TGCT-A is a manualized group or individual treatment program for trauma-exposed or traumatically bereaved older children and adolescents that may be implemented in school, community mental health, clinic, or other service settings.
Childhood Traumatic Grief is a condition in which children develop significant trauma symptoms related to the death of an attachment figure (e.g., parent or sibling) or another important person (e.g., grandparent, other relative, friend or peer). These trauma symptoms interfere with the child’s ability to accomplish the tasks of bereavement. Effective interventions are available to resolve children’s trauma symptoms and problematic grief responses.
Effective interventions for Childhood Traumatic Grief are selected for inclusion using the following criteria:
- The intervention has been tested for youth with Childhood Traumatic Grief in at least one randomized controlled treatment study and shown to significantly improve children’s trauma and problematic grief symptoms using standardized research methodology;
- The intervention is well described in a standardized treatment manual or book; therapist training and fidelity instrument are available; and
- Valid, reliable and developmentally appropriate assessment instruments were used for assessing outcomes
In addition to the Effective Interventions listed below that meet these selection criteria, other interventions are likely effective for treating Childhood Traumatic Grief, but have not specifically been tested for this condition. These include models that have specific descriptions of how to apply the intervention for Childhood Traumatic Grief such as Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), and/or that have been implemented specifically for children with Traumatic Grief such as Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI) and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Trauma in Schools (CBITS).
Childhood Traumatic Separation
Effective Interventions for Childhood Traumatic Grief
The following interventions are effective for Childhood Traumatic Grief:
TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parents or caregivers.