![]() Parents can have an important impact on whether, to what degree, and how quickly children recover from trauma-related problems. The most immediate and influential environment for most children is that of their families. However, if a parent is having significant impairment with their own mental health issues, their own individual therapy may be advised. From their own healing they are better equipped to model positive change and encourage their children in practicing effective coping skills. Including parents in therapy provides such parents with skill-building components that may help them cope better. The TF-CBT components are typically provided separately to children and parents in individual sessions, with conjoint child–parent session time focused on practicing skills, and later on, toward the end of therapy, providing opportunities for open communication about the trauma experienced. For example, if there was a trauma event, such as a house fire, the parent also experienced the trauma and may have their own stress symptoms. Parents are often traumatized themselves by the child’s traumatic experience. Since parents and other adults often do not understand that these emotional and behavioral problems are related to the child’s previous trauma experiences, it is critical to make connections between trauma reminders or triggers that the child is experiencing and the child’s presenting symptoms. This can lead the child to think and act as if the trauma were recurring, even though they are safe.Ĭhildren and teens are often brought to treatment because of behavioral or emotional dysregulation rather than because of their trauma history. When the child is confronted with a trauma reminder, they may experience feelings similar to those experienced during the original trauma. These can be sights, sounds, smells, or other cues that remind the child of their trauma. Trauma symptoms often occur in response to trauma reminders, sometimes called triggers. Children with trauma symptoms may experience a profound change in the way they see themselves, their role in the family, and the world as a result of their exposure to one or more traumatic events. These symptoms may correspond to symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, avoidance, self-injurious behaviors, sexual behaviors, bullying, aggression, poor sleep, increased startle, stomach aches, headaches, social withdrawal, decline in school, and/or substance use problems. We use the term trauma symptoms to refer to emotional, behavioral, cognitive, physical, and/or interpersonal difficulties directly related to a traumatic experience. ![]() TF-CBT has been shown to improve positive parenting skills and support of the child through the enhancement of parent-child communication. ![]() TF-CBT has been proven to effectively reduce symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, externalizing behaviors, sexualized behaviors, and feelings of shame in traumatized children. TF-CBT includes individual sessions for both the child and the parents, as well as parent-child joint sessions. The goal of TF-CBT is to provide a treatment to both the child and the non-offending caregiver and help them to identify and cope with emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in order to return to a state of balance and regain trust. The process of addressing the details of children’s traumatic experiences is gradual and phase based. ![]() Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is evidence-based psychotherapy or counseling that focuses on the needs of children and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other difficulties related to traumatic life events. ![]() Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ![]()
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