In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker reframes a common concern faced by parents, teachers, and carers: regression. Whether you’re supporting a child, an adult with learning disabilities, or someone living with dementia, it can be heartbreaking and frustrating to watch progress unravel.

But what if that step back is actually a call for connection—not control? Andy explains the psychology behind regression and why understanding it as a signal of distress can lead to more compassionate, effective support.

💡 Sponsor Message: Carers Card UK

This episode is proudly sponsored by Order your card today

📚 Resources & Mentions

• 🧠 Targeting the Positive by Andy Baker – Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

• 🎓 Over 45 certified courses & exclusive content – Join AbleHub.uk

• 🛠️ Want behaviour support training for your team? – Visit Able Training

💬 3 Key Messages:

1. Regression is not rebellion. It's a safety signal, often triggered by overwhelm, trauma, or change.

2. All behaviour is communication. Ask what’s changed, rather than punish what you see.

3. Connection is the cure. A trusting relationship rebuilds confidence, regulation, and growth.

⏳ Timestamps – Episode Chapters: [00:00] – “He was doing so well…”: Recognising regression [00:46] – Sponsor Message: Carers Card UK [01:54] – Welcome & What Regression Really Means [03:33] – Real-World Example: Charlie and Alex [04:46] – Early Years, Learning Disability & Dementia Contexts [05:52] – The Brain Forest Analogy [07:42] – Behaviour as Communication: Ask what’s changed [08:47] – Why “You’re too old for this” harms, not helps [09:39] – Building Emotional Safety: Regression needs support [10:40] – Stability, Routines, and Rebuilding Trust [11:07] – Think Like They’re 3: Emotional age vs chronological age [12:27] – Suppression vs Self-Management [12:37] – Final Thoughts: Trust over punishment

🎧 Why Listen to This Episode? If you’ve ever felt confused or frustrated when someone suddenly “slips backwards,” this episode will change your perspective. Learn why regression is rarely about manipulation and often about safety—and discover practical ways to support growth through compassion. Perfect for carers, educators, and parents who want to understand behaviour deeply and respond with empathy.

📲 Connect with Us!

Instagram: @AbleTraining LinkedIn: Able Training TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast Website: AbleHub.uk

🎙️ Subscribe, Share & Review! If this episode helped reframe your view on regression, please share it with a colleague or fellow caregiver. Your reviews and shares help us reach more people who care.

In this powerful episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by care professional Nadine Sutton to explore one of the most personal, sensitive, and often overlooked areas of support: personal care and dignity. Together, they reflect on real-life experiences, the emotional weight of providing personal care, and what true dignity looks like in practice.

From missed moments of empathy to heartwarming stories of connection, this episode is a must-listen for anyone supporting others—whether you’re a parent, teacher, paid or unpaid carer.

Are you caring for someone, paid or unpaid? You could be missing out on thousands of pounds in discounts. Carers Card UK offers:

• ID card with emergency info access
• Exclusive discounts on gyms, days out, electrical goods, and more
• Access to a wellbeing hub, Carers Circle tool, and mobile app All for less than the price of a box of chocolates per year.

🎟️ Order your card today

• The Able Hub: www.ablehub.uk – Free 14-day trial for carers and educators
• Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

💬 Key Messages: 1️⃣ Dignity means inclusion. Personal care isn’t just a task—it’s a moment of connection. Include the person at every step. 2️⃣ Culture matters. Care culture during the day and night must be consistent to protect dignity at all times. 3️⃣ Speak up and educate. Poor practice is often about a lack of training, not bad intent. Education is key.

⏳ Timestamps / Episode Chapters: [00:00] – Real-world reflections: the emotional weight of personal care [01:48] – 💡 Sponsor Message: Carers Card UK [02:16] – Why dignity matters in personal care [05:59] – Language, inclusion, and treating people with humanity [09:13] – Care practice gone wrong: real stories of undignified moments [13:28] – Promoting dignity: small actions that make a big difference [17:10] – Engaging and empowering those receiving care [21:12] – The power of culture in care settings [24:56] – Final story: how one carer made someone feel truly human again [26:48] – Why every carer needs training, support, and understanding

🎧 Why Listen to This Episode? Whether you're a professional carer, family caregiver, teacher supporting SEND pupils, or someone trying to do better for a loved one—this episode provides raw, relatable insight into how personal care should be delivered. You’ll walk away with stories that stick and tools to elevate the way you care.

📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining 📲 LinkedIn: Able Training 📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast 🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk

Have you ever overreacted to someone’s behaviour—and later realised it wasn’t really about them at all? In this powerful solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker introduces The 90% Rule: the idea that most of our emotional reactions are shaped by our own wiring, history, and unmet needs. Drawing from psychology, trauma theory, and real-life care scenarios, Andy explores how self-awareness is the key to better relationships, improved emotional regulation, and compassionate caregiving.

