Ptsd and Trauma Focused Cbt

Childhood and adolescence is a crucial time for humans- a time full of physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Upon observing the significant impact that trauma induced stress can have on adults following time in combat or an injury, when adults have fully matured in all areas, it raises the question of what influence post-traumatic stressors can have on development in children. This issue was so significant that in the DSM-5, the psychologists introduced a new, and separate, section of criteria for PTSD that specifically relates to the preschool subtype, or those individuals six years and younger. The first age specific sub-type for this disorder is important due to the rising number of studies and cases of PTSD in children.

Once my client is stabilized from the initial concerns of severe depression and suicide attempts, TF-CBT could be introduced. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children Affected by Sexual Abuse or Trauma. (2012) suggests that the following areas be covered psychoeducation and parenting skills, relaxation techniques, affective expressions and regulation, cognitive coping and processing, trauma narrative and processing, in vivo exposure, conjoint parent/child sessions and enhancing personal safety and future

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a conjoint child and parent psychotherapy approach for children and adolescents who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties related to traumatic life events. This online TF-CBT course shows step by step instruction in ten modules for each component of therapy. According to the introduction on the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy website it states that, “There is strong scientific evidence that TF-CBT helps children, adolescents, and their parents overcome many of the difficulties associated with abuse and trauma.” This is a very detailed online course that gives live video examples on how each process is done.

Recognizing a need for mental health professionals efficient in trauma-informed care for these children, Judy Cohen, MD, Ester Deblinger, PhD, and Anthony Manarino, PhD, developed Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), to serve as a specialized treatment approach to responding to the needs to these youth. TF-CBT helps children that have experienced traumatic events overcome the symptoms that may be left behind. According to the National Center for Child Traumatic stress, TF-CBT provides education and understanding of common reactions and symptoms that may result from sexual abuse and other forms of trauma. This type

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) was stablished by Congress in 2000 and brings a comprehensive focus to childhood trauma. This network raises the average standard of care and improves access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States. The NCTSN defines trauma‑focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF‑CBT) as an evidence‑based treatment approach that is shown to help children, adolescents, and their caregivers overcome trauma‑related difficulties. It is designed to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses following a traumatic event. The treatment addresses distorted beliefs related to the abuse and provides a supportive environment so the individual can talk about their traumatic experience. TF‑CBT also helps parents cope with their own emotional issues and develop skills to support their children.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) will be used to meet the treatment goals for Neveah’s case. According to Child Welfare Information Gateway (2012), TF-CBT is an evidenced-based treatment approach for children and adolescents experiencing trauma-related mental and/or behavioral health difficulties. The treatment approach is applicable to a variety of clients as it is designed to be used with children ages three to eighteen (Lawson & Quinn, 2013). TF-CBT utilizes individual and family sessions to reduce negative emotional and behavioral responses from youth who have experienced a traumatic event(s) (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012). Furthermore, the treatment addresses maladaptive beliefs regarding the trauma and provides skills training and support for parents (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012). TF-CBT is effective for a variety of trauma’s including sexual abuse, domestic violence, and a traumatic loss (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2012). According to Lawson and Quinn (2013), TF-CBT is the best-known approach to treatment trauma in children and adolescents. It is also an evidenced-based approach for treatment complex trauma in youth (Lawson & Quinn, 2013).

Studies estimate that over one in four children will experience trauma before the age of sixteen, and many of these youth will go on to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of their trauma (Silverman, Oritz, Viswesvaran, Burns, Kulko, Putnam, & Amaya-Jackson, 2008). Children and adolescents with PTSD can benefit from a mixture of the Cognitive and Behavioral models, presented in the form of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Specifically, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is the most effective method to treat PTSD, utilizing techniques from two different perspectives (cognitive and behavioral) that can

