When you connect to the heart of a child, everything is possible.
— Dr. Karen Purvis
Trust-Based Relational Intervention© — Empowering, Connecting and Correcting
Developed by Dr. Karen Purvis and Dr. David Cross (authors of The Connected Child) at the Texas Christian University Institute of Child Development, Trust-Based Relational Intervention© is an emerging intervention model for a wide range of childhood behavioral problems. TBRI© is a family-based intervention that is designed for children who have experienced relationship-based traumas such as institutionalization, multiple foster placements, maltreatment, and/or neglect. TBRI uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. While the intervention is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI© is connection.
Who is it for, and who should use it?
TBRI© is designed for children from "hard places" of abuse, neglect, and/or trauma. Because of their histories, it is often difficult for these children to trust the loving adults in their lives, which often results in perplexing behaviors. TBRI© offers practical tools for parents, caregivers, teachers, or anyone who works with children, to see the "whole child" in their care and help that child reach his highest potential.
Why use it?
Because of their histories, children from hard places have changes in their bodies, brains, behaviors, and belief systems. While a variety of parenting strategies may be successful in typical circumstances, children from hard places need caregiving that meets their unique needs and addresses the whole child.
Where can I read about it?
Purvis, K. B., Cross, D. R., & Sunshine. W. L. (2007). The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Purvis, K. B., Cross, D. R., Dansereau, D. F., & Parris, S. R. (2013). Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI©): A Systematic Approach to Complex Developmental Trauma. Child & Youth Services, 34(4), 1-28.
Purvis, K. B., Cross, D. R., & Pennings, J. S. (2009). Trust-Based Relational Intervention: Interactive Principles for Adopted Children with Special Social-Emotional Needs. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education, and Development, 48, 3-22.
Purvis, K. B., Parris, S. R., & Cross, D. R. (2011). Trust-Based Relational Intervention: Principles and Practices. In Rosman, E. A., Johnson, C. E., & Callahan, N. M. (Eds.), Adoption factbook V (pp. 485-489). Alexandria, VA: National Council for Adoption.