Treating Traumatized Children

Listening to a small child describe a parent's murder can tax the most seasoned professional. Cases of physical and sexual abuse where trauma was deliberately inflicted can particularly challenge a practitioner's defenses. Treating Traumatized Children is the first handbook to provide specific guidance and tools for treating children who have been traumatized by physical and sexual abuse, disaster, divorce, or witnessing violent events. This book will provide helping professionals with a clear blueprint for assessing the impact of trauma and developing specific treatment plans. Beverly James, a specialist in evaluating and treating traumatized children, outlines creative exercises and techniques that will enable clinicians to join with children in slowly and carefully reviewing their experiences and helping them understand and accept their feelings related to the trauma. Art, play, and drama techniques, among others, are presented in a sophisticated yet straightforward style, useful to clinicians with specialized training in such techniques or those using them for the first time.

Featuring extensive case studies, this volume provides a unique window into implementation of evidence-based treatments in real-world community settings. Experienced therapists illustrate the use of three effective therapies for traumatized children and their caregivers: trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), child-parent psychotherapy (CPP), and parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). Covering the entire process of assessment and intervention, the cases highlight ways to maintain treatment fidelity while addressing complex clinical challenges with diverse clients. Experts in the respective therapy models offer instructive commentaries at the end of each case. The book also provides a concise introduction to each model, including its theoretical underpinnings, empirical support, and applications.