Understanding Trauma and Neurodivergence in Children (In-person)
This one-day joint conference between BPS and UKTC features psychologists and academics sharing insights on trauma and neurodiversity, focusing on the lived experiences of neurodivergent children.
In-person bookings only
This page is for in-person bookings. To attend the conference online, visit the online booking page.
About this conference
During this in-person conference, we will hear a range of perspectives from professionals with expertise in trauma and neurodivergence. The conference will explore the lived experience of trauma for neurodivergent children and young people, including the contexts and risk factors that affect this group. We will also examine the complexities and potential solutions for working with trauma and neurodivergence in schools and therapeutic settings.
This conference is aimed at clinicians who want to deepen their understanding of the lived experience of trauma for neurodivergent children and young people. Throughout the day, we will unpack the interplay between trauma and neurodivergence and highlight key strategies clinicians can use to adapt their practice to better support neurodivergent young people who have experienced trauma.
Aims of this conference
To learn more about the research relating to the co-occurrence of trauma and neurodivergence.
To learn more about formulating trauma and neurodiversity.
To understand how to support neurodivergent children and young people who have experienced trauma in schools and in therapeutic work.
Who is this conference for?
Clinicians and mental health professionals working with neurodivergent children and young people who have experienced trauma.
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09:00 – 09:15 - Arrival & coffee
09:15 – 09:20 - Opening address & welcome
09:20 – 10:05 – Session 1: Professor Helen Minnis - Trauma and Neurodivergence in Children and Young People: Vicious and Virtuous Cycles in Double Jeopardy. Helen will present research showing that maltreated children are more likely to be neurodivergent. She will discuss the “Double Jeopardy” theory, exploring how trauma and neurodivergence interact and how positive cycles can be created with the right support.
10:05 – 10:20 - Q&A session
10:20 – 11:15 – Session 2: Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou & Alexis Quinn - A Trauma-Informed Approach to Mental Health Support for Autistic Children, Young People and Their Families. Georgia and Alexis will share a neurodivergence-informed approach to trauma, focusing on autistic experiences. They will discuss why autistic children are more vulnerable to interpersonal, cultural, or medical trauma, and the implications for practice.
11:15 – 11:30 - Q&A session
11:30 – 11:55 -Morning coffee break
11:55 – 12:40 – Session 3: Dr Naomi Fisher - Not Fine in School: School Trauma and Neurodiversity. Naomi will explore how school environments can contribute to trauma for neurodivergent children and how adults can better support them.
12:40 – 12:55 - Q&A Session
12:55 – 13:45 - Lunch
13:45 – 14:30 – Session 4: Dr Waveney Patel & Dr Vicki Wardman - Creating Belonging: Supporting Neurodivergent Children Who Have Experienced Trauma to Thrive. Waveney and Vicki will discuss creating neuroaffirming learning environments using the Waves model and Neurosequential Model, with a focus on fostering belonging and practical clinical applications.
14:30 – 14:45 - Q&A session
14:45 – 15:10 - Afternoon coffee break
15:10 – 15:55 - Panel discussion - Bringing it altogether: Summarising and reflecting on themes from the day
15:55 – 16:15 - Closing reflections and feedback forms
16:15 - Conference close
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Prof Helen Minnis - Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow
Helen Minnis is Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow. She has had a longstanding clinical and research focus on the psychiatric problems of abused and neglected children. She is running randomised controlled trials of interventions for children who have experienced early adversity. She also conducts epidemiological research and is currently focusing on the interplay between abuse and neglect and neurodevelopment across the life-course. She has collaborations with colleagues at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, the Universities of Aalborg and Aarhus, Denmark and with the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Dr Georgia Pavlopoulou - Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology and Mental Health at University College London (UCL) and founder of the Group in Research in Relationships and Neurodiversity - GRRAND
Georgia is Associate Professor in Developmental Psychology and Mental Health at University College London (UCL) and founder of the Group in Research in Relationships and Neurodiversity - GRRAND. She works at the intersection of research, clinical care and education to bring sustainable and positive change for neurodivergent people and the professionals who support them. She is also a BACP relational pluralistic psychotherapist and lead editor of the three times best seller “Improving Mental Health Therapies for Autistic Children and Young People”, published by Routledge in November 2024. Her recent research focuses on school induced emotional burden, situating emotion regulation in adhd and autism and adaptations in therapy settings when working with distressed autistic adults.
Alexis Quinn - Manager of the Restraint Reduction Network
Alexis Quinn is a psychotherapist and author of two books: her ground-breaking memoir, Unbroken, and Autistic & Expecting, a guide for autistic parents to be. Alexis speaks on neurodivergence, trauma, restraint, solitary confinement and mental well-being. She works as Manager of the Restraint Reduction Network.
Dr Naomi Fisher - DClinPsy, PhD, MA (Cantab)
Dr Naomi Fisher is a clinical psychologist and EMDR-Europe Trainer who specialises in trauma, autism and alternatives to school. She is the author of several books, including A Different Way to Learning: Neurodiversity and Self-directed Education and the recent When the Naughty Step Makes Things Worse, with Eliza Fricker. She works with families of children who are struggling with school or who are no longer attending. She runs training for professionals on EMDR and is currently writing a book on adapting EMDR for neurodivergent people.
