The therapeutic model used is based on the Three Pillars of Transforming Care Framework which is an internationally recognised model of care developed by Dr Howard Bath and Dr Diane Boswell.

The Three Pillars Framework is a trauma informed model and is compatible with the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) approach which is also utilized at Gateway Residential Care. The model is used to inform and empower those who live with or work with young people who have been exposed to chronic adversity.

The goals of the Three Pillars Framework are:

• To positively transform the way care providers, teachers and other mentors understand and respond to the children and young people in their care.
• To promote the care and education environments that are sensitive to the experiences of severe adversity and trauma, which support healing, personal growth, and positive relationships.

The operation of the model is based on the three central trauma-related needs as follows;

1. Safety: the creation of an environment in which young people can feel safe, relax and attend to normal development tasks.
2. Connections: the development of positive, trust based, interpersonal connections between the young person and caring adults as well as engagement with normative community supports such as sporting teams, youth groups, and recreational programs. Sometimes a young person needs to re-connect with his/her cultural roots.
3. Coping: helping the young person to develop adaptive coping skills to positively deal with life’s challenges as well as the problematic emotions and impulses that lie at the heart of traumatic stress.

A therapeutic plan, based on this model, is developed for each young person at Gateway Residential Care and this begins with an assessment program entitled the Access Integrated Plan that is completed by the staff psychologist.

The progress of each young person is reviewed at a therapeutic meeting that is attended by the multidisciplinary care team.