The CARE Therapeutic Framework is a back-to-basics, strengths-based program that supports enrichment of therapeutic care environments for children who are recovering from relational trauma and other forms of early adversity, and their caregivers.

Relational connection, wellbeing, and new learning (growth) are key outcomes, as is the promotion of competencies among carers and professionals in the delivery of therapeutic care.

A back-to-basics approach supports consistency of care and reparative relational experiences, where consistency is optimal for a child’s new learning about the accessibility and responsiveness of adults in a care and supporting role, wellbeing, and positive beliefs about self, other and world (attachment representations). A back-to-basics approach reflects the fact that our care needs are very similar across the lifespan, notwithstanding that they are expressed and met in different ways at different ages.

A strengths-based approach is necessary as people focus too much on problems to solve than on what is going well. Problem-solving can be stressful and carries a number of inherent risks associated with our tendency to selectively attend to aspects of the world around us that are consistent with our thoughts, and overlook aspects that are not in our thoughts; including the things that are already occurring that support positive outcomes for children and carers. Problem-solving can become overwhelming. People need to be reminded to ‘see’ the positives. A strengths-based approach supports wellbeing and successful endeavour. For children, it supports a positive self-concept and confident approach to life and relationships.

The CARE Therapeutic Framework supports positive relational connections. As is known, positive relational connections:

• repair the relational harm experienced by children and young people who are recovering from abuse and neglect;
• regulate behaviour;
• support physical and mental health; and
• support a positive self-concept in children and young people, which is vital to their confident approach to life and relationships.

Evaluation data is continuously collected as part of the CARE Therapeutic Framework. We are happy to share information about how The CARE Therapeutic Framework is achieving desired outcomes as part of a conversation about an implementation project with your organisation or group.