Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
in Houston, TX and Online
What Is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or TF-CBT, is a therapeutic method designed to help children, teens, and adults impacted by trauma. For those struggling with symptoms of post-traumatic stress—including fear, anxiety, trouble concentrating, and sleep issues—TF-CBT helps reframe difficult experiences to be less triggering. Modern Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was developed in the 1960s by Dr. Aaron Beck, who sought to correct automatic thinking processes in clients struggling with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Over the years, CBT has developed into one of the most effective and widely used therapeutic methods to date. In 2006, Trauma-Focused CBT was founded, combining elements of CBT and child-specific techniques. Developed for child survivors of trauma and their caregivers, TF-CBT helps to adjust thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and self-beliefs in order for survivors to better cope with distressing emotions. Research shows that TF-CBT is “very effective” in reducing symptoms within a few months. [1]The History And Development Of TF-CBT
Who Can Benefit From TF-CBT?
While elements of this approach can be used among a wide range of trauma survivors regardless of age, our therapists find that TF-CBT is most appropriate for children and teens (ages 3 – 18) who have survived neglect, abuse, attachment injuries, bullying, a death in the family, and other traumas.
Because it targets trauma-related symptoms, TF-CBT helps reduce:
- Depression
- Anxiety (including social anxiety)
- Behavioral issues
- Shame
- Distrust of others
At Eddins Counseling Group, we are pleased to offer Trauma-Focused CBT for child and adolescent clients who have suffered from any painful or distressing experience that has compromised their safety and wellbeing.
Working with you and your child, we can help to facilitate a new sense of peace in your lives.
How Does TF-CBT Work?
TF-CBT is designed to be highly structured and short-term.
In the span of a few months (8 – 25 sessions), the child/teen client joins their therapist address the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral impact of trauma.
Typically, sessions involve just the child client and therapist. However, joint sessions with the parent/caregiver are often included to ensure successful outcomes.
Parents/caregivers are essential to the treatment process, as they are given tools to reinforce skills building and psychoeducation about the effect of trauma on developing children.
3 Phases Of Treatment
The three phases of treatment are:
- Safety and Stabilization,
- Formal Gradual Exposure, and
- Integration
Throughout the three phases, clients are taught how to relax, express, and regulate their emotions in a healthy way.
A therapist will safely discuss the trauma with the child in the treatment space to offer them a sense of control over the narrative, reframe distortions, and prepare themselves for triggering situations.
As both child and parent build their coping strategies in therapy, they will feel empowered to prevent and handle adversity more effectively in the future.
Not only does TF-CBT allow child trauma survivors to integrate their experience in a healthy way—this approach can be deeply meaningful for helping non-offending parents/caregivers reduce feelings of distress and helplessness about what happened.
This creates an opportunity for parents/caregivers and their children to secure a healthier and more trusting bond, ultimately reinforcing a strong, healthy parenting outlook.
Trauma-Focused CBT Is Available Through Eddins Counseling
As trauma-informed clinicians, we are committed to offering survivors of any age tools for managing their distress and facilitating a sense of forward movement in their lives.
We recognize the need for lasting, effective treatment that can actually help our clients become “un-stuck” from the cycle of post-traumatic stress—especially when a traumatic event takes place at a young age. And we tailor the treatment process to meet the needs of each client and their family.
Our TF-CBT therapists support adolescents and parents/caregivers in developing long-term perspectives to help ease the pain of trauma. Working together in therapy, your child can go from simply surviving to meaningfully thriving.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) FAQ's
The symptoms of post-traumatic stress may include:
- Intrusive memories or dreams
- Negative thoughts and beliefs
- Irritability
- Hypervigilance
- Sleep disturbance
- Heightened startle response
- Difficulty concentrating
- Emotional numbness
- Avoidance of people/places associated with the trauma
How do I know if my symptoms indicate post-traumatic stress?
Great question! We encourage you to take our brief PTSD self-test.
This screening tool can help identify whether the symptoms you’re experiencing stem from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Please remember that this is not a diagnosis.
If you do have PTSD, we recommend specific trauma therapies to help you overcome your symptoms, including:
Yes, we have a PTSD screening tool!
The first step to overcoming PTSD symptoms is recognizing them.
This brief PTSD screening test can help you identify whether the symptoms you’re experiencing stem from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Please remember that this is not a diagnosis.
This is a very common question.
Talking about past trauma can be difficult, so we want to remind you of the three steps involved in this treatment:
- Safety and Stabilization,
- Formal Gradual Exposure, and
- Integration
Throughout the three phases, clients are taught how to relax, express, and regulate their emotions in a healthy way.
A therapist will safely discuss the trauma with the child in the treatment space to offer them:
- a sense of control over the narrative,
- reframe distortions, and
- prepare themselves for triggering situations.
As both child and parent build their coping strategies in therapy, they will feel empowered to prevent and handle adversity more effectively in the future.
So while it may be difficult, our therapists do everything they can to create a safe space to deal with a difficult memory in the most healthy way possible.
It’s Possible For Your Child To Heal From The Effects Of Trauma
Eddins Counseling Group provides Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to child, adolescent, and teen trauma survivors.
For more information about how we can help or to get started with our TF-CBT therapists, contact us below.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4396183/
Get Help From a Specialist in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Courtney Chiles-Cloud
Courtney works with youths and their families that have experienced trauma or are struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideat…
BOOK AN APPOINTMENTWhat Clients Are Saying
Fantastic
My daughter's counselor is fantastic! She quickly created a connection with my teenage daughter and from what my daughter shares they discuss all subjects but her counselor also keeps her focused on her therapy goals.
Florida