Two hundred twenty-nine 8- 14 year old children and their primary caretakers were randomly assigned to TF-CBT forms of alternative treatments. These 229 children had significant symptoms of PTSD, with 89% meeting full DSM-IV PTSD diagnostic criteria.(Cohen, Deblinger, Mannarino, & Steer, 2004, p. 399). “More than 90% of these children had experienced traumatic events in addition to sexual abuse.” (Cohen, Deblinger, Mannarino, & Steer, 2004, p.400). Traumatic events can include physical abuse, threats, and even just witnessing another individual being abused can cause a person to experience more

The vast majority of those receiving CBT treatment are unable to alleviate their mental state, and as high as 58% of those after receiving treatment still demonstrate the characteristics, or symptoms, associated with the diagnosis of PTSD (Cloitre, 2009). In addition, studies have shown that “only 32-66% reach a good level” of being able to gain a stronger mindset and emotional state in the hope to be better able to function within society (Foa, 2009; Schnyder, 2005). Although there have been more emphasis placed on PTSD in regards to research on psychotherapeutic treatments, the impact of this type of treatment remains stagnant while those whom to continue to suffer from the disorder remains constantly rising. The severities of the symptoms onto people’s lives reflect that of a chronic disorder, continuously impeding their life both psychological and health-wise (McFarlane,

One theory that alleviates symptoms of PTSD is Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). This theory is designed for ages 3-17 (Salloum et al., 2014). TF-CBT aims to incorporate the abuse that they experienced into their worldviews and their own views (Foster & Hagedorn, 2014). Children who have experienced sexual and physical abuse benefit from TF-CBT. Many children who have experienced trauma present at a lower developmental stage than their chronological age (Foster & Hagedorn, 2014). (Foster et al., 2014) Their ability to communicate and process their abuse is directly related to their developmental level, and therefore their age at the time that the abuse occurred and their current

The difference in effectiveness between trauma -focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) were identified in this article. The identified outcome is stipulated as post traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The study found a lack of significant difference between the two modalities. The mean difference was 0.69. The study’s outcome prorvided results that both TF-CBT and EMDR yielded decreased symptoms. The article notes the importance of children obtaining therapeutic services to reduce PTSS. Additionally, dropout rates and lack of symptom reduction in TF-CBT affords an alternative of implementing EMDR as a secondary modality. Although it appears TF-CBT has an array of research

that is very likely to happen. Some people may be more susceptible to the exposure of a traumatic event than others and may deal with them in distinct ways. Trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy diminished negative outcomes in children’s lives after traumatic experiences through appropriate coping skills and emotional stability. Although effectiveness has been seen with TF-CBT, the variation among people must be taken into consideration to be completely successful. With appropriate adjustments to the treatment’s assessment, multicultural factors will no longer be barriers for a successful treatment and can benefit ethnic minority such as Hispanic

The use of several therapeutic methods to treat children with PTSD increases the argument among clinicians about the most effective treatment for PTSD. The clinical literature describes a wide variety of interventions besides CBT including, psychoanalytic techniques, creative arts, play therapy, crisis intervention, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and pharmacotherapy; which raises the question about what could be the most effective treatment for children with PTSD (Cohen, Mannarino & Rogal 2001). Several of these therapies have been recognized as effective PTSD treatments. For instance, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Processing (EMDR), has become an increasingly accepted treatment modality for childhood PTSD; however, very

Treating those with PTSD is a challenge because each individual suffers differently. Treatment strategies depends upon, “type of PTSD inducing trauma; PTSD chronicity and gender, number of times being exposed to trauma and age” (Iribarren, 2005). According to psychologists, combat survivors may be “less responsive to treatment that other victims of other traumatic exposures”, possibly because the PTSD is added to other psychological disorders such as depression and abuse. Common treatments for PTSD include:

This treatment modality has proven effective with reducing symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety, depression, sexual behaviors problems, and shame in different random control trial (Simonich et al., 2015). TF-CBT is an adaptable model that can be used to treat a wide-range of trauma and developmental levels (Simonich et al., 2015). When aftercare follow-up was conducted there is supported evidence that participants continue to thrive 6 months, one year, and two years post-treatment (Murray et al., 2013).