This workshop focuses on confrontational interactions between care-experienced tamariki and their caregivers. We will explore the reasons why tamariki can regularly be confrontational and will discuss different ways of adjusting your reaction to avoid confrontation.

Confrontation is very much a coercive interaction (a pattern of controlling behaviours that creates an unequal power dynamic in a relationship). You will learn how to manage coercive interactions and how children have developed this way of being, mainly unconsciously, to stay safe.

We will help you understand how you can support children who communicate through lying or stealing. These are typical and complex behaviours displayed by children with emotional difficulties. Understanding why tamariki adopt these behaviours and why they often appear to lack a sense of guilt and remorse will improve your relationship and the child will feel understood.