Attending Transform Trauma Oxford 2026 in September offered four days of learning, reflection and connection with an international community of researchers, clinicians and practitioners. The theme, Science, Spirit and the Body: The Synthesis of Healing, encouraged a broader understanding of recovery, considering the body, relationships, identity and meaning alongside psychological experiences.
For The Arches Foundation, these conversations carry particular relevance to the vulnerable young people and families we support. They encourage us to consider how adversity is experienced, what people carry with them, and what they need to feel safe, connected and understood.
Gabor Maté’s sessions invited reflection on the social and cultural conditions surrounding trauma and wellbeing. For Arches, this reinforces the importance of understanding people beyond their diagnoses or behaviour, including the relationships, pressures and environments that have shaped their lives.
Bessel van der Kolk and Licia Sky’s sessions on trauma, attachment, neuroscience and embodied awareness, brought attention to the body’s role in healing. These themes are relevant to clients who struggle to put distress into words, prompting reflection on how we recognise their experiences and support safety, expression and connection at a pace that respects their readiness.
Linda Thai’s focus on historical and transgenerational trauma widened the conversation to family histories, displacement, cultural identity and belonging. It encouraged consideration of the wider story surrounding each person’s experiences, including the connections and sources of strength that matter to them.
Janina Fisher’s exploration of the continuing legacy of trauma and Ruth Cohn’s focus on neglect-informed psychotherapy invited attention to both harmful experiences and the care, protection or emotional connection that may have been missing. For young people who have experienced disrupted care, these perspectives raise meaningful questions about trust, unmet needs and the importance of dependable support over time.
These were just some of the many sessions delivered across the four days. Alongside the learning, connections with colleagues from different countries and disciplines created opportunities to exchange experiences and ideas, united by a commitment to strengthening trauma-responsive care.
Oxford provided space to reflect on the people behind referrals, assessments and case histories. For Arches, the relevance extends across our services, workforce and advocacy: remaining curious about each person’s story, respecting their voice and recognising their strengths alongside their vulnerabilities.
We return with new perspectives, connections and awareness of emerging research, and a continued commitment to creating conditions in which young people, families and the workforce supporting them can experience safety, belonging and possibility, advancing our vision of increasing trauma-informed outcomes within the human services sector.
