LifeBridge Community Services

04/08/2026

Just announced: our full panel lineup for this year’s Community Symposium.

On April 30, more than 500 industry leaders, elected and policy officials, healthcare professionals, educators, artists, and community leaders will come together in person for an important and timely conversation.

How does stress show up in the body, and what actually helps?

Together, we’ll explore how stress shapes the way we think, feel, learn, work, and connect, and how nervous system regulation, including accessible tools like expressive arts, can support healing, connection, and well-being across individuals, families, and communities.

Alongside keynote speaker Bruce D. Perry and co-keynote Cathy Malchiodi, we’re honored to welcome an outstanding panel bringing this work to life locally.

📅 April 30, 2026
⏰ 5:45pm
📍 University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT

Register for free and learn more: https://shorturl.at/L7gHj

04/06/2026

Feeling a little off lately?

You’re not alone. And more importantly, you have tools.

Stress is part of life, but so is your ability to reset. A few small moments can make a real difference:

😮‍💨 Take a slow breath
🌳 Step outside
🚶🏽‍♂️ Move your body
🗣️ Reach out to someone you trust

These aren’t small things. They’re how we regulate, recharge, and come back to ourselves.

You don’t have to do it all. Just start with one.

Taking care of your mental health is a strength. And support is always within reach.

LifeBridge is here for you. Call 203-368-4291 or visit lifebridgect.org (link in bio) to request an appointment.

04/02/2026

April is Stress Awareness Month, a reminder to pause and check in with yourself.

Stress shows up in more ways than we realize. It can affect how we think, feel, sleep, focus, and connect with the people around us. When it builds, it impacts both our minds and bodies.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, this is for you.

Join us on April 30 for our in-person Community Symposium: Brain-Body Balance: From Neuroscience to Practice. You’ll hear from leading experts and walk away with a clearer understanding of how stress affects the body and, more importantly, what actually helps.

What you’ll gain:

👤 A better understanding of how stress shows up in the body

☺️ Practical tools to feel calmer and more in control

🙏🏼 Simple, creative approaches you can use in everyday life

This is a chance to learn, reset, and leave with strategies you can use right away.

Free to attend. All are welcome. Register here: https://shorturl.at/L7gHj

And if you need support now, LifeBridge is here for you. Call 203-368-4291 to make an appointment, often within 48 hours.

03/31/2026

⏳ 30 days to go. The countdown is on.

On April 30, we come together for our third annual community symposium, Brain-Body Balance: From Neuroscience to Practice, and we do not want you to miss it!

Over the past month, we have been sharing about nervous system regulation to build momentum for this event, because daily stress and overwhelm affect how we think, feel, learn, work, and connect. This symposium brings the science to life and gives you practical tools you can use right away.

Why attend:
🧠 Understand how stress affects the brain and body
🌿 Learn practical strategies to regulate, reset, and restore calm
🎨 Experience the expressive arts as a powerful pathway to connection and healing
🤝 Leave with shared language and tools you can use across healthcare, schools, and community settings
📚 CEUs available for eligible participants

We are thrilled to gather with trailblazing experts and community members for what will be a truly life-changing evening.

🗓️ April 30, 2026
⏰ 5:45 PM
📍 University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT

This event is free and open to all. Advance registration is strongly encouraged and spots may fill.

Register here: https://shorturl.at/L7gHj

03/27/2026

We’re proud of our partnership with the Bridgeport Public Schools, which helps us reach more students, families, and educators across our community.

Together, we’re creating opportunities to support well-being and engage families in meaningful ways. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share our work and to be part of a collaborative effort that makes a real difference every day. Listen to learn more!

🎙️ The Voice of the District | Episode 11

In our latest episode, we sit down with Edith Boyle, President and CEO of LifeBridge Community Services, and Tia Reid, Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services, to talk about the real impact of partnership in supporting our students and families.
From behavioral health services to meeting the growing needs of our community, this conversation highlights how collaboration is helping Bridgeport Public Schools support the whole child both inside and outside the classroom.

When schools and community organizations work together, we build stronger systems and better outcomes for every student.

🎧 Listen now:
Spotify: https://bit.ly/47rOcPI
Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/40ScMFM

Disclaimer: The Voice of the District is an open dialogue platform to engage members of the Bridgeport Public Schools community. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Bridgeport Public Schools or the Board of Education.

03/26/2026

Today is Social Prescribing Day, part of a global movement.

Since 2019, this annual celebration has recognized the people and organizations helping connect individuals to community-based supports that improve health and wellbeing.

Social prescribing links people to art, nature, movement, volunteering, and connection, reducing isolation, calming stress, and strengthening resilience.

Learn more at our Third Annual Community Symposium on April 30th from Chris Appleton, Founder and CEO of SocialRx. Register here: https://shorturl.at/L7gHj

03/24/2026

Creativity is not just an extra activity. It is one of the ways our brains and bodies calm down, connect, and heal.

When we create, whether through music, art, or movement, it can:

🎨 Help lower stress
🤝 Bring people closer together
💬 Help us share our stories
🌱 Build confidence and resilience

When families, students, and neighbors create together, everyone benefits. We feel more connected, more supported, and better able to handle life’s challenges.

Join us on April 30 for our third annual Symposium, Brain-Body Balance: From Neuroscience to Practice. Together, we will explore how stress affects the brain and body and how creativity and relationships help us feel steady, engaged, and ready to learn.