Whether you're supporting children, older adults, or navigating life as a parent, teacher, or carer—this episode gives you the tools to pause, reflect, and respond with insight instead of instinct.

We’re proud to be sponsored by Claim your Carers Card today

• Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

• CBT ABC Model by Albert Ellis

• Polyvagal Theory by Dr. Stephen Porges

• Andy’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

• Carers Card UK: https://carerscarduk.co.uk/promo-code/abletocare

1. 90% of our emotional reactions are internal. Understanding our own history and beliefs helps reduce conflict and escalation in caregiving.

2. Emotional regulation is teachable. Techniques like pausing, breathing, and trigger journaling can help shift from reaction to reflection.

3. It’s not weakness—it’s wisdom. Recognising your own triggers allows you to model emotional intelligence for those you care for.

• 00:00 – What is the 90% Rule?

• 02:00 – The science behind unconscious reactions

• 04:00 – CBT’s ABC Model explained

• 05:00 – Polyvagal theory & stress responses

• 06:00 – Real-life examples from care, teaching, and parenting

• 08:00 – Why pausing beats reacting

• 10:00 – Practical tools for reflection and self-regulation

• 12:00 – Modelling emotional intelligence & setting boundaries

• 13:00 – Reflective prompts for your own 90%

If you’ve ever snapped, felt ashamed of your reactions, or wished you could better manage your emotions around those you support—this episode is for you. Andy offers down-to-earth guidance rooted in lived experience, behaviour theory, and practical psychology. Ideal for carers, educators, parents, and frontline workers who want to care with more awareness and less burnout.

• Instagram: @AbleTraining

• TikTok: @AbleToCare

• LinkedIn: Andy Baker

• Website: Able-Training

In this powerful episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by childhood trauma expert Shahana Knight, founder of TPC Therapy and the visionary behind the Therapeutic Schools approach. Together, they unpack how childhood trauma affects learning, behaviour, and wellbeing—and why traditional classroom models often fall short.

Shahana shares her deeply personal story, how her father’s struggles with trauma inspired her work, and the evidence-backed changes schools can make to create therapeutic environments. From the power of play to the impact of overstimulation and digital overload, this episode is full of insights for educators, parents, and caregivers.

Are you caring for someone, paid or unpaid? You could be missing out on thousands of pounds in discounts. Carers Card UK offers:

• ID card with emergency info access
• Exclusive discounts on gyms, days out, electrical goods, and more
• Access to a wellbeing hub, Carers Circle tool, and mobile app All for less than the price of a box of chocolates per year. 🎟️ Order your card today

• TPC Therapy Website: www.tpctherapy.co.uk
• Shahana Knight’s Book: Therapeutic Teaching
• Therapeutic Classroom Tour (YouTube): Watch Here
• The Able Hub: www.ablehub.uk – Free 14-day trial for carers and educators
• Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

1. Trauma Lives in the Body and the Classroom: Children with trauma often enter school in survival mode—traditional models miss this completely.
2. Environment Shapes Regulation: A therapeutic classroom isn't just pretty—it's scientifically designed to calm stress and promote emotional safety.
3. Adults Must Heal Too: You can't be truly trauma-informed without recognising and managing your own emotional triggers.

00:00 – Intro & Sponsor: Carers Card UK 02:00 – Meet Shahana Knight 04:00 – The Origin of Therapeutic Classrooms 09:00 – Trauma's Impact on Learning & Self-Regulation 15:00 – Tech Overload: Why Kids Are Always in Fight or Flight 21:00 – Parenting in Survival Mode 28:00 – Signs of Trauma in Schoolchildren 35:00 – What a Therapeutic Classroom Looks Like 45:00 – Autonomy, Motivation & Emotional Literacy 55:00 – The Role of Educators Beyond Academics 01:00:00 – What’s Next for TPC Therapy

Whether you’re a teacher, caregiver, parent, or school leader, this conversation is a masterclass in trauma-informed practice. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a child’s behaviour and didn’t know where to start—this episode is for you. Learn how to see beyond the behaviour and create environments that heal, not harm.

In this powerful solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker explores why shame—while still commonly used to manage behaviour in homes, classrooms, and care settings—often does more harm than good. From outdated scripts to emotional reactions, we dive into how shame suppresses learning, damages trust, and diminishes self-esteem in children and adults alike.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or carer, this episode offers practical insights on how to shift away from shame-based responses and towards compassionate, constructive behaviour support.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Carers Card UK, the UK’s number one carers card offering discounts, support, and community for paid and unpaid carers.

