What is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is for children and adolescents that experienced trauma like sexual abuse, physical abuse, maltreatment, or neglect. Counselors use it in an individual or a group setting.

TF-CBT is highly structured with specific goals for each session, lasting anywhere from eight to 25 sessions. It also includes non-offending parents and caregivers to help the child continue the work they learn during and increase positive behaviors at home, at school, and in the rest of their lives.

TF-CBT helps children and adolescents understand the connection between thoughts and feelings. Additionally, TF-CBT uses the trauma narrative process, where children or adolescents retell the therapist their trauma experience. Then, the child and counselor process the trauma. These phases are crucial to TF-CBT’s goal, which is to allow the child to live a healthier life post-trauma ultimately.