Behavioral Dysregulation Program

• This program was designed to take children and their primary caregivers through stages of understanding and implementation of TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) basics.

• This is done with a trained counselor or facilitator.

• Testing is completed on the front end for the child and primary caregivers.

• Testing is then completed at 90 days of using the program.

• The goal is to see improvement in the Child’s Felt Safety and the Caregiver’s overall stress reduction.

• Caregivers are required to complete a minimum of three hours of TBRI training and meet with the counselor weekly as well as the child.

• Additional programs required for caregiver’s with an ACE score of 4 or above helping caregiver’s to understand and address any areas of healing that are needed; The Broken Princess/Prince Program.

Behavior Dysregulation Program Overview

According to the CDC, 1 in 20 elementary students are prenatally exposed to alcohol.  This is a staggering number that is not being address well.  This often presents struggles for the individual that can be overlooked when it’s not understood.  Identifying at-risk children includes looking at the prenatal exposure, the stability of their home, traumatic events that they and/or their parents have experience and whether they have positive influence within their circle to help build resiliency. An increasing number of children are experiencing chronic anxiety and depression.  This is a significant concern that impacts the children now but could also affect how they are able to navigate their adult lives and the impact on the next generation.   We know that children from hard places just grow up to become adults from hard places.  This problem expands from the home and into our schools with behavioral dysregulation.  We are also seeing an increase of behavioral health patients in our hospitals.  The CEO of East Tennessee Children's Hospital, Matthew Shaeffer, said children's hospitals across Tennessee have seen around a 60% increase in children seeking mental healthcare during moments of crisis.

Our Behavior Dysregulation Program helps to address these issues.  Our goal is to help bridge the gap for children and families in hard places.  We want to see lasting impact and understanding that comes with education and treatment of the whole family.

The Behavior Dysregulation Program has its foundation in Trust Based Relational Intervention ® (TBRI).  It utilizes the basics of TBRI in a format for therapists to use within a therapeutic setting.  

The Behavior Dysregulation Program has a specific intake process, then follows six stages that are to be completed within the 90 days.  It is based on 1-2 sessions per week.

Testing is completed prior to starting the program and again around 90 days in the program.  Testing is done with the child and primary caregiver.

Tests required:

Caregiver - ACE Score

Resiliency Questionnaire

Perceived Stress Scale

Child - Sensory Profile

ADAS-R

BASC-3

ASEBA- CBCL Ages 1 ½ -5

CBCL Ages 6-18

Primary caregiver is required to participate and will complete three brief TBRI education meetings either individually or with a group.  This can be done in person or online.

The goal is to see a reduction in caregiver stress and increase in caregiver resiliency, while also seeing a reduction in the child’s anxiety and depression scores.

Additional training regarding FASD or other concerns can be done prior to beginning the program or post the 90 days after second tests are administered.

It is our hope that this will provide a usable outline for therapists who are working with children from hard places to implement TBRI and other strategies to help bring hope and healing to families in crisis.

If you or your agency is interested in learning more about how they can utilize this program, please email chris@papillioncenter.org.