Trust-Based Relational Intervention®
What is TBRI®?
Connection first. Then everything else.
A research-based, trauma-informed way of helping children, and the adults who love them, feel safe enough to heal, grow, and trust again.
Where it comes from
Born from research, built for real families.
TBRI® was developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD) at Texas Christian University. It draws on attachment theory, sensory processing, and brain science, and it was designed for children who come from "hard places": early abuse, neglect, trauma, multiple placements, or institutional care.
Today it is used in homes, schools, child welfare, healthcare, and therapy settings around the world. At its heart is a simple idea: when a child feels safe and connected, healing becomes possible.
Behavior is communication
Felt safety comes first
Connection opens the door to change
The three principles
Connect. Empower. Correct.
TBRI® rests on three principles that work together. Connection is the foundation; empowering and correcting are built on top of it. Explore each one.
In my practice
How I use TBRI® in therapy
A child can be safe and still not feel safe.
With caregivers
Foster, adoptive, kinship, and biological parents learn to read the need beneath the behavior and respond in ways that build trust instead of power struggles.
With children and teens
Sessions are sensory-aware, playful, and paced. We regulate first, connect second, and practice new skills when everyone is calm.
With adults
The same principles help adults heal early relational wounds: building felt safety, noticing old patterns, and learning to give themselves what they needed back then.
Go to the source
Learn more from the Karyn Purvis Institute
KPICD at TCU is the home of TBRI®. Their site has the research behind it, resources for caregivers and professionals, and official TBRI® training.
TBRI® and Trust-Based Relational Intervention® are registered trademarks of Texas Christian University. Michelle Moses is a Qualified TBRI® Practitioner (KPICD®). This page is her own summary and is not produced or endorsed by KPICD®.
The next step
If you ever want to talk
A free 15-minute consultation is a simple, no-cost way to see if we're a good fit — not a therapy session, just a chance to ask questions and share a little of what you're carrying. Here is all it involves.
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Choose any 15-minute slot that suits you.
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You decide
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