Breakout Sessions

HALO Program: 10 Weeks Towards Hope and Healing

Offered During Breakout Session 1

Anthony Troyer works as a TBRI® trainer for Village to Village International and as a child and family therapist at The Cottage At 933. His experiences as a teacher and as a foster/adoptive dad over the last 10 years have led him to be a passionate advocate for vulnerable youth in the community. He enjoys helping parents, teachers, and other caregivers better understand the needs and behaviors of their kids.

Breakout Description

Would you be surprised to learn that there is a local program that guarantees a peaceful, cooperative home in 2 months or less? That would surprise us too! While we can't promise that, we can confidently say that you've never seen anything quite as magical and healing as HALO. HALO Program is designed for foster/adoptive families with kids of all ages, but we currently are only able to offer it for kids who are 4-8 years old. HALO runs out of South Bend and is a family-focused intervention. As a local mom can attest, "I am experiencing a love for my child that I didn't know I could experience." Come learn about this 10-week program for foster/adoptive families that offers 50 hours of TBRI® therapy to kids AND their caregivers.

Creating Felt Safety: Practical Tools for Homes, Classrooms, and Teams

Offered During Breakout Session 1

Matt and Stacey Borst have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of five children, ages 16–26, two of whom joined their family through adoption. Their journey as parents led them to Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), which has shaped both their home and their life’s work for the past 15 years.

Together, they founded Village to Village International in 2011, where Matt serves as Executive Director, supporting families and professionals who care for children impacted by trauma. Stacey works as a behavior interventionist at Holy Cross Grade School in South Bend, walking alongside students each day with compassion, structure, and connection. Both are TBRI® Practitioners who are passionate about equipping others with practical tools and hope-filled strategies to help children and families thrive.

They both believe that TBRI® didn’t just change how they work. It changed how they live.

Breakout Description

In this breakout session, Matt and Stacey Borst explore the heart of TBRI®: felt safety. Drawing from 15 years of personal and professional experience, they will unpack what felt safety really means, what it feels like, and why it’s foundational for connection, behavior change, and growth.

Through real-life stories and practical strategies, participants will learn simple, everyday ways to create felt safety with children, families, and even the adults they lead and support. You’ll leave with tools you can use immediately in your home, classroom, or workplace to build trust and help individuals thrive.

TBRI® and Faith

Offered During Breakout Session 2

David Gaona is a TBRI® Practitioner and the Executive Director at Lifeline Youth Ministries. David joined the Lifeline team after graduating from Word of Life Bible Institute in 2016. He feels privileged that he is able to provide a safe, loving place for students to be themselves through the ministry at Lifeline.

Breakout Description

In this breakout session, David will share unique insights of the relational and healing nature of God with individuals in Scripture. He will explore how the core principles of TBRI® - Connecting, Empowering and Correcting - have been modeled by God the Father with His children throughout history. David will also guide participants to reflect on how they can practically apply these same core principles within their families, churches, and communities.

TBRI® Applications for Healthcare Workers: Establishing Trust-Based and Relationship-Centered Care to Improve Short and Long-Term Health Outcomes.

Offered During Breakout Session 1

Hannah Stutzman is a wife to Brad and a mother of 4 beautiful children. She is a registered nurse, TBRI® practitioner, and an assistant professor of nursing at Bethel University in Mishawaka, IN. Hannah works as a child and family advocate in program development at Indiana Kids Belong. Her family was a foster family for several years, and she has been involved in supporting kids and families impacted by foster care locally for about a decade.

Throughout her time working in various hospital and outpatient settings, including ICU, Labor and Delivery, Oncology, and the Juvenile Justice Center, Hannah consistently saw an opportunity to bring trauma-informed care into the healthcare setting. Hannah is working with her team at Bethel, where she is spearheading a collaboration with the KPICD (Karyn Purvis Institute of Childhood Development) on integrating the TBRI® model into the nursing education program at Bethel University.

Hannah is piloting the use of TBRI® principles of connection and empowerment in the healthcare setting through implementation with nursing students and training of nursing faculty.

Breakout Description

This session is geared toward healthcare providers, healthcare educators, and healthcare administrators who have a desire to create trauma-informed environments for their colleagues and patients alike. In this session we will discuss the link between chronic stress, hypercortisolemia, and poor long-term health outcomes and topics like why disclosure of trauma is not the goal, how we can minimize the patient’s need to retell their story, and strategies to improve felt-safety for staff and patients. We will explore the practical application of TBRI® in a private Christian school of nursing in Northwest Indiana and discuss the impact seen with the pilot group of nursing students and their patients in the hospital setting.