✨ For less than the price of a box of chocolates a year, members get: ✅ Discounts on gyms, days out, clothes, glasses & more ✅ A wellbeing hub and the Carers Circle app ✅ An ID card that unlocks emergency info and shows you care

👉 Get your Carers Card here: 🔗 https://www.carerscarduk.co.uk/promocode/abletocare

📖 Targeting the Positive: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Supporting Challenging Behaviours by Andy Baker 🔗 Able Training

1. Shame doesn’t teach — it suppresses: Labelling children or adults as “naughty” or “bad” can damage their self-esteem and block emotional growth.

2. Short-term compliance isn’t long-term learning: Shame may stop behaviour in the moment, but it doesn’t foster understanding, empathy, or reflection.

3. Teach through connection, not condemnation: Use natural consequences, curiosity, and reflection to guide behaviour positively and sustainably.

00:00 – Why calling a child “naughty” can be harmful 01:11 – 🎧 Sponsor: Carers Card UK 02:18 – The psychology of shame and learned helplessness 03:48 – Real-world examples: classrooms, care homes, and parenting 05:03 – The long-term damage of shame on self-esteem 06:22 – Shame breeds secrecy, not growth 07:02 – Shame breaks trust and emotional connection 07:45 – Why shame persists and how it's emotionally reactive 08:35 – Instant compliance vs. authentic behaviour change 09:36 – Fight, flight, freeze: How shame becomes an emotional weapon 10:40 – How to replace shame with restorative practice and empathy 11:52 – Use natural consequences, not humiliation 12:56 – Respond with curiosity, not condemnation 13:50 – Repair and reflect after behaviour, not reprimand 14:46 – The myth of “not enough discipline” and the call for connection 15:40 – What kind of society are we really building with shame?

This episode is a must-listen for: ✔ Parents navigating challenging behaviour ✔ Teachers balancing emotional needs and discipline in the classroom ✔ Carers supporting individuals with emotional or behavioural distress

You’ll walk away with practical ways to support behaviour through empathy, growth mindset, and restorative connection—instead of outdated shame-based tools.

📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining 📲 LinkedIn: Able Training 📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast 🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk

🎧 If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and leave a review. Let’s create a world where behaviour is understood—not shamed.

In this second episode of the our third season, host Andy Baker is joined by Jill Quinn MBE, founder and CEO of Dementia Forward, a Yorkshire-based charity that has grown from a small, passionate team into a nationally recognised organisation supporting nearly 5,000 families affected by dementia.

Together, Andy and Jill explore how grassroots action, community values, and wraparound support are shaping a new standard for dementia care—and how Able Training and Dementia Forward are partnering to raise awareness and push for meaningful change.

• Jill’s journey from retail manager to founder of an award-winning dementia charity

• The realities of starting small but thinking big—and why local impact matters

• The stigma and misconceptions around dementia, especially in younger people

• Why early support and education can change the entire trajectory of a diagnosis

• The importance of personalised care, meaningful activities, and ongoing emotional support

• The story behind the You & Me Campaign and the growing movement for Young Onset Dementia

• Details of the National Young Onset Dementia Conference at Elland Road Stadium

• How volunteers, carers, and teachers all play a vital role in supporting those with dementia

• Why Jill believes the charity sector needs more confidence, collaboration, and creativity

• The launch of Hat Day during Dementia Action Week—and how you can get involved

✅ Awareness is prevention. Families that connect with support earlier are less likely to experience crisis—and more likely to thrive.

✅ Young onset dementia is often overlooked. A lack of national data, strategy, and targeted care leaves many families unsupported. Jill shares how Dementia Forward is leading the charge to change this.

✅ Local support, national model. Dementia Forward’s wraparound service—from diagnosis to end of life—offers a powerful example of how community-first care can scale.

✅ You don’t need to be a national organisation to make national impact. Jill’s message to small charities is simple: keep going, keep sharing, and don’t underestimate the power of what you’re doing.

✅ Partnership is powerful. The new collaboration between Able Training and Dementia Forward aims to increase access to training, raise awareness, and create a stronger network of support for families, professionals, and volunteers alike.

🎩 Hat Day – “Don’t Keep Dementia Under Your Hat” Taking place during Dementia Action Week in May, Hat Day is a fun, visual campaign encouraging people to wear hats, start conversations, and raise both awareness and funds for dementia support. Schools, surgeries, and communities are already signing up—why not join in?

🎶 The You & Me Campaign Launched with the help of Jonathan Beardsworth, a former music exec diagnosed with young onset dementia, this campaign includes an original track, a growing awareness movement, and an annual national Young Onset Dementia Conference—taking place this year at Elland Road with support from Care England.

🏫 Centre of Excellence for Young Onset Dementia Dementia Forward’s newest project aims to bring together training, research, and lived experience to create a national model of support. In partnership with Leeds Beckett University and Able Training, the centre will serve as a hub for innovation, learning, and influence.

