The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) defines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as the focus on exploring relationships among a person 's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (NAMI, n.d). It encourages clinicians to identify and address cognitive distortion or thinking errors, thoughts that are illogical or bizarre but which unduly influence negative behaviors (Gil, 2006). TF-CBT addresses the unique needs of children who have symptoms related to traumatic life experience such as depression, behavioral problem, and dissociation. Some of the symptoms that the TF-CBT addresses are intrusive and upsetting memories, thoughts, or nightmare of the trauma. It also addresses the avoidance of things, people, and/or situation that may be reminders of the traumatic event. Many studies have demonstrated that TF-CBT helps not only children recover from negative effects of traumatic experiences, but also help families recovers as well. TF-CBT works for children who have experienced one trauma or multiple traumas. It is also proven to work within 12-16 treatment session, however it varies based on the child and their family 's needs (MUSC, n.d) It has been used successfully in clinically, residential treatment settings, school, and home. Though this is a treatment to help families recover as well, TF-CBT also work when there is no …show more content…
Psycho-education, Parenting component, Relaxation skill, Affective modulation, Cognitive coping, Trauma narrative, In vivo expose and trauma, Conjoint parent-child session, and Enhancing future personal safety (NCTSN, 2007). Psycho-education is provided to the child and their caregiver about the impact of trauma and common childhood reactions. Also parenting skills are provided for parents to optimize their children 's emotion and behavioral adjustment. Relaxation skills and stress management skills are made available for child and parent. Affective expressive and modulation are to help the child and parents to identify and cope with a range of emotions. Cognitive coping and processing enhances the child’s relationships with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This also helps the child and parent to modify any unhelpful thoughts about the trauma. Trauma narration allows the child to describe their personal experience about the trauma, which is an important part of the treatment. In vivo mastery of trauma reminders is used to help the child overcome their fear and avoidance of the situation. Conjoint child-parent sessions allow the child and parent to communicate with one another about the child 's trauma. The final phase is enhancing future personal safety and development which help the child gain developmental momentum of any skills that the child may not have