Insightful Perspectives on Sensory Experiences

Offered During Breakout Session 2

Breakout Description

Bright lights. Moist hands. Feather touches. Clicking pens. Itchy socks. Wet pets. Are you feeling anxious yet? An often overlooked side effect of trauma is the impact on a body's sensory systems. All of us have sensory quirks, but a high percentage of kiddos who have experienced harm struggle with more intense sensory needs. These needs make it hard for the brain to feel safe, even if everything else is going well. In this session, we will explore the function of our senses, learn about some lesser-known internal sensory systems, and engage in a few activities to help us empathize with those who experience sensory deficits.

Parenting From the Inside Out: “How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive.”

Offered During Breakout Session 2

Sarah Elledge brings over two decades of experience supporting individuals and families through education, leadership, and community service. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and an Administrative License in K–12 schools. After spending 13 years in public education and serving 7 years on the local school board, Sarah developed a deep understanding of the complex challenges facing families—especially those navigating joblessness, poverty, single parenting, and crisis pregnancies. (New Paragraph) Sarah now serves as the Director of Program Operations at RETA, a nonprofit organization that provides no-cost pregnancy clinic services, mentorship, mental health support, and family resources. In this role, she leads programs designed to empower individuals with compassionate, practical support. She is passionate about equipping professionals to serve with empathy and impact.

Brandie Yoder, MPH, BSN, RN, is the CEO at RETA in Elkhart, Indiana, where she provides leadership in trauma-informed care and supports families through holistic, life-affirming services. With a background in nursing, Brandie brings both clinical expertise and deep compassion to her work, helping individuals navigate complex challenges and build healthier family systems. She is passionate about strengthening parents and communities through practical education, culturally competent support, and evidence-informed programming. Brandie is also a wife and mother of four and has been involved in foster care since 2021, further shaping her commitment to protecting children and empowering families.

Breakout Description

Join this breakout session to learn more about a valueable resource being offered to parents and caregivers in our community through RETA, a local organization supporting children and families. In this session, individuals will learn about a 9-week parenting curriculum that was designed using the book Parenting from the Inside Out, written by child psychiatrist, Dr. Dan Siegel and early childhood expert ,Mary Hartzell. Siegel and Hartzell use research in the field of interpersonal neurobiology as they explain how the parent-child relationship directly affects brain development. They offer parents and caregivers a step-by-step approach to forming a deeper understanding of their own life stories to help them raise compassionate and resilient children. This class at RETA has been designed to help parents and caregivers understand their own emotional stories and patterns so they can build healthier, grace-filled relationships with their children. Whether you are a parent wanting to learn about this resource or a professional seeking more resources to share with families, this session is for you!

Nurture Groups: Transforming Relationships Through Connection and Play

Offered During Breakout Session 2

Stephaney Nay has dedicated 30 years to public education. Throughout her career, she has served as a kindergarten and second-grade teacher and as a Title I reading specialist. She is currently in her second year as the Director of Student Success at Premier Arts Academy, where she focuses on fostering both academic growth and student well-being.

In addition to her work in education, she is a certified life coach passionate about helping individuals reach their full potential. Becoming a TBRI® practitioner has been a meaningful part of her professional journey, and she strongly believes in the power of trauma-informed care for people of all ages and stages of life.

Mindi Mattern has dedicated 24 years to public education, including 20 years teaching first grade and nearly four years serving as Dean of Students at Nappanee Elementary School. She is a TBRI® Practitioner who is passionate about bringing the values of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® into her school community. Mindi is grateful to be part of the TBRI® Summit and is excited to learn and connect with others who share a commitment to supporting children through meaningful relationships.

Breakout Description

This session on Nurture Groups will explore how these intentionally structured, connection-focused groups can strengthen communication and healthy relationship skills. These groups are used with children and youth of multiple ages, ranging from elementary to high school. They are practiced in various settings, including schools, residential communities, youth-serving organizations, and churches. The structure of Nurture Groups is flexible yet purposeful in creating safe spaces to practice building skills for healthy relationships. The basic skills learned through participating in these groups foster trust, empathy, and connection. Come learn practical tips on how Nurture Groups can strengthen the connections with children and youth in your life.

