Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)

In-person and online Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) for individuals in Singapore and beyond

What is Trauma-Focused CBT?

Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) is a conjoint child and parent psychotherapy approach for children and adolescents who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioural difficulties related to traumatic life events. It is a components-based treatment model that incorporates trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioural, family, and humanistic principles and techniques.

TF-CBT is an evidence-based structured, short-term treatment model that effectively improves a range of trauma-related outcomes in 8-25 sessions with the child and parent. Research has shown that TF-CBT successfully resolves a broad array of emotional and behavioural difficulties associated with single, multiple, and complex trauma experiences.

Therapists use TF-CBT for:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis
Other concerns associated with trauma, including affective (e.g. depressive, anxiety), cognitive, and behavioural problems
Improving the participating parent’s or caregiver’s personal distress about the child’s traumatic experience
Effective parenting skills
Supportive interactions with the child

How TF-CBT works?

In TF-CBT, children and parents learn new skills to help process thoughts and feelings related to traumatic life events; manage and resolve distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours related to traumatic life events; and enhance safety, growth, parenting skills, and family communication.

Core components of TF-CBT include:

Psychoeducation and parenting skills
Relaxation
Affective regulation
Cognitive processing of the trauma
Trauma narrative
In vivo mastery of trauma reminders
Conjoint child-parent sessions
Enhancing future safety and development

TF-CBT is a skills-based model, and it requires the child and parent to practice its components in order to be optimally effective. Parents and children are commonly asked to practice skills at home. The goal of TF-CBT is to allow both child and parent to continue to develop their skills and communication techniques in a healthy manner.

More information about TF-CBT and how trauma might affect your child/adolescent can be found at Trauma Network For Children.

Please contact me if you would like to find out about how TF-CBT can help with situation of your child/adolescent.