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What is the difference between CBT and TF-CBT?
TF-CBT is one specific kind of CBT. A significant difference between the two is that, unlike regular CBT, trauma-focused CBT focuses specifically on the impacts of trauma. While TF-CBT was specifically developed to help children and adolescents after trauma, regular CBT is for people of all ages. TF-CBT was originally geared toward helping children who were the victims of sexual abuse, but its scope has widened to include children and adolescents who have experienced a single or repeated experience of sexual, physical, or mental abuse or who have developed post-traumatic symptoms, depression, or anxiety. TF-CBT has proved successful with children and adolescents (ages 3 to 18) who have significant emotional problems (e.g., symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, fear, anxiety, or depression) related to traumatic life events. Abstract. Background: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) has been identified as a gold standard treatment for childhood posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Western countries. TF-CBT consists of three phases of treatment: safety and stabilization, formal gradual exposure, and consolidation/integration. While TF-CBT can be delivered without the parent/caregiver component when caregiver involvement is just not possible, the intervention is most effective when a non-offending parent or caregiver participates in treatment with the child.
What is a limitation to TF-CBT?
What Are the Limitations of TF-CBT? Because TF-CBT can temporarily worsen trauma symptoms, clients must demonstrate some ability to practice distress tolerance skills. Therefore, TF-CBT is inappropriate for children or adolescents experiencing actively severe suicidal ideation, psychosis, or self-harm behaviors. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is a form of trauma counseling that can alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. This method is typically used with children and teens, but it can benefit adult survivors of childhood trauma. TF-CBT is a short-term treatment typically provided in 12 to 16 weekly sessions, although the number of sessions can be increased to 25 for youth who present with complex trauma (Cohen, Mannarino, & Deblinger, 2017). Central Concepts of Trauma-Focused CBT Trauma Focused-CBT includes psychoeducation for the parent while teaching new skills, including effective parenting, stress-management, and communication. It is important to note that only a non-offending parent can be part of the treatment.