Understanding Child to Parent Abuse: Trauma, Patterns and Practice

Child to parent abuse is one of the most hidden and misunderstood forms of family harm. Parents often feel blamed. Young people are seen as difficult rather than distressed. Practitioners are left managing risk, fear and uncertainty with very little guidance.

This one day training offers a clear and compassionate understanding of CPA. Drawing on more than twenty years of direct work with families, you will learn practical tools that support safety, trust and real change. The day blends research, lived experience and real cases from practice.

You will learn how to recognise early warning signs, how trauma and fear shape behaviour, and how to respond in ways that reduce escalation rather than increase it. You will leave with practical questions, strategies and approaches you can use immediately in your work.

This training listens differently. It does not dismiss problems. It helps families move towards safety, connection and possibility.

What you will gain

• A clear understanding of what CPA is and why it happens
• Insight into patterns of escalation in families
• Trauma informed practice ideas
• Tools to work with resistance and silence
• Safety planning strategies that reduce risk
• Solution Focused questions that help families create change
• Real examples from live cases

Who is it for

This training is ideal for social workers, school staff, youth workers, family support workers, domestic abuse practitioners, therapeutic staff and any professional supporting families where harm is taking place inside the home.

What to expect on the day

• A mix of teaching, group exercises and skills practice
• Real CPA case examples from more than twenty years of practice
• Space for reflection and discussion
• Practical tools you can use straight away
• A supportive and safe learning environment