182). The second strategy is enhancing engagement. The therapist encourages engagement from parents, caregivers, teachers, and other support. This can help validate the trauma that was endured and also provide support and safety. The third strategy is distinguishing the difference between real danger and trauma. Individuals with continuous exposure to trauma are in a constant state of hyperarousal. Finally, the fourth strategy is to provide advocacy. The therapist gives the youth and his or her caregiver the skills and empowerment to seek additional support services in the community. .
"With the help of these strategies, youth and their families experienced significant improvement in mental health symptoms and functioning. Utilizing such techniques allows us to maintain safety (and perhaps enhance it) while simultaneously offering efficacious treatment to families that find themselves in "stably unstable" situations. As opposed to "waiting" for unstable situations to change, therapists and counselors should continue to be creative about how to use various applications in continuous trauma cases, while still providing an evidence based treatment like TF-CBT that reduces mental health symptoms and increases functioning," (Murray, Cohen, & Mannarino, 2013, p. 194).
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children .
According to Cohen & Mannarino (2008) TF-CBT is not for all children who have experienced trauma. TF-CBT is not ideal for children whose primary problems are not trauma related. They may have experienced trauma, but it is not be the primary problem. Some children have other underlying psychiatric or behavioral problems that are the primary issue. Those problems cannot be helped with the use of TF-CBT because trauma is not the primary issue. When it is appropriate to use TF-CBT there are several treatment components that can be utilized. The first component is psychoeducation, which includes educating the child and caregivers on TF-CBT.