Kalena Babeshoff Biography

Kalena Babeshoff

Kalena Babeshoff is Founder and Director of A Foundation for Healthy Family Living® (HFL). In 1997, Ms. Babeshoff established HFL with the goal of educating our society in nurturing, attuned touch and respectful listening by training the professionals who work in the field of health and human services. Her full commitment as an educator began in the 1980s. She first became known for her ongoing dedication and expertise in her national and international work by training professionals in the field of Infant Massage: Communication in Parenting. Her commitment continues to be expressed through developing and disseminating practical programs that blend and put into practice the wisdom of neuroscience, nature and mindful attention in order to enhance quality of life for individuals and families, as well as in work settings and our communities. As a teacher, she is known for her personification of compassion, presence, respectful listening and a deep passionate love of life.

Ms Babeshoff's enthusiasm and visionary presentations grow out of her extensive experience as a nurse, massage therapist, educator, minister and mother. Since 1986, thousands of professionals from a wide spectrum of our society have studied with Ms. Babeshoff, including those working in early intervention, medical and health care services, teen programs, shelters, residential care, incarceration and school districts. As a result, these individuals or agencies successfully utilize and implement HFL methods and principles in their work with clients and families. This, in turn, brings many benefits including the support to enhance the development of secure relationship attachments, mental/behavioral health, self-regulation and emotional resiliency in order to optimize developmental outcomes.

HFL's programs embody a simple abiding philosophy, "Approach all relationships on the premise of respect." HFL teaches how to express respect through attunement in developmentally appropriate interactions; inclusive of sensory nourishment through the tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive and other senses. Family/caregiver massage and touch communication skills are often utilized to support the process of developing understanding and rapport between family members. HFL presentations and trainings provide practical, adaptable principles and methods that readily support their integration in all levels of daily life – both professional and personal.

As a result of years of development and the direct application of HFL's knowledge and wisdom in a vast range of settings as a Consultant and Educator, Ms. Babeshoff continues to both innovate and collaborate to custom fit her offerings to the audience. She is available to share the various Building Healthy Connections™ programs to a wide range of diverse populations who may benefit, including those in ongoing treatment, services or residential care. Another example of her innovation with programs is Compassionate Beginnings in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU/ICN/SCBU), a continuing education staff training to improve quality of care, services and outcomes in the high tech, often stressful, hospital environment.

In 2007, Dr Bruce Perry invited Ms Babeshoff to become a Fellow with the Child Trauma Academy. In his invitation Dr. Perry stated to Ms Babeshoff that "there is a natural fit between the neuro-developmental approach and the various relationship-based, healing touch programs and intervention you have developed." www.ChildTraumaAcademy.org

For more information please contact: info@healthyfamily.org

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