Therapeutic Approach
Trauma-Focused
CBT (TF-CBT)
"Moving From Survival to Strength"
What is CBT for Trauma?
While standard CBT deals with current "thinking traps," Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy is specifically designed to address the lasting impact of overwhelming or scary events. Trauma has a way of "locking" the brain into a state of high alert, creating "stuck points"—distorted beliefs like "The world is entirely dangerous" or "It was my fault." TF-CBT provides a safe, structured framework to help you process these memories and unhook your present life from your past experiences.
How Does it Work at mind360?
We use a comprehensive, step-by-step approach often referred to as the PRACTICE model. This ensures you are never pushed too far, too fast.
- Building the Toolkit (Relaxation & Regulation): Before we ever discuss the trauma, we focus on "resourcing." You will learn deep breathing, grounding techniques, and mindfulness to help you stay calm and in control when difficult memories arise.
- Identifying Stuck Points (Cognitive Coping): We work together to find the "glitches" the trauma left in your thinking. We look at the evidence for and against these negative beliefs to help you develop a more balanced, self-compassionate perspective.
- The Trauma Narrative: This is a gradual process where you and your therapist weave together the story of what happened. By organizing these fragmented memories into a coherent narrative, your brain can finally "file them away" in the past.
- Conquering Avoidance (In-Vivo Mastery): Trauma often makes our world smaller as we avoid triggers. We help you create a "bravery ladder"—a series of small, safe steps to help you re-engage with activities and places you've been avoiding.
Who Can Benefit?
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): From singular events like car accidents, assaults, or natural disasters.
- Childhood & Developmental Trauma: Healing from early experiences of neglect, abuse, or family instability.
- Vicarious Trauma: For first responders, nurses, and social workers who witness trauma as part of their work.
- Complex Grief: When the loss of a loved one is tied to a traumatic event, making the grieving process feel "stuck."