.......... is an evidence based treatment approach shown to help children, teens, and their non-offending caretakers overcome trauma-related difficulties. It is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses by addressing distorted beliefs and attributions related to the abuse.
What Behaviors Are Treated with TF-CBT?
Maladaptive or unhelpful beliefs and attributions including:
guilt, anger, feelings of powerlessness, belief that they are
damaged goods, and fear others being treated differently. Acting out
Behaviors of engaging in age inappropriate sexual behaviorMental Health
Disorders including major depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
including intrusive & reoccurring thoughts, avoidance of reminders,
emotional numbing, irritability, trouble sleeping and physical &
emotional hyperarousal.
What are the Outcomes?
Eight empirical studies to date have shown that 80% of participants show marked improvement within 16 sessions and maintain these gains at the 2 year follow-up. They typically experience fewer intrusive thoughts & avoidance behaviors, increase ability to cope, reductions in depression, anxiety, disassociation, sexualized behavior & shame, and improved trust and social competence.
Who is Appropriate for this Therapy?
Children who are school aged through adolescence as well as adults are appropriate. Children must be verbal and able to participate in some written activities. Younger children can be helped by traditional play therapy. TF-CBT is NOT appropriate for children who’s main problems are conduct disorders or behavior issues that were present before the trauma, active substance abusers, and teens who run away, cut or engage in self destructive behaviors. For these teens, DBT is useful before TB-CBT.