The evening will also feature a special music and video premiere by Vernon Thompson, educator, artist, and principal of Warren Harding High School, Bridgeport, CT. His work brings expressive arts to life and shows how creativity can strengthen connection, engagement, and recovery in our schools and community.

The event is offered free to the community. Learn more and register here: https://shorturl.at/L7gHj

03/20/2026

Join us on Tuesday, March 24 for our Trauma-Informed Community of Practice (TI-CoP) featuring Dr. Judith (Judy) Cohen, Child Psychologist, Professor of Psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, Medical Director of the Center for Traumatic Stress in Children & Adolescents at AHN Allegheny General Hospital and co-developer of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TR-CBT).

Topic: TF-CBT and the Critical Role of Caregivers in Trauma Recovery

Caregiver engagement is one of the strongest protective factors in a child’s life. When caregivers feel supported and less reactive under stress, care plans are more likely to translate into daily life. In this session, we’ll deepen our understanding of TF-CBT, explore the essential role caregivers play in recovery, and identify practical ways we - across programs and roles - can continue to strengthen trauma-informed approaches that actively involve caregivers.

Free CEUs are available for eligible participants.

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, March 24
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM EST
💻 Location: Zoom
🔗 Register here: https://shorturl.at/8z2NK
📺 Watch past sessions: https://shorturl.at/V0Lm6

03/18/2026

We’re proud to recognize Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) as the Presenting Sponsor of our third annual Community Symposium, The Courage to Understand: Nurturing a Trauma-Informed Community, with our 2026 theme, Brain-Body Balance: From Neuroscience to Practice.

For years, the YNHH system, and Bridgeport Hospital in particular, have been leaders in advancing trauma-informed, patient-centered care. Their longstanding commitment to understanding how stress and adversity affect the brain and body reflects a deep investment in delivering compassionate, impactful care across our region.

As our returning Presenting Sponsor, YNHH's leadership goes far beyond financial support. They are helping bring our community together around practical, science-backed approaches to patient and community well-being.

Sponsorships make it possible for us to offer this resource free of charge to our community. They also provide an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to community well-being while extending invitations to your staff and the clients you serve.

Interested in sponsoring alongside Yale New Haven Health and other community leaders? We offer multiple levels with meaningful recognition and visibility.

Message us or visit us to learn more: https://shorturl.at/L7gHj

🗓️ April 30, 2026
⏰ 5:45 PM
📍 University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT

03/16/2026

When stress is high, your nervous system can shift into protection mode. In those moments, it may feel harder to think clearly, listen fully, or stay connected.

A small reset can offer your body a cue of safety and help you return to steadiness.

If it feels helpful, you might try:

👣 Let your feet rest flat on the floor
🧱 Gently press down and notice the support beneath you
🌬️ Inhale slowly for 4
😮‍💨 Exhale for 6
👀 Take in five things you can see around you

These simple steps can help your nervous system orient to the present moment and begin to settle.

Regulation does not require perfection. It requires practice. Small repetitions add up, and over time you may notice greater access to calm, clarity, and connection.

If you’re curious to go deeper, join us for our third annual Symposium, Brain-Body Balance: From Neuroscience to Practice, on April 30. Together, we’ll explore how nervous system regulation supports everyday life at work, at school, and at home.

Learn more and register here: https://shorturl.at/L7gHj

03/13/2026

LifeBridge is proud to partner with Pediatric Healthcare Associates, PHA, CT (PHA) to expand access to integrated care for children and families across Fairfield County.

LifeBridge behavioral health clinicians are now embedded onsite within PHA’s pediatric offices, helping families get faster, coordinated support for mental and emotional well-being in the same setting they already know and trust. By bringing behavioral health directly into pediatric care, we’re reducing barriers, strengthening follow-through, and making it easier to get help early.

We’re currently offering care at these PHA locations and look forward to expanding to all locations soon:

📍 Fairfield
50 Unquowa Place, Fairfield, CT 06824
📞 (203) 452-8322

📍 Stratford
99 Hawley Lane, Stratford, CT 06614
📞 (203) 452-8322

📍 Trumbull
15 Corporate Drive, Trumbull, CT 06611
📞 (203) 452-8322
*Satellite care beginning in April

03/11/2026

Join community members at our third annual symposium, Brain-Body Balance: From Neuroscience to Practice.

Daily stress, overwhelm, and uncertainty affect how we think, feel, learn, work, and connect. When the nervous system is out of balance, it can become harder to focus, manage emotions, communicate, and feel safe with others.

This is a free, dynamic community symposium that connects neuroscience with real-world experience and the expressive arts. You’ll explore how restoring calm and connection supports well-being for individuals, families, and communities, and leave with practical tools to regulate, reset, and steady yourself in everyday life. Consider it a meaningful investment in you, and in the way you show up at home, at work, and in your community.

This event is free and open to all. Advance registration is encouraged.

Featuring:

Keynote
Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., world-renowned trauma expert and author

Co-Keynote
Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D., LPCC, LPAT, REAT, leading psychotherapist and pioneer in expressive arts therapy

Music + Video Premiere
Vernon Thompson Thompson, Educator and Artist, Principal, Warren Harding High School (Bridgeport, CT)

Expert Panel Discussion
With practical strategies to expand efforts and strengthen community well-being, with: Chris Appleton, Founder & CEO of SocialRx and Royce Avery, EdD, Interim Superintendent, Bridgeport Public Schools

🗓️ April 30, 2026
⏰ 5:45 PM
📍 University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT

Learn more and register here: https://shorturl.at/L7gHj