Anchored in Connection:
A Reflective Journey
Through TBRI®
By GLADY QUINDOZA-BUNAO, RSW, MSWExecutive Director, Kaisahang Buhay Foundation, Inc. | Certified TBRI® Practitioner “Learn More About TBRI®”
“Learning through repetition is like chiseling words into stone—it’s slow, rigid, and hard. But learning through play is like writing on soft sand with the waves of joy reinforcing each stroke—it’s faster, deeper, and leaves an imprint on the heart.”
— Dr. Karyn Purvis
From Head to Heart: My Journey into TBRI®
As a mother, wife, and social worker with over 31 years of experience in child welfare, I thought I had seen and understood much of what children from difficult backgrounds endure. But it wasn’t until I immersed myself in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) that I truly grasped the healing power of connection.
In June 2022, I attended the TBRI® Practitioners Training at the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development. What began as professional development became a personal awakening—reshaping the way I lead, parent, and relate to others.
What is TBRI®
TBRI® is a trauma-informed, attachment-based intervention designed to meet the complex needs of children from hard places; those who have experienced trauma, neglect, abuse, grief, or chronic disconnection.
Developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross, TBRI® is anchored on three core principles:
Connecting -
Building trust through nurturing relationships
Empowering -
Addressing physical and emotional needs
Correcting -
Teaching appropriate behaviors with compassion
At its heart, TBRI® believes that behavior is communication—and that healing begins when we choose connection over correction.
Transforming Programs at KBF with TBRI®
As Executive Director of Kaisahang Buhay Foundation (KBF), I have made it a mission to infuse TBRI® into the very core of our child- and family-focused services.
Foster Parent Training: Parenting with Connection
We train foster parents to connect before correcting. One foster mother beautifully said:“I used to discipline out of frustration. Now I pause, connect, and understand. My foster son feels safe—and I do, too.”
ILEA Youth Camps: Creating Safe Spaces for Healing
Our Independent Living and Educational Assistance (ILEA) camps are now trauma-informed spaces where youth are empowered to regulate emotions and rebuild trust.“At camp, I felt safe for the first time in years,” shared one participant. “I didn’t know I could be angry and still be accepted.”
TBRI® in the Workplace: Empathy Starts with Us
We’ve also begun integrating TBRI® with our staff. From mindfulness sessions to stress regulation strategies, our team is learning how to care for themselves so they can better care for others.
Because healing isn’t only for children—it’s for the adults who journey with them, too.
TBRI® in My Own Home
TBRI® has changed how I parent.
One evening, my son expressed frustration in a loud voice. I could have matched his tone—but instead, I calmly asked: “Can we try that again with kindness?” He smiled, softened, and repeated his words. That moment wasn’t about control. It was about connection.
These small interactions build trust. Trust builds healing. And healing builds wholeness.
A Special S.P.A.C.E. for Children from Hard Places
As I reflect on this journey, I return to the very spirit of my blog—S.P.A.C.E. The one carved out for children in foster care, families in crisis, and caregivers walking with them:
S - SAFETY
Children need to feel protected physically, emotionally, and relationally. TBRI® helps us offer that safe harbor.
P - PRESENCE
Healing requires us to be fully present—not fixing, but feeling. Not reacting, but responding.
A - ACCEPTANCE
Every child deserves to be seen beyond their behavior. TBRI® invites us to see the story behind the struggle.
C - CONNECTION
True transformation happens through connection. It is both the intervention and the outcome.
E - EMPOWERMENT
When we meet needs proactively, children learn they are worthy—not just of survival, but of joy, hope, and possibility.
An Invitation to You
Whether you’re a foster or adoptive parent, a social worker, teacher, caregiver, or simply someone who longs to make a difference—I invite you to discover the heart of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®). It has the power to transform how you see children, how you understand trauma, and perhaps most profoundly, how you view yourself. Because true healing begins in spaces that are safe, nurturing, and connected. And that healing space can start with you.
Thank you for spending time in my S.P.A.C.E.
….A place where trust leads to transformation, and every child has a chance to heal.