“Trauma isn’t what happens to us — it’s what fails to happen within us.”
This was just one of the many powerful insights I took away from Dr. Gordon Neufeld’s talk at the Biology of Belonging conference.

He reminded us that attachment, not survival, is our deepest human drive, and that true healing begins when we feel safe enough to feel again.

I’ve written a blog post unpacking his rich, heartfelt talk — full of humour, wisdom, and challenge — and why it matters so much for educators, parents, and professionals working with young people.

#Neufeld #TraumaInformed #AttachmentTheory #ChildDevelopment #Wellbeing #Education #Belonging #EmotionalHealth

Teo’s Story: A Journey of Discovery

Teo, 9, was clever and kind — but often overwhelmed. At school, his outbursts were seen as behaviour issues, but beneath the surface were deeper learning and emotional needs that had gone unnoticed. Through our gentle, strengths-based assessment process, Teo and his family began to uncover the “why” behind the struggles. With a systems-thinking lens and collaborative support from his school and family, small shifts led to meaningful change. Not a quick fix — but an evolving, empowering journey.

If you’re feeling unsure about your child’s behaviour or learning, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

When Helen, a Year 2 teacher, was given a performance target to engage in action research, she turned it into a powerful inquiry into mindfulness and emotional regulation in the classroom. Over the course of two terms, Helen embedded breathing exercises, brain breaks, and child-led strategies into daily routines — and saw her students flourish.

But this wasn’t just about introducing mindfulness. It was about critically exploring what really works, for whom, and why. Drawing on contemporary research, Helen’s project reminds us that while mindfulness can be transformative, it must be contextual, inclusive, and responsive to each child’s background, needs, and lived experience.

This blog shares the journey of a teacher–researcher partnership with Beyond Bridges Education that turned a professional goal into meaningful change — and offers a framework for others to do the same.