CBT with Parents Included
This treatment teaches both children and parents that their thoughts are related to their feelings and behaviors. Sessions may be together or individual (parent alone, child alone) and are focused on the area of concern. Parents and children are taught the same skills to provide parents the resources to help their child use their skills after therapy is finished.
This evidence-based approach is made up of several treatment components, and has demonstrated the BEST support for youth difficulties with depression and trauma.
This approach differs from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in one major way: in addition to receiving CBT, a youth’s parents will have their own sessions with the therapist, and the focus of the parent-therapist sessions is on supporting youth development. Please see Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Trauma-Focused CBT for more thorough descriptions of those treatment approaches.
What should my child’s therapist be doing?
Working directly with you to develop or fine-tune parenting approaches for your child. This will involve:
Teaching you new skills or fine-tuning your existing skills
Helping you practice these skills in-session
Assigning you “homework” so you can practice skills outside of session.
What should I be doing?
Actively participating in each session’s practice
Actively completing “homework” assignments.
How will I know if it is working?
You will practice your new skills within the context of “homework” and will eventually begin using skills without being assigned “homework.”
In turn, your child will learn to notice, interrupt and correct negative thoughts and feelings independently. These new skills will help to lessen feelings of anxiety and depression.
