Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Childhood sexual abuse is a public health problem that affects millions of children and their nonoffending caregivers each year.

The National Child Trauma Stress Network (NCTSN) found that Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) has the strongest evidence for the successful treatment of traumatized children. The treatment improves symptoms such as anxiety, depression, behavior problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, relationship difficulties and more. According to their study, the reduction of symptoms was still experienced two years after the end of therapy, helping to prove the efficacy. Research also shows that caregivers benefit from reduced emotional distress and depressive symptoms too, therefore TF-CBT can help improve relationships with caretakers of child victims of abuse.

The primary components of TF-CBT are summarized by the acronym “PRACTICE”:

• P – Psychoeducation and Parenting Skills

• R – Relaxation Techniques

• A – Affective Expression and Regulation

• C – Cognitive Coping and Processing

• T – Trauma Narration and Processing

• I – In Vivo Exposure

• C – Conjoint Parent/Child Sessions

• E – Enhancing Personal Safety and Future Growth