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

When a Children’s Book Shows Up at a Professional Conference
Lynn A. Haller, MSW, LCSW, is a trauma-informed therapist and educator with over 25 years of experience bringing Internal Family Systems concepts to life through story. Her first children's book, The Hallway of Doorknobs, helps young readers meet their protective inner parts as characters they can understand and befriend.
Lynn A. Haller
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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.

Pink and dark background Whova conference graphic showing Lynn Haller as a highly attended session presenter at the Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference for Trauma-Informed Behavior Support Through a Polyvagal Lens, Wednesday May 6 2026, 9am to 10:30am.

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.Blue and yellow background Whova conference graphic showing Lynn Haller and four other speakers at the Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference, Wednesday May 6 2026, 9am to 10:30am, for the highly attended session Trauma-Informed Behavior Support Through a Polyvagal Lens."

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.