Trauma-Focused CBT

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Trauma-Focused CBT

• Judy Cohen, M.D. Tony Mannarino, Ph.D.
• Allegheny General Hospital
• Esther Deblinger, Ph.D.
• New Jersey CARES Institute

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Theoretical Underpinnings of TF-CBT

• A hybrid model incorporating CBT, attachment,
  family, psychodynamic and empowerment principles
• Goals resolve PTSD, depressive, anxiety and
  other trauma-related symptoms in children and
  adolescents optimize adaptive functioning and
  enhance safety, family communication and future
  developmental trajectory

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TF-CBT Or Not?

• Target symptoms PTSD, depression, anxiety, and
  behavioral symptoms secondary to trauma.
• Children presenting with predominance of
  behavioral problems may benefit more from a
  different treatment.
• TF-CBT has been used for all types of traumas
• TF-CBT has been used for children ages 3-18, with
  and without parental participation, in schools,
  group home, foster home and in-home settings but
  is most commonly provided individually to child
  and parent in clinical settings.

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Evidence That TF-CBT Works

• Six randomized controlled trials have been
  conducted for sexually abused/multiply
  traumatized children comparing TF-CBT to other
  active treatments
• In all six studies children receiving TF-CBT
  experienced significantly greater improvements in
  a variety of symptoms, both at immediate
  post-treatment and up to 2 years post-treatment.
• PTSD symptoms consistently improved significantly
  more in the TF-CBT groups.

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Evidence That TF-CBT Works

• CATS Project TF-CBT used following 9-11
  terrorist attacks in NYC demonstrated
  significantly greater improvement in PTSD among
  children receiving TF-CBT than those receiving
  usual treatment.
• Two open studies of TF-CBT for Childhood
  Traumatic Grief CTG) have offered preliminary
  support of effectiveness of adding grief-focused
  module to TF-CBT for children experiencing CTG.
• Current ongoing randomized trial for children
  with PTSD secondary to domestic violence.

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TF-CBT Components PRACTICE

• Psycoeducation
• Parent Component includes parenting skills
• Relaxation
• Affect identification and regulation
• Cognitive coping
• Trauma narration and cognitive processing of
  these experiences
• In vivo desensitization to trauma reminders
• Conjoint child-parents sessions
• Enhancing safety and future development

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TF-CBTWeb
www.musc.edu/tfcbt
TF-CBTWeb is a web-based, distance education
training course for learning Trauma-Focused
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
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TF-CBTWeb
www.musc.edu/tfcbt

• Web-based learning
• Learn at your own pace
• Learn when you want
• Learn where you want
• Return anytime
• 10 hours of CE

TF-CBTWeb is offered free of charge.
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TF-CBTWeb
www.musc.edu/tfcbt

• Each module has
• Concise explanations
• Video demonstrations
• Clinical scripts
• Cultural considerations
• Clinical Challenges

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TF-CBTWeb
www.musc.edu/tfcbt
TF-CBTWeb is sponsored by
TF-CBTWeb was developed and is maintained through
grant No. 1-UD1-SM56070-01 from the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.