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Written by Wesley Straw, TBCH Caseworker

Developed by the TCU Institute of Child Development, Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) has been shown to be effective in working with children who have experienced complex trauma during their early years.

TBRI® training helps TBCH staff by increasing the awareness of deeper-level needs that a mother or child may have but struggle to express because of the early developed limitations of brain functioning, often caused by trauma. With TBRI®, our staff is encouraged to explore the hidden needs of the children we serve and strive to better address outward behavior.

“Playful engagement” is probably one of the most transformational concepts that TBRI® presents, which creates many opportunities for nurturing. Engaging with fun, even during moments calling for accountability, can be a powerful tool that provides a safe route to the child’s heart, leading to inner healing. Playful engagement is also a way to keep discipline positive.

At TBCH, we strive to provide for our children an atmosphere of abundance and felt safety. Each child needs to sense that his/her foundational needs are being met with intentionality each and every day. The children need safe adults who they can trust and develop healthy attachments to in order to begin the healing process. TBRI® can become a practical tool for applying skills which will result in the children feeling safe, loved, and empowered with a voice to express deeper-level needs. Various group activities can be incorporated into our Campus Life and Recreation programs that teach essential relational and life skills and give opportunities to experience trust-based interactions.

TBCH staff has found this to be such a helpful tool in helping the children and families we serve to experience true healing in order that they can move toward a promising future!

“TBRI® training helps get us into the kids’ minds, thinking and feeling on their level in order to know how to best help them.”

“TBRI® is a trust-based model for us to become safe and nurturing and allows us to meet children where they are and establish positive connections.”