Evidence-based Practices for Traumatic Stress
Evidence-based Practices for Traumatic Stress
The Center for Trauma Care in Schools provides an array of evidence-based interventions for students in school settings. The Center recognizes that there is not one ideal approach to trauma treatment. Individual and group modalities are provided, and cognitive/behavioral and body-based practices are used to treat the student’s psychological, emotional, and physiological symptoms of trauma.
We also work with schools to educate school staff about the effects of traumatic stress on academic and social-emotional functioning, and to help them implement strategies and systems to support students impacted by trauma.
Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools: A school-based group treatment model (10 sessions), created for use in urban school settings and with diverse cultural/ethnic/racial groups. Developed at UCLA, its theoretical basis is cognitive-behavioral. It is skills-based, with a focus on symptom reduction, targeting ages 10 to 15+. For children from ages 5-10, CTCS uses the CBITS adaptation for elementary school students, called BounceBack.
Trauma Systems Therapy: A phase-based framework model targeting children ages 6 to 19, integrating self-regulation skills into the social-ecological model. AIP developed the school-based adaptation to TST that is used nationally and has used it in 25 schools since 2006.
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: Developed at The Trauma Center and newly listed by SAMHSA as an evidence-based treatment, “TCTSY“ helps children to learn to self-regulate their bodies. It can be used as both a prevention and a treatment tool, with whole classrooms, small groups, and individuals. AIP, one of a handful of trainers nationally in this new model, is leading development of the school-based adaptation of TCTSY.
SBIRT and CRAFFT: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment is an evidence-based practice to screen children and adolescents for substance use, which frequently co-occurs with trauma. The screening tool CTCS uses with SBIRT is CRAFFT.
Child PTSD Symptoms Scale: CTCS uses this tool to screen children for trauma exposure and severity of symptoms. Developed by Dr. Edna Foa, an expert in the psychopathology and treatment of anxiety disorders and PTSD, it is standardized for use with children ages 8 to 18.
Coping Cat: CTCS uses this cognitive-behavioral treatment to teach children with trauma-related anxiety how to identify symptoms of anxiety in their thoughts and bodies, how to use relaxation skills to calm down, and how to use cognitive strategies to transform unhelpful thoughts into “coping” thoughts and behaviors.
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: AIP trains and coaches schools to implement this highly researched program to prevent bullying in schools.