About +ProActive Approaches
Transforming how care and education professionals understand behaviour
Our goal is to enhance quality of life for everyone with a compelling emphasis on the benefits of healthy, therapeutic relationships. We do this by delivering trauma and research-informed, attachment aware education with a strong focus on reducing restrictive practices & restraint (#AimingForZero).
What we stand for
Our approach
Trauma-informed
We understand that behaviour is communication. Every programme is grounded in trauma theory and attachment awareness, helping professionals respond rather than react.
Evidence-based
Our curriculum is built on peer-reviewed research, published works, and decades of front-line experience across residential care, education, and healthcare settings.
#AimingForZero
We have a documented track record of achieving up to 80% reductions in restraint use. Our goal is a future where restrictive practices are unnecessary.
Our team
The people behind +ProActive Approaches
Simon Gower
CEO & Founder
A leading UK voice on trauma-responsive care and restraint reduction. Author of The Empathy Gap and creator of the #AimingForZero philosophy for psychologically safe teams.
Maria Marques-Neves
Chief Operating Officer
13 years in social care and education. Previously led a successful management training and consultancy business, with experience at Director and Managing Director level.
Helen Knowling
Development Lead & Senior Trainer
19 years in SEMH children's residential and special educational settings. Implemented the Secure Base Model of Care in 2014.
Gary Collins
Senior Trainer
Clinical Practice Development Nurse for a large General Hospital. Physical intervention instructor since 2002 with extensive NHS and adolescent Secure Estate experience.
Phil Cairns
Senior Trainer
Working with children and young people since 2009, with a focus on SEMH residential and specialist educational settings. Lead coordinator for 9 in-house trainers.
Lucy Pearce
Senior Trainer
A decade of leadership experience and creator of the bespoke BILD-certified trauma-informed programme RiiSE. Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Life Story Work.
Published works
Grounded in published research and practice
The Empathy Gap
Simon Gower's landmark book exploring why empathy breaks down in care and education settings, and what professionals can do to restore it. Essential reading for anyone working with children and young people who present behaviours of concern.
Removing the Barriers to Learning
Simon Gower's forthcoming title examines the systemic and relational barriers that prevent children from accessing education, and offers a practical framework for schools and residential settings to remove them.
Ready to work with us?
Whether you need in-house training, open courses, or consultancy, we're ready to help your team make lasting change.