Resources

 

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
[TF-CBT]

TF-CBT is a structured, short-term treatment model that effectively improves a range of trauma-related outcomes in 8-25 sessions with the child/adolescent and caregiver. Although TF-CBT is highly effective at improving youth posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis, a PTSD diagnosis is not required in order to receive this treatment. TF-CBT also effectively addresses many other trauma impacts, including affective (e.g., depressive, anxiety), cognitive and behavioral problems, as well as improving the participating parent’s or caregiver’s personal distress about the child’s traumatic experience, effective parenting skills, and supportive interactions with the child.

Adapted from: www.tfcbt.org

  • https://www.tfcbt.org

  • https://depts.washington.edu/uwhatc/PDF/TF-%20CBT/pages/traumafocused_cbt.html

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
[EMDR]

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or
completing homework between sessions. EMDR therapy, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process.

EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.

Adapted from: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/

Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy [ERP]

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that is widely used in the treatment of OCD. It is considered the first-line psychological treatment due to its very strong evidence base and effectiveness in reducing symptoms and improving functioning in people with OCD.

ERP typically begins with 2–3 sessions of education about OCD and a detailed assessment of your obsessions, compulsions, and avoidance patterns. Next, you and your therapist work together to develop an exposure list or “hierarchy” of selected situations, thoughts, and other stimuli that provoke obsessional fear. 

Following these treatment planning sessions, the therapist coaches you through the process of gradually confronting the feared situations, objects or thoughts on the hierarchy (exposure therapy), without engaging in any compulsions or avoidance (response prevention). Exposure practices are planned ahead of time, and might involve directly confronting an actual situation or stimulus (situational exposure) or confronting thoughts and images (imaginal exposure). You are never forced or deceived into exposure — rather, therapists coach and encourage patients to gradually take more and more challenging steps. Response prevention entails helping you resist the urge to engage in compulsive behaviors during and after exposure. You would also be asked to complete additional ERP practice between sessions.

Adapted from: https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-treatment-guide/exposure-response-prevention/