When a Children’s Book Shows Up at a Professional Conference

Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference

Today I presented at the Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference, Trauma-Informed Behavior Support Through a Polyvagal Lens. As part of the presentation, I had the opportunity to share my book, The Hallway of Doorknobs: A Journey to the Feelings Inside, with nearly 400 Pennsylvania professionals.

After the presentation I felt grateful and inspired.

And then this happened.

Faith, a retired elementary school teacher, reached out right after:

“Thank you for a wonderful session. Your book is fabulous. I am buying one for a friend of mine who is still teaching to use with her students!”

And Lynsey, who purchased the book for her 7-year-old son, shared this:

“I just purchased with my 7-year-old son in mind but LOVE that you have the adaptation guide so that I can apply it to work now as well!”

The hallway itself was designed to represent safety, the kind of calm, connected state where curiosity and compassion can grow. Each character in the book maps to a nervous system state, bringing polyvagal theory to life in a way everyone can understand.

The adaptation guide Lynsey is talking about is a free resource I created for caregivers and professionals who work with individuals with intellectual disabilities. It walks through how to use the book in a person-centered, trauma-informed way: following the person’s lead, using their own words for feelings, and making it tangible with simple hands-on objects to represent parts. You can download it free at https://lynnahaller.com/adaptation-guide/.

The book is available at lynnahaller.com/books/the-hallway-of-doorknobs.

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Lynn A. Haller

Lynn A. Haller, MSW, LCSW, is a trauma-informed therapist, educator, and author based in rural Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of experience working with children, families, and adults navigating complex trauma, Lynn brings Internal Family Systems (IFS) concepts to life through story. The Hallway of Doorknobs is her first children's book, inviting young readers to meet their protective parts as characters they can understand and befriend. When she's not writing or in session, Lynn can be found at the theater, on a hiking trail, or moving through her daily workout—a practice she believes is essential to mental health. She lives with her daughter, a nursing student.

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