TBRI & Trauma-Informed Care Trainings
Practical, interactive trainings that help the adults in a child's life understand the "why" behind behavior and respond with connection. For churches, schools, nonprofits, and families.
Request a TrainingWho These Trainings Are For
Churches & Ministry Teams
Kids and student ministry leaders and volunteers who want every child to feel safe enough to connect, learn, and belong.
Schools & Educators
Teachers and staff looking for tools to support dysregulated students. CEUs are available for educators in Tennessee.
Nonprofits & Advocates
Community organizations, CASA advocates, and child-serving teams that want to become trauma-informed.
Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Families
Caregivers who want to build trust with children who have faced adversity and see behavior through a new lens.
TBRI 101: Tools for Connection and Regulation
My foundational training, grounded in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), a holistic, attachment-based approach developed at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at TCU.
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Trauma vs. Toxic Stress
What each one is, why the difference matters, and how both shape a developing brain and body.
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Attachment
Why trust is the foundation for everything, and the hope of "earned secure" attachment later in life.
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Empower, Connect, Correct
The three TBRI principles, and why we start with the body and the relationship before we correct.
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Attunement
How undivided attention, eye contact, a warm voice, and play help kids feel seen and safe.
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Meeting Physical Needs
Hydration, food, sensory input, and simple regulation activities you can use right away.
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The Power of Yes
How finding ways to say yes builds trust with kids who have heard a lot of no's.
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Responding to Dysregulation
Seeing behavior as a clue to a need, checking HALT, and practical words to use, including redos.
What Participants Walk Away With
- A new lens for behavior: moving from "What's wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?"
- Calming tools like box breathing, the 5-4-3-2-1 senses check-in, and wall push-ups
- The HALT check: hungry, angry, lonely, or tired?
- Simple scripts for responding to a dysregulated child or teen
- Everyday ways to build connection: eye contact, safe touch, playful engagement
What to Expect
These aren't lecture-only sessions. Participants practice together, including a story-sharing exercise that lets everyone feel the difference attunement makes. There's time to ask questions and talk through real situations from your own home, classroom, or ministry.
Trainings can be shaped to your group and your schedule. Past sessions have included church volunteer trainings, half-day workshops, and a three-hour pre-conference session at Lifeway's ETCH conference.
What Participants Are Saying
"Thank you, Stephanie—you really got my wheels turning thinking about past children I've advocated for and the ones I'm currently representing. This training helped me refocus and remember that my number one job is looking out for the child and their well being, and helping the other grown-ups in their life do the same."
— CASA Advocate
"It has been one of my favorite trainings as I love learning and then getting to talk it out as that helps to make it practical in day to day life."
— Training Participant
"You did great!! I loved all of the content and how engaging it was. You thought through and planned the training well!"
— Workshop Attendee
About Your Trainer
I'm Stephanie Shivers, a trauma-informed care trainer with a Master's degree in Counseling from Colorado Christian University. In 2015 I became a TBRI Practitioner through the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University, and I've since trained hundreds of parents, educators, ministry leaders, and advocates.
I've shared this work on the ETCH Next Gen Ministry Podcast and Kids Ministry 101.
Bring a Training to Your Team
Tell me a little about your group, and I'll be in touch to talk about what would serve you best.
Request a Training