This workshop will provide an overview of the core components of Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT) and relevant populations and settings. AF-CBT is a trauma-informed behavioral intervention for families who exhibit or are at risk for problems with anger, aggression, and/or child physical abuse (www.afcbt.org). The workshop provides a comprehensive overview of the model and its content, research outcomes, and training opportunities. Examples of appropriate families will be provided and discussed to highlight key family processes that underlie the use of coercion and hostility (e.g., relationships, reframing, rules and roles, family routines). Participants are encouraged to raise questions and request further

information.

This workshop will describe the development and evidence base of an intervention that we have developed that targets specific issues identified as critical among young children who have experienced adversity. Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) is a 10-session home visiting program that is designed to enhance parent sensitivity and reduce frightening behavior. Parent coaches implement the intervention through home visitation, and make frequent “in-the-moment” comments about ongoing parent-child interactions that relate to intervention targets. Through randomized clinical trials, we have found that children of parents who receive the ABC intervention show more favorable outcomes than children in a control condition across a range of outcomes. Finally, this workshop will describe how intervention fidelity is assessed and maintained as ABC is implemented in the community.

Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) of children is a commonly misunderstood behavioral health concern. The taboo nature of the topic of “sex” hinders openness to understanding even typical sexual behavior of children. Decisions are made on myths rather than on research on PSB in children, including its responsivity to treatment.  This presentation will begin with foundational information on the continuum of sexual behavior in youth, prevalence of problematic and illegal sexual behavior, common misconceptions, and components of effective interventions. Problematic Sexual Behavior: Cognitive Behavior Therapy will be described and information provided on the learning collaborative training process and how to access training.

This workshop will present the theoretical framework and clinical strategies of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), a manualized, evidence-based treatment for children in the birth-five age range exposed to interpersonal violence, loss of a loved one, intrusive medical procedures, and other traumatic events. CPP efficacy is supported by 5 randomized studies showing significant improvements in child biomarkers, quality of attachment, cognitive performance, PTSD, behavior problems, maternal functioning, and marital satisfaction. This two-generation improvement highlights the importance of a relationship-based approach to the treatment of early childhood mental health problems. Perinatal CPP is an application to pregnancy and the post-partum period that shows effectiveness in reducing maternal depression, PTSD and risk for child abuse in clinical studies.

This program starts with an introduction to psychological trauma and impact of trauma. Then a comparison of coping vs. healing treatment approaches, and an explanation of memory reconsolidation – the sequence of activities the brain requires to heal traumatic memories. Finally, a review and description of selected research-supported and cutting-edge trauma treatments, including EMDR, PC, Flash, and intensive trauma-focused therapy.

This workshop will provide an overview of The Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), which is currently the only evidence-based, brief, early trauma-focused mental health treatment developed specifically for implementation in the acute/early phase of trauma response. Keeping in mind the clinical phenomena of trauma in the early phase of trauma response, as well as an awareness of what families need after a recent traumatic event, the goal is to focus on the recent traumatic event (or the recent disclosure of physical or sexual abuse in a forensic setting) as a “window of opportunity” to intervene and provide early intervention, regardless of whether the child has past traumas in their history. CFTSI is a 5 to 8 session model that has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing children’s trauma symptoms in the aftermath of traumatic experiences and reducing or interrupting PTSD and related disorders in children.