The short answer is: an evidence-based psychological treatment to help children, teens and surviving adults overcome negative emotional and behavioral responses following sexual abuse and other maltreatment, domestic violence, traumatic loss, mass disasters, and multiple trauma.
A key point is that the therapy is tailored to match the individual circumstances. “One size does not fit all.”
The therapist considers multiple factors including the actual trauma, the victim’s age, sex, ethnicity, available support and the actual symptoms the client is experiencing. The idea is to go beyond the symptoms to to address the underlying problem.
Customized therapy combines elements drawn from multiple approaches and theories:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Play therapy, including Sandtray
- Family therapy
- Attachment theory
- Developmental neuro-biology
- Substance use disorders
- Suicide risk
- Self-harming behavior or mutilations