Recognising and Responding to Domestic Abuse in Childhood

Trauma in the Home: Supporting Children Affected by Domestic Abuse

Who is this training for?This session is designed for educators, social workers, family practitioners, mental health professionals, youth workers, safeguarding leads, and anyone supporting children and families affected by domestic abuse. Whether you’re in a frontline role or shaping policy, this training will deepen your understanding and strengthen your response.

Why this training mattersToo often, children affected by domestic abuse are labelled as ‘difficult’, ‘disruptive’, or ‘challenging’ — when in fact, they are communicating distress the only way they know how. What looks like defiance may actually be a trauma response. Without the right understanding, these children can face exclusion from education, services, and even relationships meant to support them.

What to expectThis training explores:

• The hidden impact of domestic abuse on children’s emotional, behavioural, and social development
• How trauma presents in school and service settings
• Practical, solution-focused strategies to build safety, connection, and trust
• Reframing ‘challenging behaviour’ through a trauma-informed lens
• Real-world examples and tools you can use in your practice

Our approachWe use a strength-based, solution-focused framework to shift the narrative from “what’s wrong with this child?” to “what’s happened to them — and how can we help them feel safe enough to thrive?”

FacilitatorsThis training is led by Ayse Adil and Joe Lettieri, co-founders of Family Based Solutions, a specialist organisation that has supported over 1,000 families since 2012. With deep expertise in Solution Focused Brief Therapy and years of frontline experience, Ayse and Joe bring warmth, clarity, and practical insight to their training. Their work focuses on restoring hope, resilience, and agency in families affected by domestic abuse.