Published in:
01-12-2015 | Original Paper
From Postimpact to Reconstruction: Considerations When Treating Traumatized Child and Adolescent Clients
Authors:
John-Paul Legerski, Alan King
Published in:
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
|
Issue 4/2015
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Abstract
Longitudinal data analyses have revealed that children and adolescents may encounter several distinct recovery stages and trajectories following exposure to a traumatic event. As recent dissemination efforts have increased the availability of training in various empirically-supported treatments, mental health service providers may struggle to identify among these approaches a treatment that is best suited to address the needs of an individual client. Treatment planning should take into consideration the severity of distress symptoms, as well as the timing, mode of delivery, and the setting of intervention. In this paper we provide an overview of assessment and emerging treatment approaches that can be used across various phases of recovery. We also identify a framework for making treatment decisions based on existing research. Finally, we propose next steps for research and practice in the area of treating traumatized children and adolescents.