Episode Details
Back to EpisodesEP64 Bridging Childhood Trauma and Therapeutic Practices; A conversation with Sarah Dillon.
Description
Philippa Kelly speaks with Sarah Dillon, consultant psychotherapist and head of therapeutic services for True Fostering and Safer Fostering, about how her own childhood in and out of foster care shapes her child-centered, trauma-informed work. Sarah explains why children react strongly to birth family contact, how sibling conflict can stem from trauma bonds, unmet needs, shame, and difficulty holding dual attachments, and how caregivers can use empathy, visuals (like her “pie” analogy), and consistent “PACE” narratives to keep relationships intact. She outlines her agencies’ proactive approach, including the Trauma Tracker tool and life story work, and describes compassion fatigue (including “blocked care”), how to spot it, and ways to support carers. They also discuss transitions, visual timetables, linking cause and effect without punitive consequences, and Sarah’s new children’s book, “Inside Big Me Lives a Little Me.”
Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma - https://www.coect.co.uk/about-us