Healing Adolescent Violence in the Home Through Attachment
Tracks
MARQUIS ROOM - In-Person Only
| Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
| 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
Overview
Dr David Burck, Courage
Presenter
Dr. David Burck
Counsellor
Courage
Healing Adolescent Violence in the Home Through Attachment
Presentation Overview
Adolescent violence in the home is a phenomenon that has ripple effects across the family and can lead to total family breakdown. This presentation will look at the theory behind what maintains the violence, my PhD findings on the links between adolescent violence and domestic/family violence (DFV) and some practical interventions you can use when supporting families. Primarily, adolescent violence in the home, where there is a history of DFV, is directed towards mothers and erodes the attachment. We will focus on how we can rebuild that attachment and use it to heal the family from both adolescent-to-mother violence (AMV) and DFV. Moreover, we must remember that young people are victim survivors of DFV in their own right with their own support needs. Therefore, we will explore the links between trauma and violence use, as well as conduct interventions to repair that trauma.
Most importantly, the workshop will focus on women's and young people's voices and what we can learn from them. The PhD consisted of face-to-face interviews with 15 mothers and 10 young people (boys and girls 12-17), which covered the impact of DFV, what young people thought of their violence use and advice women and young people had for the service sector. Therefore, this workshop will centre women's and young people's voices, as opposed to speaking for them.
Finally, this presentation is a mix of theory and practical interventions. You will leave the workshop with tools to use with families, as well as a greater knowledge of the phenomenon itself. You will leave the workshop feeling more confident working with women and young people using violence, which will help those families heal and feel supported.
Three Key Learnings:
1. A greater understanding of adolescent violence in the home and the links with trauma and domestic violence.
2. Understnad the key role attachment plays in adolescent violence in the home and how attachment can heal the family.
3. Participants will leave the workshop with practical activities and interventions they can use with families.
Most importantly, the workshop will focus on women's and young people's voices and what we can learn from them. The PhD consisted of face-to-face interviews with 15 mothers and 10 young people (boys and girls 12-17), which covered the impact of DFV, what young people thought of their violence use and advice women and young people had for the service sector. Therefore, this workshop will centre women's and young people's voices, as opposed to speaking for them.
Finally, this presentation is a mix of theory and practical interventions. You will leave the workshop with tools to use with families, as well as a greater knowledge of the phenomenon itself. You will leave the workshop feeling more confident working with women and young people using violence, which will help those families heal and feel supported.
Three Key Learnings:
1. A greater understanding of adolescent violence in the home and the links with trauma and domestic violence.
2. Understnad the key role attachment plays in adolescent violence in the home and how attachment can heal the family.
3. Participants will leave the workshop with practical activities and interventions they can use with families.
Biography
Dr. Burck has worked as a children's counsellor for 15 years and specialised in domestic violence and adolescent violence. He has written and co-facilitated two group therapy programs for young people using violence. Dr. Burck also has a PhD from the University of QLD in adolescent violence where there is a history of domestic violence in the family. He also supervises and provides case consultation for organisations working in trauma, domestic violence and adolescent violence in the home.