TBRI® and the Juvenile Justice System

Offered during Breakout Sessions 1 and 2

Lori Meyers has served the past 15 years as the Juvenile Director of Johnson County Community Corrections, Juvenile Division. In addition, she has spent the last 30 years working in the juvenile justice system. Lori is a TBRI® Practitioner and Making Sense of Your Worth Facilitator. Lori is Co-Director of Foundation for Hope camp, a therapeutic, TBRI®-based camp in Columbus, Indiana, established to heal the impact of trauma in our most vulnerable families. She has spent the last 30 years as an Experiential Educator, developing and managing low ropes challenge courses for the City of Franklin, Parks and Recreation, and Indiana FFA Leadership Center. Lori now operates her own LLC, Connect Ed, part-time to merge her passions for professional teambuilding, leadership development, trauma-informed skill building, and rhythmic drum healing. Lori lives in her hometown of Franklin, IN, and is the mother of two grown daughters, and their husbands, and a Gigi to one grandson. Her current passions are time with family, pickleball, leading drum circles, and anything that leads her to natural environments.

Breakout Description

How can TBRI® be implemented fully into residential, secure, and/or justice-related environments? Lori will share the process of culture change and strategies adopted within the Johnson County Court Services and Adult and Juvenile Justice systems in Johnson County, Indiana. These changes have yielded a reduction in incident reports, lockdowns, and use of force, which in turn has increased job satisfaction and staff retention. In this session, Lori will provide practical, affordable methods for the implementation of TBRI® and will likely dispel some of the myths and barriers that are preventing your agency from being a trauma responsive and healing environment.

Journeys Toward Healing: Discovering the Power of Written Exposure Therapy for Caregivers

Offered During Breakout Session 1

Dr. Adam Dell serves as RETA’s Director of Psychological Health. A board-certified clinical psychologist, he brings extensive experience in trauma-informed care, including six years of service as an Active-Duty Mental Health Flight Commander and Psychologist in the United States Air Force (2013–2019). He has been overseeing and supervising the mental health team at RETA for over a year.

A licensed mental health counselor, Joni Bradberry, is the Mental Health Director at RETA-Reason Enough to Act. Joni has worked at RETA for twenty years in many different roles, but for the past three years has been offering mental health services at RETA. Joni is trained in WET, ACT, DBT, EMDR, and CPT.

Breakout Description

“You cannot lead a child to a place of healing that you have not been yourself.” These words of wisdom were shared by the late Dr. Karyn Purivs, co-founder of TBRI®. She reminds us as individuals that we all have experiences, patterns, and wounds in our lives that need healing. As caregivers, our self-awareness and ability to embark on our own healing journey directly impact our ability to offer attunement, respect, and healing to the children and youth in our lives who are on their own journeys.

This breakout session introduces the evidence-based therapeutic intervention of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) offered at RETA. RETA is a local nonprofit organization that provides no-cost pregnancy clinic services, mentorship, mental health support, and family resources. This specific method of treatment has been found to be highly effective for adults struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, with significant progress noted after the completion of just five sessions. Join this breakout session to learn more about this powerful resource being offered to adults in our community who are seeking to heal and grow.

Understanding Attachment: Foundations for Supporting Children and Youth

Offered during Breakout Sessions 1 and 2

Kara Applegate, LLMSW-C, CFLE, is a trauma-informed clinical social worker, TBRI® Practitioner, and Interpersonal Development Specialist with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University (TCU). She is also the owner of Kara Applegate Counseling PLLC, where she serves as a contracted child and family therapist with Lindsey South & Associates and provides clinical services, professional trainings, and organizational consultations.

Kara earned her Master of Social Work from Western Michigan University with a clinical concentration in trauma across the lifespan, along with a bachelor's degree in child and family development. Her advanced training includes TF-CBT, PCIT, Gottman Level 1, and attachment-centered, play-based therapeutic modalities, and she is currently completing advanced play therapy training.

Kara has extensive experience supporting children, teens, and families impacted by relational trauma, neurodivergence, behavioral challenges, and major life transitions such as adoption or foster care. Her clinical work centers on creating safe, nurturing, relational spaces through connection, co-regulation, and strength-based practices. She helps clients understand behavior as communication and builds skills for regulation, relational repair, and long-term resilience. As a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), she integrates a holistic, family-centered lens into both therapy and caregiver coaching.

Breakout Description

This breakout session offers an overview of attachment theory and its relevance for supporting children and youth. Participants will learn about the different types of attachment, how early relationships shape emotional and social development, and the impact of disrupted or insecure attachment. Through discussion and practical examples, attendees will gain a foundational understanding of attachment principles and how they can inform supportive caregiving and professional practice. This session is ideal for those new to attachment concepts or seeking a refresher on how relationships shape children’s development.

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