Children whose voices have been silenced by trauma and abuse – and the professionals tasked with supporting them through complex legal, therapeutic, and social systems – require more than traditional approaches. Tanya Robinson has dedicated over 25 years to becoming one of the world’s leading experts in trauma-informed therapy and holistic mental health care, combining her four doctoral degrees with extensive frontline experience to develop groundbreaking approaches to trauma treatment, child advocacy, and mental health intervention.
As Principal and Founder of The Therapy Room and Child Advocacy Hub in Adelaide, Director of The Green Duck International Institute, and a registered Mental Health Social Worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), Professor Robinson brings extraordinary expertise that bridges academic excellence with real-world impact. Her four Ph.D. degrees spanning human behaviour, psychosocial legal science, forensic science, and criminal justice demonstrate her comprehensive understanding of trauma within legal and psychosocial contexts. Her books – including The Silenced Child, The Symbol of No Escape, and Divorce – What About the Children? – and her creation of The Child’s Story Box therapeutic toolkit reflect her unique ability to give voice to children and trauma survivors in the most complex situations.
Robinson’s expertise spans trauma-informed therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, Schema Therapy, EMDR, psychoanalysis, child psychology, complex trauma treatment, victimology, play therapy, and neurodiversity-affirming approaches. Her approach recognises that individuals affected by severe trauma – including family and domestic violence, sexual abuse, intergenerational trauma, complex grief, attachment trauma, and systemic injustice – require specialised interventions that honor their developmental needs, cultural backgrounds, and psychological safety. She specialises in working with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, complex trauma, dissociative disorders, personality vulnerabilities, neurodivergence, and relational distress.
What sets her training apart is extensive frontline experience combined with interdisciplinary expertise. Robinson doesn’t just teach theoretical approaches – she shows practitioners how to work effectively across clinical, forensic, and community settings while navigating justice and family law systems. Her work reflects a belief in the innate capacity for healing when compassion, attunement, and understanding are at the center of care, grounded in trauma theory and psychodynamic principles.
For your practice, expect to gain specific techniques for trauma-informed child therapy, tools for conducting mental health and forensic assessments, and frameworks for treating complex trauma while managing legal and cultural considerations. Her approach particularly benefits practitioners working within legal systems, those treating severely traumatised children and families, or professionals wanting to develop expertise in trauma-informed care and child advocacy. Her trauma framework embraces neurodivergent clients with autism, ADHD, and sensory or emotional regulation differences.
Quick Win: Robinson’s Child’s Story Box toolkit helps traumatised children express their experiences safely through culturally inclusive methods – providing the foundation for healing while ensuring their voices are meaningfully heard within therapeutic and legal settings.
Qualifications
- Ph.D., Criminal Justice, University of South Africa, 2021
- Ph.D., Social Work, University of Cape Town, South Africa, 2015
- Ph.D., Social Work, North-West University, South Africa, 2011
- Ph.D., Social Work, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2005
- MSD, Social Work (Cum Laude), University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2003
- BA (SW), Social Work, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2001
- Reg. M., Forensic Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Postgraduate Certificate, Education, University of South Africa
- Accredited Mediator, Australian Mediation Association (AMHSW)
Authored Publications
- The Silenced Child: Secrets & Lies (2014, CreateSpace Independent Publishing, compilation of experiences working with abused children)
- The Symbol of No Escape
- Various research-based scientific papers and books (co-author, peer-reviewed journals)
Professional Practice
- Principal and Founder, The Therapy Room, Adelaide CBD, Australia, current
- Principal and Founder, Child Advocacy Hub, Adelaide CBD, Australia, current
- Director and Founder, The Green Duck International Institute, current
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, Private Practice, Adelaide, current
- Court-appointed Expert, Family Court assessments, current
Specialised Experience
- Forensic Mental Health Consultant, Maximum security facilities, South Africa
- Community Program Director, Soup kitchen projects, Africa
- Research Director, Gender-based violence projects, Africa
- Activist, Counter-trafficking and human rights, Africa
- Court Expert Witness, International custody cases
- Podcast Host, “Case Files: The Human Factor,” 2024–present (exploring human behavior and trauma)
- Ambassador, Teddy Bear Foundation (child protection advocacy)
Clinical Specialties
- Forensic child psychology and specialised child assessments
- Complex trauma treatment (PTSD, developmental trauma)
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and adults
- Family Court assessments and child impact reports
- Sexual abuse treatment and domestic violence intervention
- Human trafficking assessment and recovery
- Victimology and criminal psychology applications
- Play therapy and EMDR therapy integration
Forensic Expertise
- Court-appointed expert in family law matters
- International custody case evaluations
- Child witness preparation and protection
- Forensic mental health assessments
- Criminal psychology consultation
- Expert testimony in complex abuse cases
Ready to develop expertise in the complex intersection of child protection, trauma treatment, and legal advocacy? Discover how Dr. Robinson’s forensic psychology methods can help you effectively serve children in the most challenging circumstances while navigating the legal systems designed to protect them.