Dr Vicki Wardman - Regional Director Clinical, Witherslack Group
Vicki is a Clinical Psychologist with 17 years’ experience working across child and adolescent mental health services and specialist education and residential provisions. Vicki has previously held the role of Clinical Lead within a CAMHS service, overseeing a multidisciplinary team delivering specialist assessment and intervention for neurodivergent children and teenagers. Vicki has worked within the Witherslack Group for eight years, previously as the Senior Clinical Psychologist across a range of specialist settings. Vicki is now the Regional Director for Clinical, supervising and managing multi-disciplinary teams across education and residential settings. Vicki has a particular interest in neurodivergence, developmental trauma and empowering adults around children to create environments where children can thrive.
Waveney Patel - Regional Director Clinical, Witherslack Group
Waveney is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with 30 years’ experience working across community based and specialist child and adolescent mental health services with an area of interest in developing and embedding psychological practice in education settings. Waveney has worked as a Clinical Lead in school based mental health services and has led teams embedding psychology practice in services for children who are looked after.
Waveney has been a Clinical Lead within specialist CAMHS, overseeing a multidisciplinary team delivering specialist mental health assessment and intervention. Waveney has been a Clinical Lead in a large school for autistic pupils and has been working at Witherslack Group for five years as a Regional Director for Clinical alongside Vicki, supervising and managing multi-disciplinary teams in education settings. Waveney has led the Safe and Sound Protocol roll out across Witherslack Group. Waveney has a particular interest in creative approaches to therapy that are accessible to children and young people who have experienced complex trauma and are neurodivergent.
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The conference will take place at Anna Freud's London office, 4-8 Rodney Street, London N1 9JH.
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We want to make our conference as comfortable and accessible as possible for all delegates. We recognise that some people may benefit from adjustments to help make the day more comfortable for them, so they can get the most from the conference. We have listed below a few ways we can work together to make the conference experience better for our delegates:
Venue: The conference is held at the Anna Freud Offices in London. The conference room is on the lower ground, which is accessible by stairs and lift. The conference room is windowless, but the breakout room has a lot of natural light. Step-free access is available throughout the building. Accessible and gender-neutral toilets are available on site. Please let us know in advance if you require a hearing loop or other auditory assistance. If you have any specific access needs or may require assistance during emergency procedures, please let us know in advance.
Temperature: The temperature of the conference room is controlled electronically through air-conditioning. Please feel free to bring what you need to help regulate your temperature (e.g. extra layers).
Lighting: The conference room is windowless, but the breakout room has a lot of natural light. The conference room has overhead lighting which is centrally controlled. You are welcome to bring and/or wear anything that would help you to regulate light sensitivities, such as glasses and/or hats.
Environment: The conference is held in central London and there will be a large number of people in one space, which we know can feel overwhelming for some people. You are welcome to take breaks at any time (see below). During the presentations, the coffee space outside of the main conference room will be free for anyone who would like to move to a quieter space – we just ask you to please be thoughtful about making noise in this area when the speakers are presenting.
Seating: The conference seating will be hard-backed chairs laid out in rows. We can also offer bean bags – please email us in advance to remake a request. The speakers will be at the front of the room.
Breaks: We have planned breaks for coffee and lunch into the programme, but delegates are free to take additional breaks anytime throughout the day. If you think you might benefit from additional breaks, you may like to sit on an aisle seat to make leaving and returning easier.
Quiet space: There will be a quiet space available all day if you wish to use it. Located on the ground floor, you can take some time to relax during the conference and during the breaks.
Self-regulation: You're welcome to bring and use items which will help with self-regulation, such as fidget toys. Some people prefer to move, walk or sit on the floor rather than a chair – you are welcome to move around or sit on the floor if preferred. We kindly ask people to be mindful of making additional sounds/movements which might distract other delegates. You are welcome to take some time outside of the conference room for movement breaks.
Refreshments: Tea, coffee, water and biscuits are provided throughout the day. Lunch is provided and you can share any dietary requirements on the conference booking form.
Lunch: Lunch is served in the Atrium outside the conference room. Some people enjoy talking to other delegates during coffee/lunch breaks, whereas others prefer a quieter break and less interaction. You are welcome to take your lunch outside or into the conference if you prefer, which may be quieter. Please return your plates and cups to the lunch or coffee break room after eating.
Questions: If you have a question for the panel discussion at the end of the day and do not want to raise your hand and ask it aloud, you can write your question on a post-it note and put it in the box by the door to the conference room and a CDT committee member will read the question to the panel.
Feedback: We will ask you to complete some written feedback forms about the speakers and the overall event towards the end of the day and after the event.
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Upon booking, you will be asked to confirm that you have read and accept our terms and conditions and our privacy notice. Please read these documents before booking:
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