Yesterday I was visited by a six-year-old boy who has a history of family trauma and is being raised by a relative carer. Upon entering my consulting room he immediately sought my box of assorted animals and rifled through it, looking for a gorilla he has previously identified as “King Kong”. Upon finding King Kong he immediately and enthusiastically began play-acting battles between King Kong and the other animals, where King Kong was always victorious. He confidently asserted that King Kong could take on all-comers and never be defeated in battle. He acknowledged a wish that he could be like King Kong and defeat all of his enemies. He was hopeful of being like King Kong when he is “a teenager”.

Looked-after children who have experienced significant family trauma, whether they be in foster care, adoptive care, kinship care or residential care arrangements, typically share the following characteristics:

• they consider…