Right Now: Episode 6
Trauma Informed Practices
“If a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” Alexander Den Heijer
In schools right now, this question feels more relevant than ever:
How do we create environments where young people feel safe enough to learn?
In this conversation with Dr Louise Mansell, we explore what trauma-informed practice looks like in action.
Louise, a clinical child psychologist, shares how understanding neuroscience, attachment and trauma can shift the way we respond to behaviour, learning and relationships.
We talk about:
why behaviour needs to be understood, not managed
the role of predictability, choice and safety
and how to support regulation in real time - “name it to tame it”
What stands out is this: these approaches aren’t just for some students. They shape the experience of the whole classroom.
Louise’s warmth alongside her practical strategies that are so simple to use in our schools and classrooms really left me thinking long after our conversation was over.
Listen here:
Alongside her work with schools, Louise is the founder of ‘Tedology’, a multi-sensory interactive teddy bear resource designed with children to support emotional literacy, understanding, regulation and resilience.
Learn more about her work here:
https://tedology.com.au/
LinkedIn: @DrLouiseMansell



I’m so glad to hear others talking about the importance of environment! It’s so true that if a student isn’t thriving, the environment needs to change to support them.