Trauma Informed Practice
Specialist training & support for trauma informed practice in the legal sector drawing on International Best Practice
IHelping legal and dispute resolution teams build safer, steadier and more effective ways of working
Trauma-informed practice is about understanding how stress, conflict and difficult experiences shape the way people think, communicate, remember and engage. In legal and dispute resolution settings, clients often arrive carrying fear, grief, anger, shame or past hurt and the professionals working with them are regularly exposed to the same intensity, day after day.
A trauma-informed approach moves beyond good intentions. It helps professionals put real practices, policies and communication habits in place, ones that are clear, respectful and genuinely supportive so both clients and professionals are better equipped to engage, participate and do their best work.
I thought your talk was really outstanding and very informative. It’s very relevant to me as a VCAT member as I conduct hearings and compulsory conferences and we encounter many parties who are affected by trauma. You spoke so eloquently and clearly have deep knowledge of this topic.
Deputy President, Head of the Appropriate Dispute Resolution Division
Congratulations on your presentation at last night’s Victorian Bar Mediation Symposium! The audience was very grateful for your insights which we found to be very useful. We would be delighted if you would be willing to share your presentation with the accredited mediators here at the County Court.
Judicial Registrar
County Court of Victoria
It was extremely useful and informative to hear your presentation on trauma and ADR.
Dan Star KC, Senior Counsel, Barrister AMDRAS Accredited Mediator
Thank you Anne-Marie for an interesting and thought provoking discussion !
Samantha Cipriano, Barrister and Mediator, Chair of the ADR committee, Vic Bar
Immediately following your session, I was writing a judgment. I was able to reflect better on those hyperaroused state, because of your presentation.
Judge from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
Thank you for speaking at the Second Annual Victorian Bar Mediation Symposium on Trauma Informed Practice. The area is still not well published or it seems understood in the profession and it was great to hear from your Creswick Fellowship research findings.
There were many barristers and judicial officers who took a keen interest in your speech. I look forward to seeing awareness of this topic develop over the coming years as training is rolled out.
TASMAN ASH FLEMING (HE/HIM), Barrister & AMDRAS Accredited Mediator
SVENSON BARRISTERS
Testimonials
Trauma-Responsive Team Consulting
I help teams understand how trauma, stress and conflict show up in everyday practice - in clients, in colleagues and across the wider system they work within.
This includes consulting on team responses, communication practices, setting boundaries, debriefing processes, vicarious trauma, psychological safety and sustainable ways of working.
Teams can then stay confident, compassionate and steady in the face of distress, while still maintaining clarity, professionalism and accountability.
Services
Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice Review
I review existing policies, procedures, client pathways, intake processes, complaints systems, communication templates and meeting practices through a trauma-informed lens.
This work helps firms identify where systems may unintentionally escalate distress, create confusion, reduce trust or increase the risk of re-traumatisation.
Recommendations are practical, tailored and designed to help your firm improve safety, transparency, choice, collaboration and consistency.
Trauma-Informed Design of Spaces
Physical environments matter. Waiting rooms, interview rooms, mediation spaces, meeting rooms, reception areas and online environments can either support regulation or increase stress.
I consult on the design and use of trauma-responsive spaces, including layout, privacy, sensory load, signage, lighting, seating, entry and exit pathways, accessibility, cultural safety and the emotional experience of the people using the space.
This service is particularly valuable for firms redesigning client-facing areas, mediation rooms, family law spaces, complaints and dispute resolution environments, or community consultation settings.
Training and Workshops
I deliver tailored training for legal teams on the foundations and practical application of trauma-informed practice as well as advanced trainings.
Training will include modules on the neurobiology of stress and trauma, recognising trauma responses, managing heightened emotions, trauma-informed communication, vicarious trauma, self-regulation, co-regulation, ethical boundaries, cultural responsiveness and practical tools for working with conflict and distress.
Sessions can be delivered as introductory workshops, half-day or full-day programs, leadership briefings, reflective practice sessions or tailored professional development programs.
Online via Zoom — available Australia-wide and internationally
In person - onsite - available Australia-wide and internationally
Ready to Explore?
If your law firm works with people experiencing conflict, distress, trauma, uncertainty or major life transitions, trauma-informed practice is no longer optional. It is part of ethical, effective and sustainable professional practice.
To discuss trauma-informed consulting, training or support for your team, please get in touch.