TF-CBT CERT EXAM NEWEST 2026 QUESTIONS
and CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
You are working with a 10 year-old girl who has a history of sexual abuse and
exposure to domestic violence. She has been diagnosed with severe PTSD. You
are about to start the Trauma Narrative as you just finished the last PRAC
component with her in the previous session. You introduce the idea of talking
about details of her traumatic experiences. - CORRECT ANSWER-15. What is
the appropriate next step in treatment?
a) Tell her that she will be doing a Trauma Narrative and will be focusing on either
the sexual abuse or the exposure to domestic violence but she does not have to
talk about both. The Trauma Narrative focuses on only one traumatic experience.
b) Suggest different options (e.g., book, song, poem, drawings, timeline) for
talking/telling about the traumatic experiences she has been through, including
ideas that relate to things that she is interested in.
c) You cannot do a trauma narrative with children who have been through
multiple types of traumatic experiences. You should focus instead on continuing
the PRAC components so that she can manage distress in her daily life.
d) Given this girl's severe PTSD symptoms, you plan to delay the start of the
narrative by a few weeks if she expresses some hesitation or anxiety when you
introduce the Trauma Narrative component.
,Alexa is an 8-year-old girl who disclosed sexual abuse by her two older adolescent
stepbrothers. While developing the first part of her trauma narrative, she wrote "I
am a bad girl. I think they messed up my body. I was really dumb because I never
told anyone." - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Alexa's statements are examples of:
a) Healthy or functional thoughts.
b) Cognitive distortions.
c) Cognitive realities.
d) Accurate but unhelpful thoughts.
2. How should the therapist proceed? (Alexa case) - CORRECT ANSWER-a) Tell
Alexa that it is not her fault and immediately begin to process her statements.
b) Allow Alexa to complete her trauma narrative and then begin cognitive
processing of the trauma narrative, including her statements.
c) Repeat the earlier components, beginning with Psychoeducation as this is a
clear example of the therapy not "sinking in."
d) Ask Alexa to start the trauma narrative again but this time tell her to only
include details about the sexual abuse, not any statements about herself or any
thoughts.
Justin is an 11-year-old boy who witnessed his father brutally attack his mother
with a baseball bat. During the middle of writing his trauma narrative, he wrote
that he intervened and attempted to defend his mother by fighting his father.
, However, during individual sessions with his mother, it became apparent that
Justin had hidden behind the sofa and cried during the attack. - CORRECT
ANSWER-3. How should the therapist proceed?
a) Due to the problems associated with "false memories," confront Justin about
the inaccuracy immediately.
b) Talk to Justin about the difference between the "truth" and a "lie."
c) Recognize that it is not unusual for children to make fantasy or rescue
statements; allow Justin to complete his trauma narrative and gently challenge his
statements.
d) Talk with Justin's father to determine whether Justin or his mother is telling the
truth; then share this information with Justin.
In the example above, there is a concern that the father may have access to the
home and the therapist is worried about Justin's safety. The therapist is
concerned about following the TF-CBT model with fidelity and is not sure whether
it is okay to implement "Enhancing Safety and Future Development" without
completing the earlier components. - CORRECT ANSWER-4. How should the
therapist proceed?
a) Meet with the child's father and discuss the safety concerns.
b) Do not discuss safety because Justin and his mother would then blame
themselves for the domestic violence.
c) Engage in short-term safety planning with Justin and his mother.
and CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
You are working with a 10 year-old girl who has a history of sexual abuse and
exposure to domestic violence. She has been diagnosed with severe PTSD. You
are about to start the Trauma Narrative as you just finished the last PRAC
component with her in the previous session. You introduce the idea of talking
about details of her traumatic experiences. - CORRECT ANSWER-15. What is
the appropriate next step in treatment?
a) Tell her that she will be doing a Trauma Narrative and will be focusing on either
the sexual abuse or the exposure to domestic violence but she does not have to
talk about both. The Trauma Narrative focuses on only one traumatic experience.
b) Suggest different options (e.g., book, song, poem, drawings, timeline) for
talking/telling about the traumatic experiences she has been through, including
ideas that relate to things that she is interested in.
c) You cannot do a trauma narrative with children who have been through
multiple types of traumatic experiences. You should focus instead on continuing
the PRAC components so that she can manage distress in her daily life.
d) Given this girl's severe PTSD symptoms, you plan to delay the start of the
narrative by a few weeks if she expresses some hesitation or anxiety when you
introduce the Trauma Narrative component.
,Alexa is an 8-year-old girl who disclosed sexual abuse by her two older adolescent
stepbrothers. While developing the first part of her trauma narrative, she wrote "I
am a bad girl. I think they messed up my body. I was really dumb because I never
told anyone." - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Alexa's statements are examples of:
a) Healthy or functional thoughts.
b) Cognitive distortions.
c) Cognitive realities.
d) Accurate but unhelpful thoughts.
2. How should the therapist proceed? (Alexa case) - CORRECT ANSWER-a) Tell
Alexa that it is not her fault and immediately begin to process her statements.
b) Allow Alexa to complete her trauma narrative and then begin cognitive
processing of the trauma narrative, including her statements.
c) Repeat the earlier components, beginning with Psychoeducation as this is a
clear example of the therapy not "sinking in."
d) Ask Alexa to start the trauma narrative again but this time tell her to only
include details about the sexual abuse, not any statements about herself or any
thoughts.
Justin is an 11-year-old boy who witnessed his father brutally attack his mother
with a baseball bat. During the middle of writing his trauma narrative, he wrote
that he intervened and attempted to defend his mother by fighting his father.
, However, during individual sessions with his mother, it became apparent that
Justin had hidden behind the sofa and cried during the attack. - CORRECT
ANSWER-3. How should the therapist proceed?
a) Due to the problems associated with "false memories," confront Justin about
the inaccuracy immediately.
b) Talk to Justin about the difference between the "truth" and a "lie."
c) Recognize that it is not unusual for children to make fantasy or rescue
statements; allow Justin to complete his trauma narrative and gently challenge his
statements.
d) Talk with Justin's father to determine whether Justin or his mother is telling the
truth; then share this information with Justin.
In the example above, there is a concern that the father may have access to the
home and the therapist is worried about Justin's safety. The therapist is
concerned about following the TF-CBT model with fidelity and is not sure whether
it is okay to implement "Enhancing Safety and Future Development" without
completing the earlier components. - CORRECT ANSWER-4. How should the
therapist proceed?
a) Meet with the child's father and discuss the safety concerns.
b) Do not discuss safety because Justin and his mother would then blame
themselves for the domestic violence.
c) Engage in short-term safety planning with Justin and his mother.