• 🧠 Dementia Forward Website: https://www.dementiaforward.org.uk

• ☎️ Dementia Forward Helpline: 03300 578592

• 📘 Andy’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

• 🧰 Able Training Courses: click here

Whether you’re a carer, teacher, parent, or just someone who wants to better understand dementia—you’re part of this movement. Share your thoughts, wear a hat, start a conversation, and help us make care better for everyone.

📲 Follow, subscribe, and leave a review to help more people discover the podcast. 🔁 Share this episode with a friend, colleague, or loved one—it might be the conversation that changes everything.

🎧 Able to Care Podcast – Season 3 is here, and we’re just getting started.

In this powerful solo episode, host Andy Baker tackles an experience so many carers, parents, teachers and support workers know too well—but often don’t have a name for: compassion fatigue.

You may have heard of burnout. But what happens when it’s not the workload, it’s the emotional toll? When your ability to care feels like it’s vanishing—even though you haven’t stopped caring?

Andy breaks down:

• What compassion fatigue is (and how it differs from burnout)

• The emotional warning signs to look out for in yourself or others

• Why those in caring, teaching, and parenting roles are particularly vulnerable

• What to do when your emotional tank is empty

You’ll hear practical strategies for recovery, from 2-minute decompression techniques to setting boundaries and building trusted support systems. This episode isn’t just for professionals—it’s for anyone who gives so much of themselves that they sometimes forget to take care of themselves.

Key Topics Covered:

• Understanding compassion fatigue vs burnout

• Emotional numbness, disconnection, and overreaction

• Vulnerable roles: carers, parents, teachers, and helpers

• Warning signs to watch for in yourself and others

• Simple daily rituals to protect your emotional health

• How to reclaim your energy, empathy, and hope

Quote of the Episode: "You’re not broken. You’re overwhelmed. It’s your brain saying, ‘I need a minute.’" – Andy Baker

🎧 Listen if you’re:

• A parent feeling guilty for snapping

• A teacher wondering why you’re emotionally flat

• A carer supporting others but running on empty

• Someone who feels like they’ve lost their spark

• Wanting to understand how to support someone else who’s struggling

🔗 Useful Links:

• Carers Card UK: www.andybaker.xyz

💬 Join the Conversation: Have you experienced compassion fatigue? What helps you recharge? Drop Andy a message or share your thoughts using #AbleToCarePodcast.

📲 Subscribe to the Able to Care Podcast on your favourite platform and don’t forget to leave a review if this episode resonated with you.

Stay strong. You matter too. — Andy

In this powerful season opener, Andy Baker speaks with Dr. Daniel Weisberg to uncover the value of cognitive assessments in understanding and supporting children. Daniel shares real-world insights from his work at CAYP Psychology, a national psychological service supporting children, young people, and families.

This episode is a must-listen for parents, carers, and educators who want to better understand behaviour, unmet needs, and how early assessment can open doors—not just to diagnoses, but to tailored support, greater self-awareness, and better outcomes.

📣 Proudly sponsored by Carers Card UK

• [03:35] Meet Dr. Daniel Weisberg and CAYP Psychology

• 06:30 What is a cognitive assessment?

• 08:45 The 4 pillars of assessment explained

• 13:00 When assessments are needed (and when they’re not)

• 15:40 ADHD, masking, and school stress

• 18:15 Abstract vs concrete thinking & academic challenges

• 21:00 Understanding emotional dysregulation in children

• 24:20 How assessments support EHCP applications

• 27:05 Advice for teachers working with dysregulated pupils

• 30:00 Coregulation and the myth of “calm down”

• 32:45 Tools that help: mood thermometers, 5-point scales

• 35:20 Finding credible professionals & avoiding bad online advice

• 38:10 Final thoughts: early support vs wait-and-see

• 40:00 Where to find more from Daniel and CAYP Psychology

🧠 Key Messages:

✅ Cognitive assessments are not just about diagnosis—they offer clarity, confidence, and tailored strategies for home and school. ✅ Understanding a child’s thinking style helps teachers and parents respond with empathy, not frustration. ✅ Early support beats reactive systems. Don’t wait for crisis—seek insight sooner.

🔗 Useful Links:

• 🧠 CAYP Psychology – National psychological support for children and young people

• 🛍️ Carers Card UK – Support, ID, discounts, and wellbeing for carers

• 📘 Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge – Buy Andy’s book

• 🧰 AbleHub.uk – Resources and training for caregivers, educators, and parents

📣 Enjoying the Podcast?

If this episode helped you, please share it with another teacher, parent, or carer. 🎧 Subscribe on your favourite app 💬 Leave a review to help others find us 📲 Message Andy on Instagram or LinkedIn to share your reflections!

Together, we can build a world where children are understood—and those who care for them are supported.