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Trauma Treatment
The Counseling4Kids Trauma Treatment Program is a specialized unit within the agency for children who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Most children in foster care have experiences we would consider to be traumatic – physical or sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence, severe neglect, and being abruptly removed from their family, home and community. But for some children the impact of trauma is severe, and they develop the debilitating symptoms of PTSD: constant anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, irritable or depressed mood, emotional numbing, hypervigilence, an inability to stop thinking or talking about what happened, and making extreme efforts to avoid trauma reminders. The Trauma Treatment Program offers hope and healing to these children because we use a treatment model designed to address these problems. Our Trauma Treatment Program therapists have expertise in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is specifically developed to treat trauma symptoms in children and youth.
What is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a research driven, evidence based therapy protocol, considered to be the “gold standard” of treatment for traumatized children. TF-CBT has been established in numerous research studies as a highly effective treatment model which, when applied by a trained therapist, provides significant symptom relief and improved functioning over a relatively short course of therapy.
In addition to effectively reducing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and trauma-related symptoms such as inability to concentrate, flashbacks, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, withdrawal from others and behavioral problems, this treatment model teaches children coping skills which they can draw upon when faced with future stressors. Therapy helps these children by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively process and resolve their trauma, express their feelings in a healthy manner, manage distressing thoughts, increase control over their emotions, enhance personal safety, and improve their communication within the family.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy includes caregivers (foster parents, birth parents, and relative caregivers) in the treatment, and teaches them the skills they need to support the emotional health and wellbeing of the children in their care. By educating and giving tools to the important adults in the child’s life, therapy can have a lasting impact.
To ensure that the full benefit of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is received by our clients, we monitor, guide and assess the success of treatment using standardized outcome measures such as the UCLA Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Index, the Child Depression Inventory, and the Child Behavior Checklist. We carefully monitor the progress of these children, ensuring each phase of treatment is effectively delivered. The results in our program have been impressive. TF-CBT works well, even in the most severe cases! Children who receive TF-CBT are experiencing significant symptom relief in a relatively short period of time, and many complete their treatment in 6 to 10 months. Our Trauma Treatment Program therapists find it very satisfying to approach even the most horrific abuse cases with confidence, knowing the treatment they have to offer is proven to work.
Who Should Be Referred For Specialized Trauma Treatment?
A child who has experienced a significant traumatic event (or series of events), such as sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, witnessing community violence or domestic violence, or other life-endangering and terrifying incidents.
AND
In addition to the above, the child has symptoms which are clearly related to the trauma, such as anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, inability to stop thinking or talking about what happened, irritable mood, unable or unwilling to talk about what happened, emotional numbing, fearful, can’t be alone, etc.
The child must meet the following admission criteria:
- Child is involved with DCFS and in foster care, placed with a relative caregiver, or at risk for detention.
- Child is between ages 3 and 18 and is able to communicate adequately with the therapist.
- Child meets medical necessity for mental health services.
- Child has full-scope Medi-Cal eligibility for Los Angeles County.
- Court authorization has been given for the child to receive mental health services.
We provide treatment to all clients in-home. A licensed Counseling4Kids therapist trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy will travel to the client and provide services. We use a team treatment approach, and work together with the child’s foster parent or caregiver, the child’s Social Worker, FFA Social Worker and Children’s Attorney, and the biological parents (when appropriate) to ensure comprehensive care.
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