Families and Trauma Work: Integrating Key Ideas from Individual and Systemic Practice

Course Overview

Working with families and individuals where there has been trauma, especially intergenerationally, presents complex challenges that require more than what any one framework or approach can provide. This workshop offers a number of theoretical frameworks that can be integrated in a way that is potentially useful in this area. These include systems theory, neurophysiology, attachment theory (adult and child applications) and internal family systems therapy.

The important features of each of these will be presented and then integrated into an approach for trauma informed assessment and intervention. Consideration will be given to how to manage issues such as family violence that can frequently accompany trauma presentations in individuals and families, and also to how to build resilience even when risk issues have not been fully resolved. The workshop will include didactic and practical components to build integration of theory and skill.

Training Type

This course is conducted E-Learning via ZOOM platform.

Who Should Attend

This workshop would be particularly useful for those with a therapeutic role with complex trauma but would also be appropriate for those with roles in case management, child protection, and family or individual support. This includes psychologists, social workers, psychologists, mental health workers, youth workers, drug and alcohol workers, psychiatric nurses, child protection workers and anyone who is working with individuals and/or families where trauma is a key organising factor in the presentation.

Course Duration

2 full-day on 17 & 24 Sept 2025

(8.30am - 4.30pm)

Course Outline

Exploration of the worker’s role and context when working with trauma
Useful concepts and practices from Systems theory and family therapy
Useful ideas from neurophysiology
Adult Attachment theory (Bowlby 1969, Ainsworth 1973, Main 1979)
Internal Family Systems (Schwartz 1995)
Worker self-care
Trauma-informed Single Session Therapy

(please see course objectives under "additional details")

Certification Obtained and Conferred by

Participants are expected to meet minimum 75% class attendance to be awarded with the Certificate of Attendance by The Bouverie Centre

Course Objectives

Articulate important and useful features of a systems approach, trauma related neurophysiology, attachment theory and internal family systems
Articulate how to obtain a mandate for trauma informed work with individuals and families
Create and maintain engagement with clients while addressing difficult issues
Take a history and genogram as part of an overall assessment integrating the above frameworks
Utilise principles of a “single session” approach to service delivery
Develop appropriate individual and family interventions based on the trauma informed assessment
Articulate ideas for managing issues such as family violence in the context of working with trauma
Articulate ideas for building resilience in clients in face of persisting risk issues
Consider implementation issues associated with an integrative systemic trauma treatment approach

Medium of Instruction & Trainer

Lecturers from The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University

Nella Charles is a family therapist and clinical psychologist at The Bouverie Centre where she has been employed as a clinician and teacher in family therapy for over 20 years. She has a breadth of experience working with families, with particular experience working in disability, acquired brain injury and child welfare fields. She has a particular interest in the treatment of trauma and use of creative methods in family, group work and supervision.

Funding Information

NCSS member and MSF-funded Social Service Agencies are able to apply for NCSS PCG Funding (funding renewal in progress, outcome will be known in early June 2025)