Children from hard places often come into our homes and classrooms carrying invisible wounds—trauma that has shaped how they trust, attach, and behave. In our desire to nurture and protect them, it’s easy to confuse empathy with enabling, and to shy away from the very structure they desperately need.

This breakout session explores the critical role of healthy boundaries in helping children heal and thrive. Drawing on the work of Dr. Karyn Purvis, Dr. Bruce Perry, and Dr. Henry Cloud, we’ll unpack the attachment cycle and the neurobiology of trauma, and learn why children who have experienced neglect or harm often interpret a lack of limits as a lack of safety.

You’ll leave with practical tools to:

Distinguish between true empathy and enabling behavior
Establish boundaries that are both compassionate and firm
Understand how trauma disrupts attachment and regulation
Support children in rebuilding trust through predictable structure
Whether you're a foster/adoptive parent or an educator, this session will empower you to create safe, connected environments where kids feel seen, soothed—and held accountable. Because love without limits doesn’t heal trauma—connection with boundaries does.