Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

A therapeutic intervention designed to help children, adolescents and their parents overcome the impact of traumatic events. TF-CBT is intended to help with traumas related to sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence and community violence. It can also be used for an unexpected death of a loved one, natural disasters and war. The focus of treatment is to help the child or adolescent develop coping strategies for traumatic stress reactions, reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety or acting-out behavior typical in children exposed to trauma. TF-CBT is provided to children between ages 3–18 by a professional trained in this therapy. Treatment typically lasts between 12–16 sessions. These sessions include individual sessions for children or adolescents, one-on-one sessions for parents and conjoint sessions between parent and child or adolescent.