Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

What is TF-CBT?

Trauma – Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children, adolescents, and their parents impacted by trauma. This approach successfully resolves a broad range of emotional and behavioral difficulties associated with single and multiple complex trauma experience. The modality is shown to help survivors recover after a trauma and results can be seen in short time frame with consistent sessions.

TF – CBT is an excellent approach for children and adolescents that have experienced a trauma and reducing negative symptoms.  It is short term and structured and highly effective in improving symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress and Acute Stress Disorder. 

TF- CBT is a collorbartive approach. Meaning you, the client, and your therapist work together.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recognizes TF- CBT as beneifical in treating: 

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Acute Stress Disorder
• Cogntive Behavioral Problems

 What can you Learn?

TF- CBT uses exposure principles and cognitive-restructing techniques that are specific to the traumatic experience. Exposure may involved introducing individuals to reminders of the truam that may be tanible, such as places or people or intangible such as specific memories or traumatic events.

During the course of TF- CBT a person will learn:

• that the trauma was NOT their fault
• that they are not alone, others have experience similar traumatic events
• how to identify feelings and learning how to manager them
• Learning how to tolerate trauma reminders
• Identify negative thoughts and replace them with more helpful ones
• How to resolve problems
• Safety skills

For more a more in depth look at Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy visit:

• Betterhelp.com 
• Goodtherapy.org

How is TF-CBT Benifical to You and Your Family?

Children, adolescents and adults who have been traumatized can develop an intense fear regarding any reminders of the traumatic event. This fear may encourage avoidance of any truamtic reminders; which can lead to isolation, numbing of fears, and tension. This stressful state can bring upon more negative symptoms such as: mood disorders, difficultly concentrating, low self-esteem, substance abuse, or a desire to hurt onself or others. TF-CBT can assit you and your family in addressing these sysmtoms, and reduce negative developmental changes. An important goal in this treatment is to provide the client an opportunity to discuss the trauma in a supportive and nurturing environment. This will assist in the development of healthy communication, and lead to better management of difficult trauma related emotions.