Making sense of the whole story.
Understanding how people develop, so support fits where they really are.
What is NATI?
NATI stands for Neuro-Developmentally, Attachment and Trauma Informed. SAL Consulting developed the framework through years of direct practice. Plenty of services call themselves trauma-informed. NATI names what sits underneath that: how the brain develops, and the early relationships that shape it. Once you understand both, behaviour starts to make sense, and support can match where a person is developmentally, not just their age.
Who is this for?
NATI suits anyone supporting a person whose early experiences still shape how they cope today. That includes children in care, adults with disability and complex trauma histories, and the families, carers and teams around them.
We work with:
Families, foster and kinship carers
Out-of-home care and child and family services
Disability services, including forensic disability programs
Clinicians, case managers and behaviour support practitioners
How does it work?
NATI brings together research on brain development, attachment and stress with the practical tools of positive behaviour support. It starts with the person's story, then builds support around what they can manage now and what they can grow into.
The thinking behind NATI:
Development builds from the ground up. The brain organises in sequence, so support starts with safety and regulation, then moves to relationships and, later, reasoning.
Relationships shape the brain, and can help repair it. Early relationships teach a person how to handle stress. Safe, predictable, attuned relationships are also how that learning changes.
Support is sized to the person. Too little challenge and nothing grows. Too much and the person is overwhelmed. NATI plans support within what someone can manage, then widens it over time.