Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is the most well-supported treatment for children who have been abused or traumatized. It is a conjoint child and parent psychotherapy that incorporates elements of cognitive behavioral, attachment, humanistic, empowerment, and family therapy models. This treatment modality is for children and adolescents who experience PTSD symptoms, depression, emotional or behavioral problems related to a traumatic life event. Children and parents are taught about the impact of trauma, common childhood reactions to trauma, parenting skills, relaxation and stress management skills, affect expression and modulation, cognitive coping and processing skills, trauma narration, skills to process thoughts and feelings related to traumatic life events, and how to manage distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.