Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy with Veronica George

Children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma often communicate their distress through behaviour rather than words. Beneath the dysregulation, avoidance, aggression or withdrawal lies a nervous system doing exactly what it has learned to do to survive. This engaging two-hour webinar explores the science of interpersonal neurobiology and what it teaches us about the profound impact of relationships on brain development, emotional regulation and healing. 

Building on this foundation, we will explore PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) as a practical relational framework for creating the safety that allows children and young people to move beyond survival and towards connection, resilience and growth. Participants will discover how attuned, compassionate interactions help shift shame-based narratives, strengthen trust and support children to make sense of their behaviours through a lens of curiosity rather than judgement.

Central to this webinar is the understanding that relationships are the intervention. Modern neuroscience shows us that brains develop and heal in the context of safe, attuned relationships—nervous systems heal nervous systems. We will explore the vital role of co-regulation, recognising that it is often the adults’ awareness of their own nervous system and their ability to regulate that creates the conditions for healing through responding with intention rather than reacting.

This webinar will leave participants with a deeper understanding of how neuroscience can inform compassionate, relationship-based practice and practical strategies for fostering safety, trust and emotional wellbeing in the children, young people, whānau and professionals they support.

Participants will leave with:

• A deeper understanding of how developmental trauma influences brain development, nervous systems, behaviour and relationships.

• Insight into the effects of blocked trust, shame, attachment disruption and intergenerational trauma.

• An understanding of interpersonal neurobiology and its implications for educational and therapeutic practice.

• Practical ways to use the PACE approach to foster trust, emotional safety, connection and healing through attunement and co-regulation.

• Increased awareness of the importance of adult relational presence and regulation as the catalyst for change.

Facilitator:

Veronica George is a Northland based registered Psychologist, DDP therapist and consultant who splits her time between training, consultancy, supervision and case work.  

Veronica is New Zealand’s first certified Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) consultant. She utilises this framework in her therapeutic work with children, adults, and families, and also in her training and consultancy within the education, health and community sectors to promote trauma-informed practice. Veronica speaks with a contemporary, practical, and uniquely New Zealand focused perspective, providing numerous examples across settings, with a particular focus on trauma-informed practice within the education sector.

"When we understand behaviour through the lens of the brain, nervous system and relationships, we move beyond managing behaviour to creating the conditions where healing can occur."