Unique Connections At The Table

This conversation explores the intersection of self-injury and learning (intellectual) disabilities, emphasizing the importance of family-centered approaches and the need to bridge gaps in research and clinical practice. Caroline and Bev discuss historical contexts and societal attitudes and why people with learning disabilities who sometimes hurt themselves have been thought about and treated so...

Dr Noelle Blackman is a psychotherapist, coach , consultant and trainer specialising in the field of trauma informed practice and the role of senior leaders in organisations supporting people with learning disabilities. Over the last 30 years her focus has remained on the importance of human connection as a fundamental element of wellbeing in all aspects of life. In this episode, we talk about how...

Dr John Keesler was the first person to publish about why trauma-informed care should be embedded into services people with learning disabilities way back in 2014. He has continued to focus his energy in working with direct care services, and trauma institutes to work out how we can best implement TIC in the sector. In this episode, we discuss the importance of understanding trauma, the role of re...

In this conversation, Beverley Samways and Lisa Jane Lea-Weston discuss the critical role of supervision, particularly in supporting teachers and leaders, and how this is a foundational need for any organisation wanting to respond well to people in their care who are traumatised or distressed. They explore the misconceptions surrounding supervision, its importance in fostering emotional well-being...

Dr Julie Calveley is the founder-director of NAC Wellbeing . NAC empowers caregivers to provide compassionate, attuned support for people with severe and profound disabilities. In this conversation, Julie Calveley and Beverley Samways discuss effective care strategies for individuals with learning disabilities, particularly focusing on self-injury. They explore the importance of understanding emot...

Paddy McNally is a consultant clinical psychologist who has spent most of his career focusing on applying trauma-informed care principles to those supporting people with learning disabilities. He has published "A Framework for the Implementation of trauma-informed care in Residential and Supported Living Services for Adults with a Learning Disability", which is freely available online. In...

In the final episode in this series, Bev and Jen discuss the complexities of implementing trauma-informed practices in settings supporting people with severe learning disabilities. They draw on their own experiences to break down the challenges, and why 'off-the-peg' trauma-informed models can fall short when it comes to non-speaking individuals. They go on to discuss what sorts of engagem...

In this conversation, Bev and Jen explore the emotional and psychological costs associated with care work, particularly in direct care settings. They discuss the challenges of managing vicarious trauma, the importance of support systems, and the need for self-care among care workers. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of creating a supportive environment that acknowledges the emotional toll...

We discuss the place for boundaries inside trauma-informed practice, particularly in educational settings - that 'no' is both a trauma-informed word and a kind word in the right context. They discuss the importance of understanding trauma in students, the necessity of boundaries, and the balance between compassion and discipline. The dialogue emphasizes the role of relationships in healing...

Jen and Bev explore the principles of empowerment, choice and voice in the context of trauma-informed care with people with severe learning disabilities. They delve into the significance of balancing spontaneity and routine, the emotional growth that comes from navigating disappointment, and the necessity of creating safe spaces for healing. The discussion also touches on family dynamics, fairness...

This conversation explores the dynamics of trust, transparency, and community in care settings, emphasizing the importance of emotional honesty and resilience. Bev and Jen discuss their personal experiences and insights into how relationships and organizational culture impact the well-being of young people, particularly those with learning disabilities. They highlight the need for a shift towards...

In this conversation, Bev and Jen delve into the principles of collaboration and mutuality, particularly in the context of trauma-informed care. They explore how collaboration can dismantle power structures, the importance of respecting a person's autonomy, and the transformative experiences that arise from mutual trust and understanding. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, t...

In this conversation, Bev and Jen focus on safety – one of the core principles of trauma-informed care. They start with some thoughts about how quickly psychological safety can get shaken, and then drill down into the role of relationships in creating safe, supportive environments particular in setting supporting people with severe learning disabilities. They also touch on the complexities of depe...

In this conversation, Jen and Beverley discuss the challenges faced by young people with learning disabilities dealing with trauma and the importance of understanding their stories, when these can be found. Discussing Bev’s Churchill Fellowship visits to the UK, Jen asks about the cultural differences in trauma-informed care between the UK and the USA, highlighting the role of therapy and the need...

In this conversation, Bev and Jen use a discussion about the pandemic as a springboard into thinking about the different experiences of trauma, and the way we can recover. They talk through understanding trauma as a bodily experience and the necessity of creating safe environments for recovery. Applying this to examples of different ways of understanding presentations of young people with learning...

In this episode, we talk about how common trauma is thought to be amongst people with learning disabilities; and the things that contribute to people with learning disabilities experiencing trauma. We then pull the conversation wider to think about the way in which trauma might affect direct care staff. This leads us on to a discussion around regulation, dysregulation and co-regulation - and how w...

In this new series of podcasts, Jen and I slowly walk back through the Churchill Fellowship Report, which explores trauma and learning disabilities and the sorts of interventions that Bev learnt about during her time in the US in 2024.   This episode starts with an exploration of what trauma is, how it presents for people with learning disabilities, and why it's a bigger problem than we are cu...

In this episode from our YouTube channel, Bev and Jen talk about the work of Unique Connections and some of the ethos and principles behind if. Jenny Cavendish is a nationally-recognised self-harm expert and an integrative psychotherapist.

In this episode from our YouTube channel, we talk to Dr Caroline Roberts who brings both compassion and passion to her research with people with learning disabilities who self-injure. Dr Roberts' research is focused on interdisciplinary approaches for supporting people with learning disabilities who self-injure, and she brings to her research her own lived experience of being sister to her bro...

Unique Connections At The Table is a podcast dedicated to exploring the profound power of human connection, especially for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and other conditions. Hosted by the team behind Unique Connections, this podcast dives into the heart of what it means to build meaningful informed relationships with those who often struggle to be understood—including non-speaki...