Announcing the
Trauma Recovery Global Conference 2026
Denial of complex trauma:
Seeing the shadow and stepping out from it.
Society and its systems particularly struggle to acknowledge and respond to extreme and complex forms of abuse. The deep invalidation and lack of care that this leads to causes further profound trauma to victims and survivors, compounding the original harms.
Why is it that we turn away from people’s suffering, and what are the different forms that this denial can take? What are the repercussions and costs of this silence and disavowal? And most importantly, how can we use clear sightedness of these dynamics to forge a different approach, one in which we as a society recognise complex trauma and choose to stand with those who have suffered it, honouring their dignity and sharing the burden? This talk explores all of these questions, drawing on numerous societal examples, including the discourse of disbelief around ritual abuse, and healthcare systems that can only see simple trauma.
Alongside this, we will be delving into Creative tools and methods for across the Trauma Recovery Continuum - for therapists and therapeutic mentors.
Betsy de Thierry MBE invites you to save the date for this one day event, designed to equip professionals working with children, young people and families who have experienced Trauma and lead them on a journey towards Trauma Recovery.
Understanding the current climate around sexual exploitation and abuse. Exploring sexual abuse through the lens of both recovery and prevention. Focusing on the impact of the current context of porn, social media, grooming, abuse and exploitation.
The unchecked influence of wealth and power, combined with ideologies that narrate control as freedom, have gifted us an internet that bombards our young people with content violating their right to author sexualities rooted in respect, intimacy and connection. A complex ecosystem exists in which young people’s sexualities are being shaped towards corporate profit, and away from their own best interests. This is resulting in more harmful sexual behaviour and exploitation, underpinned by sexual scripts shaped to objectification, hostility and aggression. This talk unpacks all this, and proposes ways in which we can tackle these harms, fight back, and protect our children and young people.
Navigating The Recovery from Sexual Trauma and Exploitation
Betsy de Thierry MBE will focus on the often missed essential elements of the recovery journey from these kind of traumatic experiences. Trauma recovery from sexual trauma is rarely a focus for those working with survivors and the work can revolve around safety and justice, which are vital but without a recovery lens, leads to the child potentially spending a life time of managing symptoms of distress and/ or denial. Stuck in that cycle of management of trauma symptoms can cause feelings of volatility and instability, which can then lead to develop further coping mechanims. Recovery is possible and can be the lens with which we view the whole journey from acknowledgement to justice to prevention and reduction of symptoms to recovery.
The Keynote speakers are:
Dr Elly Hanson who has written many research papers, books and is a well regarded specialist in the field.
Betsy de Thierry MBE who trains many sexual exploitation and trafficking teams and charities across the globe.
We will end with a panel of professionals working as specialists in the field who all work within a trauma informed and/or recovery framework who will be ready with Q&A after the keynotes.
It's one not to miss if you work with all age children.
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Dr Elly Hanson
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Betsy de Thierry
TRG Conference 2026 highlights
Fierce curiosity and courageous hope: Why curiosity and courage is crucial for change.
Join the community of Trauma Recovery Focused Practitioners!
Friday 19th March 2027
Keynote Speakers
Dr Suzanne Zeedyk
Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk is a research scientist fascinated by babies’ innate capacity to communicate.
Since 1993, she has been based at the University of Dundee, Scotland, within the School of Psychology, where she now holds an honorary post.
In 2011, she stepped away from full time academic work in order to set up her own independent training enterprise to disseminate what she calls the Science of Connection. Humans beings are born connected, and as a species we have a physiological need for emotional connection in order to lead happy, healthy lives. Suzanne thought the public deserved to understand the science that gives depth to these insights. In 2014, she expanded her reach by founding the organisation 'connected baby', which enabled her team to create events and resources that support her message.
We estimate that, in the past 10 years, well over 100,000 people have heard her speak live, and many more have watched videos or read her books and blogs. Suzanne brings to her work her awareness of the latest discoveries on infant communicative capacities and brain development, as well as her own research expertise on parent-infant relationships and the socio-political contexts within which scientific information emerges.
Suzanne now works closely with organisations throughout the world, holding on to the same goal with which she set out: We need to increase awareness of the decisions we take about caring for children, because they are integrally connected to our vision for the kind of society we wish to build.
At the core of her work, Suzanne is asking us to find the courage to face up to all of children's experiences.
More about Dr Suzanne Zeedyk
Dr Suzanne Zeedyk has written chapters across a number of books, including 'Trauma Informed Practice in Primary Schools:
Taking Behaviour Seriously' and 'Intersubjective minds: Rhythm, sympathy and human being'. View chapters by Suzanne here
Betsy de Thierry MBE
Betsy de Thierry MBE, MA, Consultant Psychotherapist, Trainer, Author, CEO of Trauma Recovery Global and BdT Training Ltd, and Founder & Chair of Trustees of the Trauma Recovery UK (www.traumarecoveryglobal.com & www.trc-uk.org).
Betsy is an internationally recognised trauma recovery expert, psychotherapist with over 30 years experience, and pioneering leader within complex trauma recovery. Betsy has authored multiple best selling books on trauma recovery such as ‘The Simple Guide Series’, making topics such as Complex Trauma & Dissociation, Emotional Neglect, Shame, Creativity, Attachment Difficulties and Collective Trauma accessible to professionals and communities alike, giving language to those in need.
With over 40,000 professionals & students trained in 34 nations over the last 10 years, Betsy delivers powerful training in her BdT Trauma Recovery Focused Model (TRFM®) to individuals, organisations and charities across a range of front line sectors, equipping them to facilitate Trauma Recovery.
More about Betsy de Thierry MBE
View more about Betsy de Thierry MBE here
Find Betsy de Thierry on LinkedIn
Trauma Recovery Global Conference 2026 Highlights
