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Treating Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children and Adolescents
This is the authoritative guide to conducting trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), a systematic, evidence-based treatment for traumatized children and their families. Provided is a comprehensive framework for assessing posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and other symptoms; developing a flexible, individualized treatment plan; and working collaboratively with children and parents to build core skills in such areas as affect regulation and safety. Specific guidance is offered for responding to different types of traumatic events, with an entire section devoted to grief-focused components. Useful appendices feature resources, reproducible handouts, and information on obtaining additional training. TF-CBT has been nationally recognized as an exemplary evidence-based program.
See also the edited volume Trauma-Focused CBT for Children and Treatment Applications for more information on tailoring TF-CBT to children's varying developmental levels and cultural backgrounds.
See also the edited volume Trauma-Focused CBT for Children and Treatment Applications for more information on tailoring TF-CBT to children's varying developmental levels and cultural backgrounds.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 4, 2020
A good, useful guide to applying Trauma-Focused CBT in working with children. I wish the book had gone more into dealing with cases that don't have a suitable "witness" available for the trauma narrative, or preferably trauma breaking through the consciously-known, here-and-now issues. Other than that I highly recommend this book. Just be ready to skip past the tedious "first read all about our research results" stuff to get to the meat and potatoes of how to do the treatment. The back of the book is full of resources and handouts and so forth that would have been better placed in the text, where the clinician would be better able to use them. Otherwise this is a much-better-than-average example of the genre.
November 14, 2022
I can't believe the statement that a symptom a girl had after rape was "questioning her gender identity".
No analysis or comment that the trauma of being born into the wrong body could affect resilience. Gender questioning was just seen as a severe symptom.
No reflecting on how this surfacing now was due to people listening and asking about sexuality, and how sexuality came into their life at the age of 13 in an abrupt way.
It's terrible that people dealing with and researching on trauma are this limited in their perspective on gender and lack ability to see more perspectives on what is traumatic. The book has overall quite a limited view on what trauma is. Simplified in what we see we deal with, but there is so much more to trauma than what the eye sees.
No analysis or comment that the trauma of being born into the wrong body could affect resilience. Gender questioning was just seen as a severe symptom.
No reflecting on how this surfacing now was due to people listening and asking about sexuality, and how sexuality came into their life at the age of 13 in an abrupt way.
It's terrible that people dealing with and researching on trauma are this limited in their perspective on gender and lack ability to see more perspectives on what is traumatic. The book has overall quite a limited view on what trauma is. Simplified in what we see we deal with, but there is so much more to trauma than what the eye sees.
October 27, 2026
very helpful book to learn the tf-cbt model. the client testimonials and examples were really powerful, and gave me new insight into just how resilient children are. I also have a newfound appreciation for the role parents play in helping their children heal from trauma. wish reading the book was enough to get certified, but alas!
August 18, 2020
This is an excellent tool for those of us just getting started in social work or mental health counseling. As I read through the book, I realized I use these tools constantly and it was nice to review that I’m doing what needs to be done.
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July 7, 2019*grad school
March 24, 2020
This book is the foundation of my education and professional career. It's hard to imagine where I might be right now if a professor did not recommend it to me in the first year of graduate school.
July 17, 2020
Well written book for specialists who work with children and adolescents. I recommend also the online course that the MUSC offers, it gives bit more detail and structure in addition to the book.
November 11, 2025
I don't care that its a textbook I still finished it
February 24, 2026
mjög góð bók, gerir meðferðinni góð skil. -1 stjarna fyrir weird zíonískt dæmi sem var tekið mjög randomly einhverra hluta vegna
June 11, 2026
I don't care that its a textbook I still finished it
September 7, 2026
Treating Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children and Adolescents, Second Edition is a substantial professional resource centered on Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and its application with children, adolescents, and their caregivers. The book provides a structured framework for understanding trauma related difficulties and traumatic grief across childhood and adolescence.
A major strength of the book is its practical organization. Alongside clinical concepts, it includes assessment strategies, coping skills, parenting components, trauma narration and processing, grief focused components, case examples, sample scripts, and reproducible materials. The second edition also incorporates updated research and practice developments, including expanded attention to complex trauma and group applications.
