WEBINAR: Behaviour is communication

This workshop explores how behaviour is communication, how it tells us a story and gives us clues about the child's inner world particularly from a trauma lens.

We will bring to life using some poetry, some stories, some anecdotes, and some powerful images exploring how behaviour is communication, and how we need to learn to see the person behind the behaviour.

Some suggested questions for exploring behaviour further, as well as some top tips for responding will be shared and explored. This will also give attendees a way to make sense of behaviour and of ways to communicate how behaviour is communication to others.

We will discuss survival and protective responses. How trauma can come out through the body and sensory world and how the same behaviour such as “self-harm” can be viewed through many different lens. We will also look at how our lens can colour what we see or how we can respond to behaviours.

Dr Karen Treisman, MBE, is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist who has worked in the National Health System and children’s services for several years. Karen has also worked cross-culturally in both Africa and Asia with groups ranging from former child soldiers to survivors of the Rwandan Genocide. She is the author of 12 books, including the bestselling book, “The therapeutic treasure box”, 5 sets of therapeutic card decks, and 6 therapeutic soft cuddly toys.

Karen has extensive experience in the areas of trauma, parenting, adversity (ACE’s) and attachment, and works clinically using a range of therapeutic approaches with families, systems, and children in or on the edge of care, unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, and adopted children.

In addition to holding a doctorate in Clinical psychology, Karen has undergone a range of specialist training courses including in EMDR, Narrative Therapy, Trauma-focused CBT, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Systemic Psychotherapy, Video Interaction Guidance, Sensory Approaches, and Theraplay.

Karen was also awarded the 2018 Psychology Professional of the Year Award for Excellence in Attachment and Trauma; and Youth Psychology Professional of the Year 2020.  Karen was also awarded an MBE (Queens Honour list 2020).

Karen regularly attends and presents at local, national, and international trauma, parenting, and attachment conferences, and is a TEDx speaker on the power of relationships and viewing behaviour as communication.