About Us

It was his life experience as a clinician and as a single parent with two young sons (both who are adopted) that led Terrell to seek out more information and ways to treat Developmental Trauma.  Things began to make more sense when he became aware of one of the most pivotal studies ever, the Adverse Childhod Experience study.  This study laid out the trajectory of what the future could look like when Developmental Trauma goes untreated.

Terrell was originally trained in Rogerian Approach, Non-Directive Play Therapy,  Reality Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Didactic Developmental Psychotherapy, Attachment Theory, Somatic Experiencing®,  and Touch Training for Therapists.  Terrell combines all his training experiences to see the client holistically (Mind, Body, Psychologically, and Spiritually).

After meeting his friend, teacher, co-author, and colleague, Kathy Kain, during his advanced year of training in Somatic Experiencing®, Terrell became an active student of Kathy's and later an assistant to her trainings, touch seemed to hold the clue to healing trauma.  Terrell was closer to finding what modality would bring the most success with children.

Terrell became inspired to create a child-centered, trauma informed modality to work with Developmental Trauma. His keeping with the true Spirit of this definition and involving the three main related qualities of inspiration.   First, inspiration is evoked spontaneously and without intention by something-- whether it's an idea that comes from within (Terrell  new in his bones that there was more and probably will continue to be more),  an inspiring person such as a role model (Kathy and her teaching of using touch in therapy), or a divine revelation (Terrell definitely listens to his Higher Power). Another key quality of inspiration is that it is transcendent of our more animalistic and self-serving concerns and limitations. Such transcendence often involves a moment of clarity and and awareness of new possibilities. This moment occured for Terrell while teaching a program for Kathy in Chicago.

Ellen Keating was Lead Assistant and Coordinating the program.  During a breakout, Terrell and Keating began to get curious about a new modality.  Out of this curiosity, Transforming the Experienced Based Brain® became an Inspired reality.  The main element being Transforming Touch®.  Transforming Touch® is a Regulation Focused Modality.  Through this Modality, people are seen as doing the best they can, knowing that survival is the underpinning of life.

This is the starting point in treatment.  Utilizing Bowlby's theory that an infant/child needs four qualities to grow into a secure attachment, creating a Safe Haven, becoming a  Secure Base, allowing for Proximity Maintenance which allows exploration of the world, and Separation Anxiety. We have transformed Bowby's theory into our work with children and adults who have experienced Developmental Trauma as well as Shock Trauma.

Terrell is also the co-developer of another early trauma program with Kathy Kain: “Somatic Resilience and Regulation” (SRR).  This training program is a combination of years of experience as clinicians in the field of Developmental Trauma.  SRR is a creation of a toolbox for practitioners to use when working with trauma.  The program, which has been highly successful with practitioners and is taught around the world.

Terrell has coauthored two books.  “Nurturing Resilience: Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma” with Kathy Kain and "TEB Like 123" with Shiri Sher.  While Nurturing Resilience is information and learning focused, TEB Like 123 is for practitioners and parents to motivate healing through a bedtime story.

Terrell continues to work with clients in his private practice in Austin, Texas (Pflugerville).  His clients always teach Terrell something new.  Terrell also teaches Transforming Touch® and Somatic Resilience and Regulation around the world and offers consults to professionals, parents, and partners.  Terrell is licensed in the State of Texas and has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a Master degree in Counseling from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi.  To further his education, Terrell completed a Doctor of Psychology program at California Coast University.