The Needs Paradox®, developed by Tara McDonald and Dr Karen O’Neill (2024), describes the psychobiological conflict that children affected by relational trauma experience when they are offered care, attunement and co-regulation.
The result is a profound inner paradox: a longing for connection, held alongside a fear of it.
Understanding this internal conflict allows clinicians to respond with approaches that honour both the protective function of these adaptations and the child’s need for safety and regulation, through both cognitive processing and embodied responses to trauma
The Needs Paradox® offers a compassionate, clinically grounded framework for making sense of these dynamics. It supports therapists and caregivers to gently restore connection, co-regulation and relational safety.
This three-day training introduces The Needs Paradox® and its clinical application. It offers a structured, relational and trauma-informed approach for working with children and young people who experience therapeutic relationships as unsafe or threatening.
Participants will explore how early relational trauma shapes the nervous system, attachment development, identity and self-concept, and how this can create a profound inner paradox: a longing for connection, held alongside a fear of it.
The training places particular emphasis on the role of parents and caregivers because relational trauma arises within caregiving relationships. The Needs Paradox® recognises that recovery must also happen through relationship. Therapists will develop skills to actively involve caregivers as key partners, supporting them to provide the Conditions for the Development of Self: Safety, Predictability, Mentalisation, Empathy, Curiosity and Trust.
Through theory, reflection, case application and experiential practice, participants will develop the knowledge and skills to work safely with attunement to defensive survival strategies, while strengthening co-regulation within the caregiver–child relationship.
The programme has three parts: pre-course videos to watch before the live training, three days of live online training, and two follow-up group consultations to help you embed your learning in practice.
After the three-day training, you will join a small consultation group of no more than six participants. These groups offer ongoing support and guidance as you integrate your learning into practice and deepen your understanding of The Needs Paradox®.
Each group is led by a Certified Play Therapist and Supervisor who has completed the training and has an in-depth knowledge of The Needs Paradox®. Our consultants bring a wealth of clinical experience and will be a valuable source of support.
Practical Details
Friday 14th – Sunday 16th May 2027
9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Participants are required to watch the pre-course videos, attend all three days of live training and both group consultations, and complete a final online assessment.
22 hours awarded to participants who complete the full live online training
Total Fee: £499
Please click here to pay in up to three instalments via PayItMonthly.
Please ensure you read and understand our booking policy before making a booking or setting up an instalment plan, as it is your responsibility to be aware of the terms and conditions.
