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About Catherine
Catherine Wensley was one of those children who quietly slipped through the
cracks
in school. Her trauma went unrecognised—by teachers, peers, and even herself.
Her struggles were misunderstood, her behaviour misinterpreted, and she was
labelled a “bad kid” rather than a child in pain.
At just 16, Catherine left home and immersed herself in the equestrian world. She poured herself into relentless work, using exhaustion as a distraction from the emotional weight she carried. Horses became her sanctuary—offering structure, connection, and escape. For a long time, they were her saving grace. But deep into a successful equestrian career, Catherine experienced a powerful turning point.
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She realised that although the horses had supported her, she hadn’t truly healed—she had been hiding. Her trauma, like a silent hitchhiker, had been riding along with her, shaping her emotions, relationships, and self-worth in unseen ways.
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That moment changed everything. Catherine knew she needed to understand trauma—how it is carried, how it manifests, and, crucially, how it can be released. This personal journey sparked a lifelong commitment to learning and supporting others.
She has since built an eclectic and extensive foundation of therapeutic training, becoming a Trauma-Informed Coach, and drawing from qualifications in Play Therapy, Psychotherapy, NLP, and other therapeutic approaches. Her work is rooted in deep empathy, personal experience, and evidence-informed practice.
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A key part of Catherine’s mission is to change the way adults communicate with children—particularly in schools and care settings. She is deeply committed to making trauma-informed communication the norm, not the exception. Through her consulting and training, she empowers professionals to lead with empathy, listen with curiosity, and respond in ways that foster safety, trust, and connection. She believes that when we change the way we speak to children, we change their world—and ours.
Today, Catherine helps others recognise and unpick the patterns born from trauma, empowering children, adults, parents, and professionals to reconnect with themselves and others through compassion, safety, and understanding.
Helping people heal, grow, and reclaim their sense of self isn’t just her profession—it’s her calling.
And while horses are still very much part of her life, she no longer hides behind them. She stands beside them, grounded and present—fully herself.
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Mission
My mission is to make trauma-informed communication the standard for everyone who interacts with children. I want to see a world where empathy, understanding, and curiosity lead every conversation—where we no longer react to behaviors at face value but instead seek to understand the experiences behind them.
Too often, children's emotions and reactions are misunderstood, leading to responses that can unintentionally reinforce fear, shame, or mistrust. By shifting the way we communicate, we can create environments where children feel heard, respected, and valued. This isn’t just about improving behaviour—it’s about breaking cycles of trauma, fostering emotional resilience, and ensuring that no child carries their pain into adulthood alone.
I want trauma-informed communication to become second nature—not an extra layer of effort, but simply the way we engage with one another. When we approach interactions with compassion and curiosity, we build stronger relationships, reduce defensiveness, and create spaces where children and young people feel safe and supported.
Through training, education, and advocacy, I am committed to making this vision a reality. By working together, we can transform the way we communicate—creating a future where every child grows up feeling understood and valued.
Vision
I envision a world where every child feels heard, respected, and valued—where their voices matter, their experiences are understood, and their emotions are met with empathy rather than judgment. By working together—schools, professionals, and communities—we can break the cycle of unrecognized trauma and prevent children from carrying unresolved pain into adulthood.
At the heart of this vision is trauma-informed communication. The way we speak to and interact with children has a profound impact on their emotional well-being. Without an understanding of how trauma shapes responses, we risk reinforcing fear, shame, or mistrust. However, when we lead with empathy, clarity, and emotional safety, we create environments where children can regulate their emotions, build resilience, and develop a sense of security.
If we fail to recognize the importance of trauma-informed communication, we will continue to see generations struggling with the unseen wounds of their past. But by fostering trust, emotional safety, and meaningful connections, we can create lasting change. Every interaction, every conversation, and every relationship has the power to either reinforce pain or to heal.
I see a future where trauma-informed communication is simply the way we communicate—not a specialized skill, but a natural, everyday approach. When children grow up feeling truly heard and understood, they develop the confidence, emotional resilience, and sense of belonging needed to thrive. Through this shift, we can build stronger, healthier communities for generations to come.
