Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-
CBT): Principles, Goals, Eligibility, Techniques,
Sessions, Caregiver Involvement
What is TF-CBT? - ✔✔An evidence-based, conjoint child and parent/caregiver psychotherapy model for
children and adolescents who are experiencing clinically significant emotional and behavioral difficulties
related to traumatic life events they have experienced.
How long is the treatment? - ✔✔Relatively brief (typically 12-20 sessions)
What modalities is it based off of? - ✔✔Cognitive, family therapy, behavior, and humanistic principles.
What are the 3 general goals? - ✔✔To enable children + their supportive caregivers,
1) to learn effective skills to cope with trauma-related emotional and behavioral problems
2) to face and resolve those problems in a safe and therapeutic way
3) to effectively integrate their trauma experiences and help them move on with their lives in a safe and
positive manner.
What specific emotional issues related to adverse experiences is it designed to treat? - ✔✔Fear, shame,
embarrassment, guilt, and self-blame. TF-CBT also improves caregiver support of the child, parenting
skills, and parent-child communication.
What specific diagnoses related to adverse experiences is it designed to treat? - ✔✔Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD), trauma-related depression, anxiety, and behavior problems, and common trauma-
related cognitive and emotional problems
What age range is TF-CBT a best fit for? - ✔✔Children and youth 3-18 years old.
, What demographic is TF-CBT a best fit for? - ✔✔Children from any racial, ethnic, cultural, or country of
origin group living in urban, suburban or rural areas. To date, there is no demographic group of
traumatized children or youth for which TF-CBT has been found to be ineffective.
Types of Traumatic Events (6) - ✔✔1) experiencing or witnessing interpersonal violence, such as sexual
abuse/assault, physical abuse/assault, intimate partner violence, bullying, shootings, or other forms of
violence in the home, school, or community.
2) Unexpected, traumatic death of a loved one
3) Motor vehicle accident
4) Experiencing a natural or man-made disaster such as a tornado, flood, earthquake, or hurricane,
chemical spill, train or airplane crash
5) Dog or other animal attack
6) Exposure to war, combat violence, or torture.
How many symptoms of PTSD should the child present to be eligible for TF-CBT? - ✔✔4 or more
***des noted to meet full diagnostic criteria
Co-morbid Diagnoses for which TF-CBT is effective (3) - ✔✔ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and
conduct disorder.
Can treatment be conducted without caregiver involvement? - ✔✔TF-CBT can be done with children
without a supportive caregiver, substantial parts of the treatment will be lost. Every effort should be
made to locate and engage.
Who is TF-CBT not for? (3) - ✔✔1) No history of traumatic events.
CBT): Principles, Goals, Eligibility, Techniques,
Sessions, Caregiver Involvement
What is TF-CBT? - ✔✔An evidence-based, conjoint child and parent/caregiver psychotherapy model for
children and adolescents who are experiencing clinically significant emotional and behavioral difficulties
related to traumatic life events they have experienced.
How long is the treatment? - ✔✔Relatively brief (typically 12-20 sessions)
What modalities is it based off of? - ✔✔Cognitive, family therapy, behavior, and humanistic principles.
What are the 3 general goals? - ✔✔To enable children + their supportive caregivers,
1) to learn effective skills to cope with trauma-related emotional and behavioral problems
2) to face and resolve those problems in a safe and therapeutic way
3) to effectively integrate their trauma experiences and help them move on with their lives in a safe and
positive manner.
What specific emotional issues related to adverse experiences is it designed to treat? - ✔✔Fear, shame,
embarrassment, guilt, and self-blame. TF-CBT also improves caregiver support of the child, parenting
skills, and parent-child communication.
What specific diagnoses related to adverse experiences is it designed to treat? - ✔✔Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD), trauma-related depression, anxiety, and behavior problems, and common trauma-
related cognitive and emotional problems
What age range is TF-CBT a best fit for? - ✔✔Children and youth 3-18 years old.
, What demographic is TF-CBT a best fit for? - ✔✔Children from any racial, ethnic, cultural, or country of
origin group living in urban, suburban or rural areas. To date, there is no demographic group of
traumatized children or youth for which TF-CBT has been found to be ineffective.
Types of Traumatic Events (6) - ✔✔1) experiencing or witnessing interpersonal violence, such as sexual
abuse/assault, physical abuse/assault, intimate partner violence, bullying, shootings, or other forms of
violence in the home, school, or community.
2) Unexpected, traumatic death of a loved one
3) Motor vehicle accident
4) Experiencing a natural or man-made disaster such as a tornado, flood, earthquake, or hurricane,
chemical spill, train or airplane crash
5) Dog or other animal attack
6) Exposure to war, combat violence, or torture.
How many symptoms of PTSD should the child present to be eligible for TF-CBT? - ✔✔4 or more
***des noted to meet full diagnostic criteria
Co-morbid Diagnoses for which TF-CBT is effective (3) - ✔✔ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and
conduct disorder.
Can treatment be conducted without caregiver involvement? - ✔✔TF-CBT can be done with children
without a supportive caregiver, substantial parts of the treatment will be lost. Every effort should be
made to locate and engage.
Who is TF-CBT not for? (3) - ✔✔1) No history of traumatic events.
