The Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A., Mannarino, A. P., Kliethermes, M., & Murray, L. A. (2012). Trauma-focused CBT for youth with complex trauma. Child abuse & neglect, 36(6), 528-541.

TF-CBT was originally developed in 1997 and was eventually published in book form in 2006, by Judith Cohen, Anthony Mannarino, and Esther Deblinger, a team of professionals studying interventions for child sexual abuse survivors. TF-CBT is a merger of earlier trauma-focused approaches that were originally directed toward treatment for child sexual abuse survivors (Cohen et

Evidence-based practices have been gaining a lot importance recently and it was so interesting to search the online libraries to actually see how many exist. It was stimulating to go onto the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices websites and be in awe of abundance of programs. There were programs for almost every type of social work practice. While looking through the different databases in regards to evidence-based practice (EBP), one in particular really caught my attention. The particular EBP that will be discussed is known as Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I chose this specific one because I have a great interest in therapies with those suffering from PTSD.

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.

This theory proposes that a traumatic event produces maladaptive assumptions and beliefs about the world, other people, and the self that interfere with recovery (Schultz, Barnes-Proby, Chandra, Jaycox, Maher, & Pecora, 2012). CBITS uses cognitive-behavioral techniques (for example, psychoeducation, relaxation, social problem solving, cognitive restructuring, and exposure). Cognitive-behavioral therapies work to teach people skills to combat these underlying issues, including correction of maladaptive assumptions, processing the traumatic experience instead of avoiding it, learning new ways to reduce anxiety and solve problems, building peer and parent support, and building confidence to confront stress in the future (Schultz, et al.,

TF‑CBT is a short‑term treatment typically provided in 12 to 18 sessions for a total of 50 to 90 minutes, depending on treatment needs. The intervention can be provided in a multitude of settings; either with the child and parent separately in individual sessions or with the child and parent together in joint sessions. Each session is designed to provide education, personal skills, and a safe environment so the child and parent can address and process the traumatic event. Joint sessions are designed to help parents and children practice using the skills they learned together while also allowing the

The emergence of research dedicated to TF-CBT and its focus removes a significant amount of ambiguity from the prescription of treatment. Due to the overwhelming positive response in research, clinicians now can confidently recommend TF-CBT and prevent further suffering within patients. Also, completing additional research in this area could lead to even more efficient and helpful methods of treatment. For young people who experienced trauma, this interactive treatment method can bring about progressive changes in their behavior and their thoughts, which can help to eradicate PTSD over the course of treatment as well as the time that follows it.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach that involves conjoint therapy sessions of with the child and the parent. This approach is employed among children and/or adolescents that are experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties that are significant and related to life events that are traumatic (Cohen, Mannarino, & Deblinger, 2012). TF-CBT is a components-based model of treatment that includes intervention that are trauma-sensitive and cognitive behavioral, family and humanistic therapy

TF-CBT is evidence-based and effective for various reasons including, “(1) enhancing safety early in treatment; (2) effectively engaging parents who experience personal ongoing trauma; and (3) during the trauma narrative and processing component focusing on (a) increasing parental awareness and acceptance of the extent of the youths’ on going trauma experiences; (b) addressing youths’ maladaptive cognitions about ongoing traumas; and (c) helping youth differentiate between real danger and generalized trauma reminders.” (Cohen, Mannarino, & Murray, 2011, p.128). Children and adolescent who have participated in TF-CBT have experienced a decrease in depression, improvement in social competence, and reduced PTSD symptoms across the board time and

TF-CBT is an evidence based practice that has evolved in the past 25 years and has been extensively researched within the treatment of PTSD and trauma effects such as depression, distress, anxiety, and cognitive and behavioral problems. This paper will contain a detailed description of the methodology of TF-CBT and an examination of a few peer reviewed studies, which tests the effectiveness TF-CBT has on children and adolescents who suffer from PTSD, neglect, or other trauma impacts.

A series analyses of covariance appears to have indicated that children assigned to TF-CBT, compared to those participants who were assigned to child-centered therapy, demonstrated significantly more improvement with regard to PTSD, depression, behavior problems, shame, guilt, and other abuse-related attributions. (Cohen, Deblinger, Mannarino, & Steer, 2004, p.400). Similarly, parents or guardians who were assigned to TF-CBT showed greater improvement with respect to their own self-reported levels of depression, abuse-specific distress, support of the child, and effective parenting practices allowing them to parent more effectively. (Cohen, Deblinger, Mannarino, & Steer, 2004, p. 401). TF-CBT assists both the primary caregivers along with the child to ensure everyone in the situation who experiences negative symptoms are addressed and helped therapeutically, to create an outcome where children and their families can live successfully together. This can also include communities as whole TF-CBT helps bring empowerment to its participants and allows them to face their issues head on.

The literature has shown children dealing with PTSD have many intervention tools that can be administered by clinicians in direct practice. PTSD can present symptoms that are often diagnosed as anther disorder such as oppositional defiant, conduct, mild TBI, and separation anxiety. There are many evidence-based intervention tools used in treatment such as recovery techniques, pharmacotherapy, psychoeducation, psychodynamic and cognitive behaviour therapy. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is the most used intervention tool in direct practice, and it is used in countries around the world. CBT is used with children with different ethnicities with ages ranging from preschool to high school. Many clinicians use CBT with other intervention treatment

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders describes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an acute stress disorder (2013). Individuals that experience this disorder are exposed to or have had an experience of near death or bodily harm (American Psychiatric Association. 2013). Evidence based therapy that has shown positive outcomes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is based on changing behavior. The use of client-centered therapy can also be beneficial with this type of client if applied in addition to CBT. Joseph stated that a client-centered approach to PTSD could result in Post-traumatic growth (2004). Post-traumatic growth does not try to bring the client back to the original state before the trauma but bring the client beyond their previous level of functioning (Joseph, 2004). When a person experiences a trauma, they can have a myriad of emotions, it is the therapist responsibility to help the client make better sense of the issue and continue functioning in a normal manner. Not all traumas are alike and not all clients can be treated equally. The most significant aspect of treatment in helping this type of client is the approach the therapist takes which should include the temperament of the client and the goals the client seeks. Included here is an examination of a fictitious client that has experienced a trauma and the therapist care plan. The therapist

What do you do when you experience a life threatening, traumatic event, and months later you are still experiencing the same frightening responses? Individuals who experience trauma are often forced to face their problems long after the event has happened. The first step to dealing with this issue would be to seek professional help as soon as possible so that they may be properly diagnosed and receive accurate treatment to overcome the intrusive symptoms. An individual who is suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have experienced, witnessed, or was affected by a life