Critique a book of your own choosing a specifically written
to address children/adolescent trauma
information attached
4-MAT REVIEW ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
The book review assignments (4MAT) allows the student the opportunity to learn additional
crises information via the critiquing process of two selected works. The student may choose any
two books with a strong crisis/trauma emphasis concerning children/adolescents to review.
(Relates to learning outcomes A, B, C, D).
INSTRUCTIONS
The 4-MAT REVIEW system is a way of responding to readings that requires the learner to
interact with new ideas on several levels. Please start with a title page that has the title of the
paper, student name, Liberty University, and our course, TRMA 800. You should then use the
following format in preparing your 4-MAT REVIEWS:
1. Summary: After listing author and chapter, summarize what you have read as if you were
the author boiling down the book into 600 tight words. Demonstrate that you have read and
internalized the assigned book by writing a concise summary. This section is not a
commentary or listing of topics, but rather an insightful “précis” of the content. This section
should be at least 600 words in length.
2. Concrete responses: Get personally involved (vulnerable). In 800 words, relate a personal
life experience that this book connected with in your own life. Relate your story in first
person, describing action, quoting sentences you remember hearing or saying. In the teaching
style of Jesus, this is a do-it-yourself parable or case study. You will retain more information
that is meaningful by making this critical, personal connection. What video memory began to
roll? This is your chance to tell your story and make new ideas found in the book your own.
This section should be at least 600 words in length.
3. Reflection: What new questions pop up for you in response to what you have read? Keep a
rough note sheet at hand, as you read. Begin with questions like, “What would I like further
information on?” Where do I agree/not agree with the author?” or “What bothers me/excites
me about this content?” This section should be at least 600 words in length.
4. Application: How does the information in this book influence how you are going to
continue your own personal and professional growth? What actions or changes are you going
to make in your life as a result of your learning? Be specific in summarizing your action
steps. This section should be at least 600 words in length.
Please note: Your grade on this 4-MAT REVIEW depends on the manner in which you address
each of these four dimensions of response to your chosen book. You do not have to write in APA
as this assignment has a specific format already outlined. You should have a title and reference
page. The material should be engaged and responded to at a doctoral level.
Running head: BOOK CRITIQUE 1
Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Student’s Name
Liberty University
TRMA 800
Date
BOOK CRITIQUE 2
Table of Contents
Summary…………………………………………………………………………….3
Concrete Response………………………………………………..............................5
Reflection……………………………………………………………………………7
Application………………………………………………………………………......9
Reference…………………………………………………………………………....12
BOOK CRITIQUE 3
Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Summary
Cohen (2012) divides “Trauma-focused CBT for children and adolescents: Treatment
applications” book into three distinct parts to expand on the trauma-focused cognitive behavioral
therapy (TF-CBT). It is so for initiating various approaches directed towards the acute setting,
developmental measures, and clients that fall in particular demographics (Cohen et al. 2012). The
authors deploy the use of evidence-based support via mnemonics to analyze the core value of
TF-CBT in evaluating traumatized children and adolescents. Various chapters get dedicated to
laying out the significance of good parenting, exposure, children relaxation, heightening future
growth, cognitive adaptability, prolific modulation and expression, and curbing trauma growth.
Clinicians, parents, children, and youths should read this book for an extraordinary development
in dealing with various traumatic experiences that might stem within the environment in our
critical relationships.
The first part of the book looks into TF-CBT setting applications, where it includes a
rationale for the TF-CBT methodology under various settings. Cohen et al. (2012) consider the
school environment, foster care, and residential treatment to criticize the measure of trauma and
how it unfolds. The case of schools gets into play to help us understand what constitutes trauma.
In the stance that no matter of physical trauma gets recorded, looking at children's performance
in the classroom can help one know the child's trauma level. Poor performance gets defined by
traumatic exposure, and this results in diverse behaviors in children. The book indicates that
trauma must present itself in various ways; for instance, it can be verbal, non-verbal, physical, or
emotional, among other categorizations (Cohen et al. 2012). Understanding how to access trauma
BOOK CRITIQUE 4
is a great future that the author indicates can help solve the issues that buffet the children and
adolescents. For instance, UCLA PTSD and Reaction Index and the Trauma Syndrome Checklist
for Children are methods endorsed for understanding trauma composition in the population.
The author takes the initiative to incorporate developmental applications of TF-CBT in the
second part. The section opens with play applications that emphasize flexibility and the need to
embrace developmentally essential play. From this chapter, a critical development gets initiated
where learners get expected to comprehend that trauma can get processed in a non-verbal
connotation. The case of helping a child undergoing trauma is used in this section by applying
the Gingerbread Person Feelings Map and Basket of Feelings to indicate how flexibility must get
embraced in TF-CBT. Cohen et al. (2012) imply that developmentally disabled children with the
most appropriate treatment options get displayed in tables within the chapters through the critical
representations. It is fundamental for the learners to comprehend the categorizations presented in
this section that identifies multiple, chronic, and interpersonal trauma. Every chapter portrays the
value of TF-CBT in solving trauma within the population. The increased needs of demographic
calls for the use of phase-based treatment to deal with complex trauma—the projection bases on
the requirement of critical results for advanced progress within the treatment team.
TF-CBT for a unique population gets secluded for the last part of the book. