Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
What is TF-CBT?
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based treatment that has been refined over the last 25 years to help children and adolescents recover from simple and complex traumatic life events. This aims to address various trauma impacts, including PTSD, depressive and anxiety symptoms, shame, and emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Why is TF-CBT important?
TF-CBT addresses the negative effects of traumatic events by integrating several therapeutic approaches and treating both the child and parent/caregiver in a comprehensive manner. It resolves an array of emotional and behavioral difficulties associated with single, multiple, and complex trauma experiences.
What are the phases of TF-CBT?
The practice of TF-CBT has three phases. These phases represent a guide to help the person make sense of traumatic events in their life. The goal is to find the strength to move forward, severing the grip those events or experiences had on them.
The phases are:
1. Stabilization Phase
Psychoeducation
Relaxation
Affect Modulation
Cognitive Coping
2. Trauma Narrative phase
Trauma narrative and Processing
3. Integration and consolidation phase
In Vivo
Conjoint Sessions
Enhancing Safety
The subset of the phases can be summarized in the word PRACTICE as highlighted above.