Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parents or caregivers. Research shows that TF-CBT successfully resolves a broad array of emotional and behavioral difficulties associated with single, multiple and complex trauma experiences. Participants will be equipped with skills and knowledge to help traumatised children and youths cope with trauma difficult difficulties and to recover from it.

Course Outline

• Introduction to Trauma and use of trauma screening tools

• Psychoeducation: about the nature of trauma, and the nature of TF-CBT.

• Parenting skills. Because the child has been through trauma, their behavior may be difficult to manage. This component is to help the parent(s) manage effectively. 

• Relaxation skills, suitable (a) for the child and (b) for the parents.

• Affective modulation skills, meaning skills for the child to help them reduce any unwanted emotional effects.

• Cognitive coping skills, taught mainly to the child, about everyday events, so they can master the cognitive coping skills before using them to help with the trauma itself. 

• Trauma narrative and processing of the traumatic event(s). One of the distinctive features of TF-CBT, the therapist spends several sessions helping the child construct a narrative of the trauma, replacing unhelpful attributions and thoughts with more helpful ones, and helping the child to be able to remember the trauma without the overwhelming negative emotion. 

• In vivo mastery of trauma reminders. This is the only optional component, where the child is ‘desensitized’ to situations to which they have become phobic.

• Conjoint child-parent sessions. Another of the distinctive components of TF-CBT, where the child presents their trauma narrative to their parents (in the presence of the therapist), and everyone can ask each other extra questions around it. 

• Enhancing safety and future developmental. A later part of conjoint child-parent sessions, this plans for future safety and development, and reassures everyone.

Course Objectives

The 4-day training provides an intensive review of the TF-CBT treatment components, with a specific focus on clinical implementation strategies, and will give participants an opportunity to develop and increase their skills in the practice of TF-CBT.