TREATMENT MODEL
TREATMENT MODEL
Bethesda bases its therapeutic counseling services on the Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Model (TF-CBT). This model is a therapeutic intervention designed to help children, adolescents, and their parents overcome the trauma of adverse events, such as sexual abuse. All Bethesda counseling staff are trained in TF-CBT.
THE FOCUS OF TREATMENT IS TO:
- Assist the child or adolescent to develop coping strategies for traumatic stress reactions
- Reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, or acting out behavior which are common in children exposed to trauma
WHAT CAN MY CHILD EXPECT FROM TF-CBT?
You can expect that your child will:
- Learn that the abuse and subsequent trauma is not their fault
- Learn that they are not alone; they are not the only ones that have suffered abuse and trauma
- Learn healthy coping skills and how to utilize those skills when faced with negative reminders
- Identify negative thoughts that lead to depression or anxiety
- Learn how to replace negative thoughts with more positive and helpful ones
- Learn helpful steps for personal safety
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A PARENT OR CAREGIVER?
Participation of the caregiver is a helpful way to assist the child in treatment. If a caregiver participates, the child is more likely to succeed. TF-CBT assists caregivers by:
- Helping them process their own feelings about the child’s traumatic experience
- Adopting parenting skills and techniques
- Improving communication
- Learning to support the child as he/she heals from the trauma