Trauma Informed Care & Therapy
Therapy for the Children & Young People
We offer a wide range of evidence-informed therapies to support children who have experienced trauma, developmental challenges, or emotional and behavioural difficulties. Each therapy is designed to meet different needs and can be combined with other forms of support as part of a holistic plan.
Below you’ll find our therapies listed in alphabetical order. Each summary gives a brief overview.
The Behaviour Clinic Therapies
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACT is a behavioural therapy that helps children (8+) and adults manage difficult emotions, reduce avoidance, and focus on living a meaningful life. It is particularly supportive for those struggling with trauma, anxiety, or psychological challenges.
Attachment-Focused Therapy
Attachment-Focused Therapy is a parent-and-child therapy designed to strengthen emotional bonds and foster secure attachment. Using Play Therapy and Theraplay® techniques, the therapist guides parent child interactions that build safety, trust, and connection. Sessions focus on four essential qualities of healthy relationships—Structure, Engagement, Nurture, and Challenge—helping children experience relationships as positive, predictable, and rewarding.
Behaviour Therapy
Behaviour Therapy uses the science of behaviour to understand why behaviours happen and to teach safer, more adaptive alternatives. It can support children and young people with complex needs, including aggression, self-harm, sexualised behaviours, or challenges linked to trauma and abuse. Programmes are highly individualised and may also involve support for parents and carers.
Bespoke Therapy
Bespoke Therapy is a flexible programme that combines elements of different therapeutic approaches—such as ACT, CBT, Counselling, and Therapeutic Life Story Work—to meet the needs of children with multiple or complex difficulties. Sessions may use creative methods like craft, paint, clay, or outdoor activities to engage the child and develop skills. This therapy is especially helpful for children whose needs span across emotional, behavioural, and relational challenges.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CBT is a talking therapy that helps children (8+) and young people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are connected. It is often used to support those struggling with anxiety, depression, aggression, phobias, or sleep difficulties, especially where trauma has impacted development. CBT has a strong evidence base and can be delivered as a standalone therapy or alongside Therapeutic Life Story Work.
Developing Emotional Understanding
DEU is a directive therapy created at The Behaviour Clinic to help children aged 4–17 develop the skills to recognise, understand, and regulate emotions. It focuses on three areas: emotional literacy, emotional awareness, and emotional regulation. Through structured activities and children learn to identify and label emotions, practise strategies in and outside sessions, and build confidence in expressing themselves. DEU is particularly helpful for children with delays in emotional development linked to trauma or attachment difficulties.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
DBT is an evidence-based therapy that teaches skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. It is especially effective for teens (12+) and young people with complex behaviours, including self-harm, suicidal thoughts, absconding, or intense emotional dysregulation. Sessions include assessment, case formulation, and individual therapy tailored to the young person, alongside work with carers to support strategies at home. DBT provides practical tools to help young people manage overwhelming emotions and build safer, healthier ways of coping.
Integrative Play Therapy
Integrative Play Therapy uses play to help children process emotions, experiences, and trauma in a safe and supportive space. It draws on a range of therapeutic approaches, allowing the therapist to create a plan tailored to each child’s unique needs. This therapy is suitable for children aged 3–12, particularly those who find it difficult to express feelings verbally. It can support challenges such as anxiety, bereavement, nightmares, low self-esteem, or difficulties with regulation and relationships.
Life Story Direct Work
Life Story PPF (Past, Present, Future) is a powerful, structured model of Life Story Direct Work, developed by Laura Neal and Kim Matthews, creators of the Five Approaches to Life Story Work. Built from years of working with hundreds of care-experienced children, this model provides young people with in-depth information about their history space to process past trauma. Unlike Therapeutic Life Story Work, PPF is designed for children who do not require therapy but would benefit from structured Life Story support to help them make sense of their past, understand their present, and build hope for the future.
Parent Child Attachment Play
Parent-Child Attachment Play (PCAP) is an innovative, play-based programme designed to strengthen the bond between parents/carers and their children. Based on the latest attachment research, PCAP supports parents in developing the skills and confidence to nurture safe, secure, and positive relationships with their child.
PCAP is suitable for parents with children aged 3–15+ years and can be delivered one-to-one in the home or within a small group setting. When the parent-child relationship is working well, children’s behaviour improves, and family life becomes more manageable.
Pre-School Life Skills Therapy
Pre-School Life Skills Therapy helps children develop the foundational skills typically learned in early childhood; skills essential for communication, cooperation, and building relationships. These include instruction following, functional communication, tolerance, and friendship skills. While these abilities are usually established before school age, children who have experienced developmental trauma, neglect, or disrupted attachment may have missed these milestones, even well into their teenage years.
This therapy builds on the Pre-School Life Skills Assessment, creating a structured programme that teaches these key areas step-by-step while supporting parents to embed learning in everyday routines.
Therapeutic Life Story Work
Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSW) is a specialist, trauma-focused therapy for children and young people with complex emotional, psychological, or behavioural needs. It helps them explore, understand, and process
their past by developing a coherent life narrative, integrating therapeutic techniques to support recovery,
resilience, and emotional wellbeing.
TLSW is a psychodynamic approach that incorporates elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Play Therapy. It allows children to safely explore feelings of shame, fear, loss, and confusion, and understand how early experiences continue to influence their thoughts, emotions, and behaviour.
Therapeutic Preparation for Adoption
Therapeutic Preparation for Adoption is a structured programme designed to support children and young people with a plan for adoption. It helps them begin to make sense of their experiences, develop trust in safe adults, and prepare emotionally for the transition into a permanent family. The therapy combines approaches from attachment theory, behavioural science, and child psychology. Using play, creative methods, and structured conversations, the programme helps children explore their feelings, understand their story, and build the skills needed to settle into adoptive family life.
Therapy for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse
Experiencing sexual abuse can have a profound and lasting impact on a child’s sense of safety, trust, and
self-worth. Therapy for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse provides a safe, supportive space where children
and young people can begin to process their experiences, reduce trauma symptoms, and rebuild
emotional wellbeing. At The Behaviour Clinic, we offer a specialist programme of support designed from our extensive experience in addressing the emotional, behavioural, and psychological trauma that can result from sexual abuse.
