There is a spectrum of parenting program approaches, ranging from behaviorist programs focused on prescribing techniques and strategies to those aimed at cultivating social and emotional development in families. In working with traumatised parents and children, particularly those who also face neurodivergence, our experience in training parenting facilitators and running Bringing Up Great Kids parent groups has shown that increasing parents’ reflective capacity is key to transformative change. While strategies and techniques can be helpful in specific encounters, the complexity of trauma, especially when coupled with neurodiversity, demands an approach that cultivates parents’ ability to reflect on their children’s needs, their own responses, and the dynamic, evolving nature of their family situation.

Trauma is inherently diverse, and when neurodiversity is also present, the diversity becomes even greater. It is crucial, then, not to rely on a one-size-fits-all strategy. Instead, we support parents to develop reflective capacities that empower them to adapt to their unique and changing circumstances. Families affected by trauma and neurodiversity experience fluid situations shaped by various factors over time. By helping parents build their reflective capacity, we enable them to find their own way of responding to each challenge, facilitating long-term growth and resilience in their families.

This presentation will explore how increasing reflective capacity can shift practice from relying on pre-set strategies to fostering deeper, more adaptive responses in traumatised families. It will provide insights into how this approach creates lasting, transformative change for parents and children dealing with the complex intersection of trauma and neurodiversity.