About colbypearce
I am a practising Clinical Psychologist with twenty-seven years’ experience working with children and young people recovering from abuse and neglect. I am also an author and educator in trauma-informed, therapeutic caregiving. My programs are implemented in Australia and Ireland, and I am well-known for my practical and accessible guidance for caregivers and professionals alike.
A child leaves their placement to attend school, where acceptance and belonging are contingent on adhering to the school’s behaviour expectations. They leave school to go to sports practice, where acceptance and belonging are contingent on being good enough to … Continue reading →
Posted in trauma informed, trauma informed practice
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Tagged childprotection, childwelfare, childwelfareacademic, childwelfareleadership, Education, fostercare, kinshipcare, residentialchildcare, schools, socialwork, socialworker, socialworkers, teachers, trauma, traumainformed
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Twenty-seven years continuous work in child protection and child welfare, including ongoing work with young adults who have transitioned from Care, has taught me some extremely valuable lessons about long-term outcomes of a childhood spent in State Care. In particular, … Continue reading →
Posted in Attachment, Fostering, kinship care, Parenting, Therapy, trauma informed, trauma informed care, Trauma Informed Schools
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Tagged childprotection, childwelfare, childwelfareleadership, fostercare, kinshipcare, parenting, psychology, socialcare, socialwork, teachers, traumainformed, traumainformedschools
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I need my mum and dad to be there for me without me having to ask; to say the words that show that they understand what is happening for me and our family right now; to show that my needs are important without me having to explain them; and to sit with me and experience what I am feeling. Continue reading →
Posted in Fostering, kinship care
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Tagged adoption, attachment, childprotection, childwelfare, childwelfareleadership, foster, fostercare, fostering, kinshipcare, parenting, socialcare, socialworkers, traumainformed
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Below are my notes from a twenty-minute presentation I delivered on 15/6/22 on behalf of The Tweddle Foundation, at their event marking Infant Mental Health Awareness Week 2022. Good morning. My name is Colby Pearce, and I am a practising … Continue reading →
Posted in training, trauma informed care, trauma informed practice
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Tagged attachment, childwelfare, childwelfareleadership, earlytrauma, IMHAW2022, parenting, socialcare, traumainformed, traumainformedcare
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In recent posts I have referred to three things that children in out-of-home care need, and need adults who are responsible for their care and welfare to understand, to support their recovery from complex relational trauma. These three things are: … Continue reading →
Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Fostering, kinship care, Parenting, trauma informed, trauma informed care
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Tagged attachment, attachment theory, Child Protection, child welfare, child welfare leadership, fostercare, kinshipcare, Social Care, social care worker, therapeutic care, trauma informed
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In this blog I describe a methodology I used with my own children, and recommend in my practice. Before doing so, I would advise that this is a routine that I sustained across years. My children and I enjoyed this … Continue reading →
Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Fostering, kinship care, Parenting
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Tagged children's sleep, foster carer, fostering, kinship carer, parent, parenting, psychology, resilience, sleep, trauma informed, wellbeing
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The ‘failure’ of a therapeutic care strategy to achieve the desired outcome on first administration does not necessarily mean that it will not or that it is a worthless strategy. Children and young people who are recovering from a tough … Continue reading →
Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Fostering, kinship care, Parenting, trauma informed, trauma informed care
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Tagged adoption, Child Protection, child welfare, child welfare leadership, foster care, kinship care, Social Care, socialwork, therapeutic care, trauma informed
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A child’s adjustment, like many aspects of their functioning, is usefully thought of as sitting on a spectrum ranging from maladjustment at one end to positive adjustment at the other end. Where a child is on this spectrum depends on … Continue reading →
Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Fostering, kinship care, Parenting, trauma informed care
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Tagged adoption, childprotection, childwelfare, fostercare, kinshipcare, parenting, socialwork, trauma informed
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Children and young people who could not be safely cared for at home by their mum and/or dad are afforded contact with their birth parents where it is safe and appropriate to do so. Contact done well preserves a sense … Continue reading →
Chewing their clothes is not necessarily evidence of wilful damage or a lack of respect. For many children it is an exaggeration of a very natural way in which they regulate their nervous system. As such, it is better conceptualised … Continue reading →
Posted in AAA Caregiving, Adoption, Attachment, Fostering, kinship care, Parenting, trauma informed
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Tagged attachment, childprotection, childwelfare, educator, fostercare, kinshipcare, parenting, psychology, socialcare, teacher, traumainformed
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Attachment and Resilience 