Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) for Adopted Children Receiving Therapy in an Outpatient Setting

We explored the relationship between Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and treatment outcomes for adopted children participating in treatment services through the Adoption Preservation Program at a Midwest child welfare organization. Adopted children who have trauma histories may have their adoptions disrupted if they do not receive the proper therapy to improve their overall functioning (Purvis, Cross, & Pennings, 2009; Davis, 1 999). We investigated a new intervention, TBRI, and its potential impact on children with trauma histories who are receiving outpatient therapy at a local child welfare center. Specifically, we examined whether family functioning and child functioning are improved after receiving the intervention in tandem with regular trauma-focused therapy for six months and whether family and child functioning are related to the level of TBRI each child received while in therapy. After analyzing the results, we found that all measures of child and family functioning, with the exception of discipline practices, increased from pre-treatment to post-treatment. Additionally, we found that the level of attachment was significantly correlated with the level of caregiver TBRI reported such that higher levels of TBRI were positively related to higher self-reported attachment levels between caregivers and their children. The clinical implications of findings are highlighted, and directions for future research are identified