Treating Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children and Adolescents

“The work of Cohen, Mannarino, and Deblinger is frequently cited and is typically included in any ‘What Works’ compendium. This second edition is a well-written, well-documented, and empirically supported treatment protocol that has stood the test of time and has utility not only in trauma but in loss and grief. It would be wise to include this book in any graduate education program dealing with child psychopathology and treatment.”

—Child and Family Behavior Therapy


“The ideal source for therapists with children and adolescent clients who have experienced a trauma....As a community therapist, I found this book refreshing, usable, and immediately helpful.”

—PsycCRITIQUES (on the first edition)


“Describes what some consider the best available treatment for children who are suffering from the sequelae to trauma....[It] is well written and the treatment protocol is easy to follow....Highly recommended for clinicians working with child and adolescent clients who suffer from depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms.”

—Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy (on the first edition)


“Seasoned clinicians will benefit greatly from this text in updating their skills and knowledge of current evidence-based practice in the treatment of children and adolescents who have been traumatized. For novice clinicians, the work by Cohen and her colleagues should be required as a part of any clinical training focused on trauma.”

—Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (on the first edition)


“The authors of this marvelous text have undertaken more randomized control trials than any other group of the effects of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for children presenting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)....There is a great deal of experience and wisdom in the very clear and practical 'lessons' incorporated in this text.”

—Bereavement Care (on the first edition)


“A well-written, practical, and theoretical guide for individuals working with children, adolescents, and their families. Cohen, Mannarino, and Deblinger, who are accomplished leaders in the field, have successfully compiled their previous research with knowledge gained from community practitioners in an eloquent and practical manner. The book provides a tremendously useful bridge from theoretical construct to hands-on treatment.”

—Best Practices in Mental Health (on the first edition)


“This manual represents the gold standard for synthesizing the best research and clinical practice into a coherent treatment model. Especially notable is the attention to ongoing developments in the field, such as the interest in a grief-related diagnosis. The authors are acutely sensitive to the needs of front-line clinicians working with complicated cases in various settings. They have expanded the original model in a way that is considerate of real-world challenges by offering therapists practical suggestions for adapting the core TF-CBT techniques to make them their own.”

—Robin F. Goodman, PhD, private practice, New York City; Executive Director, A Caring Hand organization and bereavement program


“Developed by three of our most important child trauma researchers, TF-CBT represents a state-of-the-art approach for understanding and treating this underserved population. This second edition couldn’t be more timely for clinicians who work with children, adolescents, and families. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated in the authors' clinical research studies as well as studies from other laboratories across the world, and the inclusion of multiple clinical examples renders the book usable for clinicians of all backgrounds and training.”

—Terence M. Keane, PhD, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, and Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine


“Covering every aspect of TF-CBT—including the critical role of the therapeutic relationship and the flexible use of treatment procedures—this book provides a complete understanding of our most effective treatment for children and youth with trauma-related problems. Practitioners will greatly appreciate the extensive case examples and excellent clinical materials. I have never read a treatment manual in which every point made was so thoroughly grounded in the most recent scientific research. From start to finish, the authors combine the best science and clinical experience with a laser focus on tailoring treatment to the individual needs of each child and family. This book is evidence-based practice at its best. It should be read and studied by every therapist working with traumatized children and youth.”

—Benjamin E. Saunders, PhD, Professor and Associate Director, National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina


“Impressive. The authors interweave theory, research, and clinical insights to show how clinicians can engage traumatized children and their families in the process of change and recovery. The second edition includes extensive new research on both trauma- and grief-focused components and continues to provide a rich set of reproducible handouts. I recommend this book not only for clinicians working with traumatized youth, but also as a text that should be used at universities and colleges around the world.”

—Tine K. Jensen, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway


“This outstanding second edition lays out both basic and sophisticated strategies, component by component. The authors reference the latest empirical findings from clinical trials, present useful case vignettes, and describe clinical complexities that clinicians of all levels of experience may face in practice.”

—Lisa Amaya-Jackson, MD, MPH, UCLA–Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Duke University School of Medicine