in children's homes? Is it really just about staffing levels, or does it have a much deeper impact on the children and young people we support?In this episode of TRIBE Talk, Laura Neal and Rachel Evans explore one of the most overlooked aspects of trauma-informed residential care: the emotional impact of changing staff.Whether you're a Residential Support Worker, Team Leader, Registered Manager, Social Worker or Therapeutic Practitioner, this episode will help you see staff consistency through a trauma-informed lens and provide practical ideas you can take back to your own service.Check out our other podcasts on Residential Care:What Makes A Children's Home Trauma Informed: https://youtu.be/yLB9yVswZQg?si=f36jSCzvsYyoX1xA

Send us Fan MailFamily contact can be one of the most emotionally challenging parts of caring for a child who has experienced trauma—not just for the child, but for you too.Whether a child is in foster care, an adoptive family, kinship care or another permanent home, or a separated parent, contact with a parent they no longer live with can bring uncertainty, worry and anxiety for everyone involved. Many parents and carers spend the entire week leading up to contact wondering how their child will cope, what emotions might surface, and what life will look like afterwards.In this episode of TRIBE Talk, Laura Neal and Rachel explore why this anxiety is so common, how your own emotional state can influence your child's experience, and practical ways to reduce your own anxiety before, during and after family contact.You'll discover:Why family contact can create anxiety for parents and carers.How your child may be influenced by your emotional state.Practical strategies to help you stay calm and regulated.How to support your child before, during and after contact.Why looking after yourself is one of the best ways to support your child.If family contact leaves you feeling anxious, overwhelmed or emotionally exhausted, this episode will help you feel more prepared, more confident and less alone.For Parental How To Videos check out:How To Help Children & Teens Who Get Angry: https://youtu.be/6hWuy2mB1D8?si=lPOypSjfpBs0YGHEHow To Help Bedtime Battles: https://youtu.be/dhUdSGNKck0?si=O7Vj2qeO8GwHVeKx

Send us Fan MailFor this episode of TRIBE Talk, we provide a introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and explore how its core principles can support practitioners working with children, families, and carers. ACT encourages us to stay connected to what matters most, even in the presence of difficult thoughts, emotions, and workplace challenges. We discuss how ACT can help practitioners remain grounded in their values, navigate uncertainty with greater confidence, and maintain compassionate, purposeful practice in the face of everyday demands.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of TRIBE Talk, we explore five common mistakes that can unintentionally damage trust and weaken relationships with children. Most practitioners enter the profession because they want to make a positive difference, yet even well-intentioned interactions can leave children feeling misunderstood, unheard, or unsafe. Through a trauma-informed and behavioural lens, we examine how trust is built—or broken—in the small, everyday moments that shape relationships.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of TRIBE Talk, we explore one of the most common challenges faced by parents, carers, and professionals: supporting children and teenagers who become angry. While anger is often viewed as the problem, it is usually a signal that something deeper is going on. Beneath anger may be fear, anxiety, frustration, shame, overwhelm, or unmet needs that a young person is struggling to express in other ways.Using a trauma-informed and behavioural lens, we discuss why some children and teens experience anger more intensely than others, what may be driving these reactions, and how adults can respond effectively. Rather than focusing solely on stopping angry behaviour, this episode explores how to understand it, reduce escalation, and help young people develop healthier ways of managing and communicating difficult emotions.Episode Highlights What may sit underneath angry behaviour  How trauma can influence emotional regulation and anger  Common triggers for anger in children and teenagers  The difference between reacting to anger and understanding it  Practical strategies to reduce escalation and conflict  How to teach emotional regulation and coping skills  Supporting long-term change rather than short-term compliance

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of TRIBE Talk, we explore why bedtime can be one of the most challenging parts of the day for some children. While bedtime struggles are often viewed as a behavioural issue, they can frequently be linked to anxiety, attachment needs, emotional regulation difficulties, and past experiences of trauma. As the distractions of the day reduce, worries, fears, and big emotions can become more difficult for children to manage.Using a trauma-informed lens, we discuss what may sit beneath bedtime resistance, repeated requests, avoidance, emotional outbursts, and difficulties settling to sleep. This episode provides practical strategies to help children feel safe, regulated, and supported at bedtime while reducing stress for the adults caring for them.Check out our other podcasts:How To Help Teens With Exam Stress: https://youtu.be/85PKxqqzWTc

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of TRIBE Talk, we explore what it really means for a children's home to be trauma-informed. While many services describe themselves as trauma-informed, the reality is that trauma-informed care is much more than training, policies, or good intentions. It requires a whole-system approach that shapes how staff understand behaviour, build relationships, respond to crises, and support young people every day.Drawing on real-world experience from residential care settings, we discuss the key ingredients of effective trauma-informed residential care and how they create environments where children can feel safe, develop trusting relationships, and begin to heal from past adversity.Episode Highlights:What trauma-informed residential care actually meansWhy training alone is not enough to create trauma-informed practiceUnderstanding behaviour through a trauma and attachment lensThe role of relationships in supporting healing and recoveryCreating safety, predictability, and consistency within the homeSupporting staff to deliver trauma-informed care effectivelyHow assessment, formulation, and intervention work togetherWhat good trauma-informed residential care looks like in everyday practice