Trauma-informed practice in child and adolescent mental health services
Summary
It is common for community-based practitioners to support children and families who have experienced trauma. Research suggests that between 50%-75% of children have been exposed to at least one traumatic event by the age of 16.
Trauma-informed practice intends to promote safety, share control with clients, increase service effectiveness, enhance client-practitioner relationships, and increase the person-centred focus of services. It recognises that many aspects of service delivery can unintentionally cause harm: the physical environment, practices, policies, language and organisational culture. It requires services and practitioners to be aware of trauma and trauma responses, to be sensitive to the possibility that the children and families they are working with may have experienced trauma and to understand the links between these experiences and mental health.
Trauma-informed practice can, and should, be applied in all service settings with all clients. It is not necessary to know the details of someone’s trauma history to work with them in a trauma-informed way. Rather, trauma-informed practice promotes safety, dignity and a positive service experience for all clients and practitioners.
This poster focuses on practical guidance for practitioners wishing to strengthen and embed trauma-informed practice into everyday service delivery. We focus on 3 stages of support:
- Initial contact (including relational and physical safety)
- Screening and assessment
- During sessions between practitioners, young people and their families (including relational safety and collaboration; client empowerment, voice and choice; and cultural and historical factors).
For each stage, we draw on evidence from the research literature and practitioner expertise to outline simple practical strategies practitioners can consider in their work with children and families.
Reference
Butler, K., MacDonald, J. B., Helprin, H., Dobud, W., & Willoughby, M. (2026). Trauma-informed practice in child and adolescent mental health services. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, 16-18 March. Gold Coast, Australia. (Poster)
- Presented: Mar, 2026
- Location: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, 16-18 March. Gold Coast, Australia.