What Is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Why Every Daring Parent Should Care!
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and developed PTSD.
Even though Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT) has shown excellent results, these results don't come if the child or adolescent lives in an unsafe home. This is also why the therapy includes the child's parent/caretakers. As for all humans, food, shelter, and safety are the number one priority. No one can work with trauma without these basic needs met.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the treatments that include the child's family. Eleven studies on adolescents have shown that TF CBT reduces post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and anxiety. In addition to improving behavior, cognition, and emotional functioning. TF CBT has also been effective in treating children with a wide range of diagnoses, including ADHD, ODD, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and anxiety disorders.
The first step in the treatment process involves assessing the child's history of exposure to trauma. Next, the therapist will determine whether the child has experienced trauma or trauma-related loss. This assessment can include questions about sexual abuse, physical abuse, and witnessing domestic violence. The therapist will also assess whether the child has seen death or other traumatic events. In some cases, children have also been exposed to trauma through media such as television, movies, or books. In these situations, the therapist may ask the parent if the child has seen or read anything that could be considered traumatic.
When the assessment is complete, the therapist will determine the appropriate level of intervention for the child. First, the therapist will consider the severity of the trauma and the child's age, and the number of times the child has been exposed to trauma. The therapist will then decide which level of intervention is best suited for the child.
Level I: The therapist uses level I intervention for children who have experienced one or two exposures to trauma. It includes psychoeducation about trauma and its effects, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation techniques. The therapist will help the child identify harmful and inaccurate thoughts and replace them with more positive ones. The therapist will also help the child identify negative and erroneous beliefs and correct those beliefs. Finally, the therapist will help the child learn relaxation skills and use them when feeling stressed.
Level II: The therapist uses level II interventions when the child has experienced three or four exposures to trauma. Level II interventions include psychoeducation about trauma, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation skills. The therapist will also help them identify negative beliefs and replace them with more positive ones. The therapist will also help to teach the child how to use relaxation skills and practice them when they feel stressed.
Level III: The therapist uses the level III interventions when a child has experienced five or six traumas. Level III interventions include psychoeducation about trauma, cognitive restructuring; relaxation skills; and exposure therapy. The therapist will help the children identify negative thoughts, replace them with more positive ones, identify negative beliefs and correct them. The therapist will also help teach the child how to use self-soothing strategies and practice them when they feel stressed.
Level IV: Level IV interventions are used for children experiencing seven or more exposures to trauma. Level IV interventions include psychoeducation about trauma. The therapist will also help develop a plan to prevent further trauma exposure. The therapist will also help identify negative thoughts and make them positive. The therapist will also help create new, more positive beliefs. In addition to helping the child, the therapist also provides parents with information about trauma.
Once the level of intervention has been determined, the therapist will work with the child to create a treatment plan. The therapist will:
- Help the family develop a plan to prevent further exposure to trauma. The therapist may also help the child develop a plan to avoid future trauma exposure.
- Work with both the child and their parents to implement the plan.
- Work with the child and parents to monitor progress and address any problems.
I wrote this blog post to give you a piece of brief information about Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT). If you have any experience with TF CBT or any correction or additional information, let us know in the comment.
Check out this article for other PTSD treatment
Or this one about Prolonged Exposure Therapy