The book's scope makes it particularly relevant to professionals working with young people who have experienced difficult or traumatic circumstances. Its attention to both trauma and grief also gives readers a broader framework for considering how children process painful experiences and how caregivers can participate in supportive treatment.
With 18 Goodreads ratings and 4 written reviews, the book already has an established but relatively focused reader presence. Its professional nature creates opportunities to reach additional clinicians, graduate students, instructors, researchers, university programs, and organizations involved in child and adolescent mental health education.
Overall, this is a specialized and practical reference for readers interested in child and adolescent trauma treatment, clinical psychology, traumatic grief, and evidence based therapeutic frameworks. Its combination of research, clinical guidance, and implementation resources gives it strong potential for professional and academic audiences.
A major strength of the book is its practical organization. Alongside clinical concepts, it includes assessment strategies, coping skills, parenting components, trauma narration and processing, grief focused components, case examples, sample scripts, and reproducible materials. The second edition also incorporates updated research and practice developments, including expanded attention to complex trauma and group applications.
The book's scope makes it particularly relevant to professionals working with young people who have experienced difficult or traumatic circumstances. Its attention to both trauma and grief also gives readers a broader framework for considering how children process painful experiences and how caregivers can participate in supportive treatment.
With 18 Goodreads ratings and 4 written reviews, the book already has an established but relatively focused reader presence. Its professional nature creates opportunities to reach additional clinicians, graduate students, instructors, researchers, university programs, and organizations involved in child and adolescent mental health education.
Overall, this is a specialized and practical reference for readers interested in child and adolescent trauma treatment, clinical psychology, traumatic grief, and evidence based therapeutic frameworks. Its combination of research, clinical guidance, and implementation resources gives it strong potential for professional and academic audiences.
August 30, 2026
Treating Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children and Adolescents, Second Edition by Judith Cohen offers a thorough overview of TF-CBT. It is a clinical manual (NOT a book for readers curious about the intervention), pairing case examples with guidance on implementation. It is a dry read, though it clarified the structure of the model for me. Much of the content repeats the online course offered through the Medical University of South Carolina. The print edition of this book includes handouts and worksheets in the appendix, which may help clinicians who have not encountered them elsewhere in training.
The audience here is trained clinicians who will facilitate TF-CBT. Caregivers looking to support youth through grief or complex trauma would do better to ask a TF-CBT counselor for recommended reading.
The audience here is trained clinicians who will facilitate TF-CBT. Caregivers looking to support youth through grief or complex trauma would do better to ask a TF-CBT counselor for recommended reading.
August 22, 2011
Awesome book that describes in depth the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model (TF-CBT). I went through the online training, and I felt it was a great overview, but the book really goes more in depth. As one who has used TF-CBT components, I appreciated the troubleshooting sections at the end of each chapter for dealing with common struggles that arise. I also appreciated that the author admitted mistakes that she made in the process that everyone can learn from. This book is also easy to read unlike some professional counseling writings.
July 14, 2026
TBH I was not excited about reading this book but now I see it's pretty good!
Gold standard for tept, grief and complex-ptsd in children and adolescents.
Clear, easy to read. I just would liked a final chapter or index with all the techniques named very concisely.
I believe this + NET are both good to use!
Gold standard for tept, grief and complex-ptsd in children and adolescents.
Clear, easy to read. I just would liked a final chapter or index with all the techniques named very concisely.
I believe this + NET are both good to use!
June 20, 2013
i highly recommend that social workers & therapists who are interested in working with young people read this book. also: if you have the degree (or are working on it), see their online training, TF-CBTWeb.
October 12, 2011
Very practical and easy to read- makes sense!
November 4, 2011
Excellent - practical and clearly written with great exercises for kids. Very translatable across cultures, ages, etc.
January 8, 2012
Solid and informative overview of a specific intervention/treatment modality
April 11, 2012
Read for a class....very thorough description of the therapy! Wish I were able to do it...seems like it would be very rewarding and helpful to many :)
June 22, 2024
Informative, helpful, practical applications and resources.
June 21, 2026
accessible
January 4, 2016
A good overview of Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews