A new editorial from Dr. Pia Pechtel turns research into action

Our co-founder Dr. Pia Pechtel has published an editorial in Clinical Psychology in Europe. The article outlines a Research-Principles-Action framework for working with young people impacted by childhood trauma. The 3Trees program is built on the same framework.

The gap between research and practice

Research has taught us a great deal about how childhood trauma affects the developing brain. Clinical practice does not always catch up with the research. The result is a gap between what we know and what we do.

The Research-Principles-Action framework closes that gap. It turns research findings into guiding principles. It turns those principles into actionable strategies clinicians can use with young people and their families.

Three principles, drawn from research

Pia’s editorial outlines three principles drawn from two decades of research.

Mechanism-informed practice. Look at what is happening beneath the surface. Emotion regulation and stress-response systems matter alongside symptoms.

Timing optimization. Brain development moves through windows of heightened plasticity, especially in early childhood and around puberty. Support is more effective when it lines up with these sensitive periods.

Integrated approach. Use evidence-based intervention to address what young people are working through. At the same time, build resilience across individual, family, and community levels.

How 3Trees applies the framework

The editorial highlights two clinical settings where this framework operates today. One is the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre model, where Pia serves as Clinical Director in Kelowna. The other is the therapeutic community model. 3Trees is a therapeutic community.

3Trees is where summer camp meets evidence-based therapy. The camp is tailored to each individual young person who joins us. Our program is grounded in research and integrated with resilience.

Read the editorial

The editorial is open access. Anyone can read the full paper at the link below.

Pechtel, P. (2026). The need for a translational model of childhood maltreatment: From research to principles to action. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 8(1), Article e22213. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.22213

About Dr. Pia Pechtel

Pia is a registered clinical psychologist and researcher. She holds appointments at the Department of Psychology at the University of Exeter and serves as Clinical Director of the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre Kelowna. She co-founded 3Trees with Deanne Leung. Read more on her team page.