--- title: 'Handling Disclosures - Children and Trauma' url: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/trauma/handling-disclosures-children-and-trauma' markdown: 'https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/trauma/handling-disclosures-children-and-trauma.md' date: '2025-12-11' description: "Please note: This film was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to support teachers as students returned to school following lockdowns. While the pandemic is now behind us, the guidance Dr Trickey provides about recognizing trauma in children and responding to disclosures remains as relevant and valuable today as ever. Many teachers are understandably concerned about what their students may have experienced and how best to support them when trauma affects their wellbeing and ability to learn. Children face various potentially traumatic experiences - from bereavement and loss, to domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse, to other distressing events that can leave lasting impacts. In this essential guide for educators, Dr David Trickey, Consultant Clinical Psychologist from the Anna Freud Centre and Co-Director of the UK Trauma Council, draws on over 20 years of experience working with traumatised children to help teachers recognize the signs of trauma and respond effectively. Dr Trickey explains how trauma affects children's behaviour and learning - from heightened physiological arousal that makes it impossible to concentrate, to withdrawal and low mood that's easy to miss, to intrusive memories that dominate their attention even during lessons. He provides clear, practical guidance on what to do when a student discloses something concerning, emphasizing the importance of staying calm, listening carefully, and following proper safeguarding protocols. This short film equips teachers with the knowledge and confidence to support traumatised students appropriately. While some children will adjust well with additional help, others will need more specialist support. Understanding the signs of trauma and knowing how to respond puts educators in an incredibly powerful position to make a real difference in these children's lives and their recovery." taxonomy: category: - 'Mental Health' tag: - 'School Life' - Trauma - PTSD type: - Video contributor: - 'Dr David Trickey' --- # Handling disclosures: Children and Trauma [ School Life ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:School%20Life) [ Trauma ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Trauma) [ PTSD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:PTSD) [ ![Nip in the Bud](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/themes/nitb/images/logos/round-logo.png) ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us "About Nip in the Bud") ![Dr David Trickey](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/06.about-us/02.authors-and-experts/dr-david-trickey/doctor-david-trickey.jpg) Speaker [Dr David Trickey](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us/authors-and-experts/dr-david-trickey)expert Duration: 0h 5m 35s Published: October 2020 Produced by [Samantha Wrightson](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us/authors-and-experts/samantha-wrightson) #### Warning: Please note – some images and content may be upsetting or disturbing. This film is not intended to be watched by children #### Read the transcript of the film:[ Transcript of Handling disclosures: Children and Trauma](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/trauma/children-and-trauma-handling-disclosures) **Please note:** This film was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to support teachers as students returned to school following lockdowns. While the pandemic is now behind us, the guidance Dr Trickey provides about recognizing trauma in children and responding to disclosures remains as relevant and valuable today as ever. Many teachers are understandably concerned about what their students may have experienced and how best to support them when trauma affects their wellbeing and ability to learn. Children face various potentially traumatic experiences - from bereavement and loss, to domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse, to other distressing events that can leave lasting impacts. In this essential guide for educators, [Dr David Trickey](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/about-us/authors-and-experts/dr-david-trickey), Consultant Clinical Psychologist from the [Anna Freud Centre](https://www.annafreud.org/) and Co-Director of the [UK Trauma Council](https://uktraumacouncil.org/), draws on over 20 years of experience working with traumatised children to help teachers recognize the signs of trauma and respond effectively. Dr Trickey explains how trauma affects children's behaviour and learning - from heightened physiological arousal that makes it impossible to concentrate, to withdrawal and low mood that's easy to miss, to intrusive memories that dominate their attention even during lessons. He provides clear, practical guidance on what to do when a student discloses something concerning, emphasizing the importance of staying calm, listening carefully, and following proper safeguarding protocols. This short film equips teachers with the knowledge and confidence to support traumatised students appropriately. While some children will adjust well with additional help, others will need more specialist support. Understanding the signs of trauma and knowing how to respond puts educators in an incredibly powerful position to make a real difference in these children's lives and their recovery. --- Was this helpful? 0 0 Share: [ Previous Post](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/trauma/children-and-trauma-handling-disclosures) [Next Post ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/school-life/tips-for-teachers/depressive-symptoms-tips-for-teachers) #### Other Related Posts: ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/05.mental-health/03.trauma/what-is-trauma-focused-cbt/trauma-in-children.jpg) ### Video: What is trauma-focused CBT? [Video: What is trauma-focused CBT?](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/trauma/what-is-trauma-focused-cbt) Trained therapists can deliver specialist trauma-focused CBT to help face the trauma and control horrible thoughts. [ Trauma ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Trauma) [ PTSD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:PTSD) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/05.mental-health/09.ptsd/what-is-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/ptsd-and-me.jpg) ### Video: What is post traumatic stress disorder? [Video: What is post traumatic stress disorder?](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/ptsd/what-is-post-traumatic-stress-disorder) Nip in the Bud has been given permission by the UK Trauma Council to share this series of four short animations, which they have produced on the topic… [ Trauma ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Trauma) [ PTSD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:PTSD) ![](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/user/pages/05.mental-health/03.trauma/children-and-the-trauma-of-the-grenfell-tragedy/trauma-in-children.jpg) ### Video: Children and the trauma of the Grenfell tragedy [Video: Children and the trauma of the Grenfell tragedy](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/trauma/children-and-the-trauma-of-the-grenfell-tragedy) Dr Sian Williams and Dr David Trickey talk about the trauma suffered by children who witnessed the Grenfell tower fire. [ Trauma ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:Trauma) [ PTSD ](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/results/tag:PTSD) --- ## Navigation - Parent: [Trauma](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/trauma.md) - Previous: [Depressive Symptoms: Tips for Teachers](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/toolkit/school-life/tips-for-teachers/depressive-symptoms-tips-for-teachers.md) - Next: [Handling disclosures of Trauma from children](https://nipinthebud.trilbyhost.com/mental-health/trauma/children-and-trauma-handling-disclosures.md)