This reflective training explores resistance as a meaningful form of communication shaped by trauma, attachment, power and previous experiences of services. Designed for professionals working with children and families, the course supports practitioners to strengthen engagement, reduce escalation and respond to resistance in more compassionate, relationship-based ways.
Live online events
Description
Working with Resistance is an interactive and reflective training programme for professionals working with children, young people and families within social work, safeguarding, therapeutic and support settings.
Resistance is a common experience in relational and helping professions and may present in many different ways, including avoidance, hostility, disengagement, apparent compliance or missed appointments. This training encourages practitioners to move beyond viewing resistance as simply “non-compliance” and instead understand it as meaningful communication that may be shaped by trauma, attachment experiences, fear, shame, power dynamics and previous interactions with services.
Drawing on trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches, the course explores how resistance can provide valuable information about a person’s experiences, emotional safety and readiness for change. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on the impact of professional systems, authority and organisational pressures, alongside the emotional impact resistance can have on practitioners themselves.
The workshop combines psychoeducation, reflective discussion, case examples and practical strategies to help professionals respond to resistance in ways that maintain relationships, reduce escalation and support meaningful engagement.
Topics covered include:
- Understanding resistance within relational and systemic contexts
- Trauma, attachment and protective responses
- Power, authority and the professional role
- Recognising overt and subtle forms of resistance
- The emotional impact of resistance on practitioners
- Using resistance as information to guide intervention and engagement
- Relationship-based and trauma-informed approaches to practice
- Maintaining curiosity, empathy and professional resilience
This training is suitable for social workers, therapists, clinicians, support workers, safeguarding professionals, education staff and other practitioners working with children, young people and families.
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites are required. This course is suitable for professionals working with children, young people and families who would like to develop their understanding of resistance, engagement and trauma-informed relational practice. Participants should be willing to engage in reflective discussion and consider how organisational systems, relationships and professional responses can influence engagement and resistance.