PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy)
PACE is a therapeutic approach designed to support children and young people, particularly those who have experienced traumatic childhood experiences. This training is a critical component of therapeutic parenting, aiming to create a nurturing and supportive environment that helps children heal and develop healthy relationships.
Core Components of PACE
Playfulness:
Encourages a light-hearted interaction that helps build a positive atmosphere, reducing stress and fostering connections.
Acceptance:
Involves acknowledging a child’s thoughts and feelings without judgment, essential for building trust and security.
Curiosity:
Encourages exploring the reasons behind behaviours, helping children feel valued and understood.
Empathy:
Focuses on connecting with the child’s emotional experience, providing a sense of support and understanding.
Key Learnings in PACE Training Provided by bMindful Psychology
Understanding Attachment:
Training on attachment theory helps caregivers recognise different attachment styles and their impact on behaviour, equipping them to provide consistent and nurturing care.
Impact of Trauma on the Brain:
Participants learn about how trauma affects brain development and behaviour, enabling them to better support children experiencing these reactions.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs):
Educates caregivers on the long-term effects of ACEs, fostering empathy and tailored care approaches.
Trauma-Informed Care Practices:
Focuses on creating safe and predictable environments, using sensitive communication, and avoiding secondary trauma and re-traumatisation.
Benefits of PACE Training for Residential Teams
Enhanced Communication:
Provides caregivers with effective communication tools, improving their ability to connect with and support children.
Improved Relationship Building:
Fosters trust and security in children, essential for emotional healing and development.
Increased Emotional Regulation:
Helps caregivers’ model and encourage healthy emotional regulation in children, reducing challenging behaviours.
Positive Impact on Caregivers:
Reduces burnout and increases job satisfaction, fostering a sense of fulfilment and connection to their work.
Enhanced Team Cohesion:
PACE training promotes a shared understanding and approach among staff members, leading to more cohesive and supportive teamwork.
Professional Development:
The training enhances caregivers' skills in trauma-informed care and therapeutic techniques, contributing to their professional growth. This knowledge can be valuable for career advancement and provides a deeper understanding of child psychology and behaviour management.
Empowerment and Confidence:
Staff members who are trained in PACE feel more confident in their ability to handle difficult situations and support the children in their care. This empowerment can lead to more proactive and creative problem-solving, enhancing the overall quality of care.
Resilience Building:
The skills learned in PACE training not only benefit the children but also help staff develop resilience. Understanding trauma and its effects can help caregivers not take challenging behaviours personally, reducing emotional strain and fostering a more resilient mindset.
Improved Staff Retention:
A supportive work environment, enhanced by PACE training, can lead to higher job satisfaction and staff retention. When staff feel supported and equipped to handle the challenges of their role, they are more likely to stay in their positions, reducing turnover and maintaining continuity of care for the children.
Feedback from one of the most recent training sessions around the PACE model (16/07/2024), all participants rated 90-100% satisfaction of the training session and would recommend to colleagues in a similar role. Moreover, all participants said that “100% of the learning on the course can be applied to the role, stating that they were either “very” or “extremely” confident in applying the skills learned to their role.
Conclusion
To conclude, PACE training is a comprehensive and invaluable tool for residential teams working with children who have experienced trauma. By fostering an environment of playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, and empathy, caregivers can support the development of children, while also enhancing their own professional and personal growth. This holistic approach not only benefits the children but also strengthens the staff team, creating a more supportive and effective caregiving environment.
References
Golding, K.S., 2017. Everyday parenting with security and love: Using PACE to provide foundations for attachment. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Hughes, D. and Golding, K.S., 2012. Creating loving attachments: Parenting with PACE to nurture confidence and security in the troubled child. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Naish, S., 2018. The AZ of therapeutic parenting: strategies and solutions. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Phillips, S., 2024. Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). Psychological Treatment Approaches for Young Children and Their Families, p.241.
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