Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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.

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.

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.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized as a psychological condition in which a person has persistent mental and emotional distress after experiencing a traumatic event. In the United States alone, there is an 8.7% projected lifetime risk for developing PTSD by the age of seventy-five years old. Furthermore, rates of PTSD are commonly higher amongst people whose occupation increases their risk of traumatic exposure. Examples of occupations that increase the risk of traumatic exposure include law enforcement, military personnel, and firefighters. But it is important to note that the highest rates of PTSD are found among survivors of rape and captivity (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

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

Per the article, evaluation of TF-CBT is supported by several randomized controlled trials and effectiveness studies. The evidence supporting the effectiveness of trauma-focused CBT in children suffering PTSD because of sexual abuse is growing (Kar, 2011). The findings from the review of literature was that Trauma-focused CBT for symptomatic children has been successful within 1–6 months of experiencing sexual abuse. It is also recommended that children have some support going through this process. It has been suggested that, where appropriate, families should be involved in the treatment of PTSD in children and young people (National Institute for Clinical Excellence, 2005). The treatment has portions where family are involved in therapy through psychoeducation and learning coping techniques when the trauma narrative is told and

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

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

This project is based on the idea that TF-CBT is more beneficial and has a greater outcome for short-term to long-term benefits than regular therapy sessions and interventions alone. Is a psychosocial treatment model designed to treat posttraumatic stress along with other related emotional and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents, the concept was originally developed to begin to address the psychological trauma associated with child sexual abuse, but it has since been adapted for use with children who have a wide array of traumatic experiences, including community violence, traumatic loss, and the often multiple psychological traumas experienced by children in foster care placement. (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,

Trauma is a serious issue that more than 25 percent of children in America experience by the age of 16 (Pynoos & Fairbank, 2003, as cited in Williams & Lent, 2008). Trauma may can involve: household violence, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, terrorisms, natural disasters, and loss of a loved one through death, divorce or abandonment (Van Westrhenen & Fritz, 2014; Williams & Lent, 2008). Dripchak defines trauma as a sudden extraordinary event that overpowers an individual’s ability to cope and manage their reaction to the event (2007, Williams & Lent, 2008). An individual’s response to trauma is subjective and multidimensional. With several factors influencing how individuals respond to trauma.

According to Hussey et al (2006), it is estimated that one million children are victims of abuse and neglect on a yearly basis. Of those one million children, 1500 will die due to abuse or neglect. It is also estimated that 50% of adolescents have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event (De Arellano and Danielson 2008). One particular consequence of extreme abuse and neglect is the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of PTSD include persistent and recurrent invasive thoughts focused around the traumatic event, avoidance of symbolic representations related to the traumatic event, increased arousal including difficulties sleeping, irritability, concentration challenges, hypervigilance, increased

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

Links among social, psychological, as well as physiological problems and childhood sexual trauma has been reported (D’Andrea, Sharma, Zelechoski, & Spinazzola, 2011; Firestone, Firestone, & Catlett, 2006; Herman, 1992; Streeck-Fisher & van der Kolk, 2000). Traumatic events overwhelm the survivors with mortality threat, a sense of helplessness, powerlessness, and terror, which alter their psychological and physiological responses to stimuli. Three characteristic responses to trauma are hyperarousal, intrusion, and constriction (Herman, 1997). According to Herman (1997), “[h]yperarousal reflects the persistent expectation of danger; intrusion reflects the indelible imprint of a traumatic moment; constriction reflects the numbing response of surrender”

Trauma can effect children during two vital processes, psychosocial development and neurodevelopment. Psychosocial development includes personality, morality, values, social behavior (Putnam, 2006). Neurodevelopment includes biological brain growth, and the growth of the nervous system and endocrine system (Putnam, 2006). “Because early experiences occur in the context of a developing brain, neural development and social interaction are inextricably linked” (Van der Kolk, 2005 p. 402) Childhood trauma can cause reactions similar to PTSD, which are thought to be more persistent than the reactions of adults, in addition to anxiety and depression (Coates & Gaensbauer, 2009).

However, Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is a psychosocial treatment modality that is supported by evidence to be effective and appropriate for children and youth ages 3-18 years old “across racial and ethnic minorities” (Racco & Vis, 2015, p. 124). Research has found that TF-CBT makes significant improvement with symptoms of PTSD, depression, shame, behavior problems (Racco & Vis, 2015). However, some research argues that CBT does not address all levels of functioning affected by trauma exposure, such as neurological and physical functioning (Racco & Vis,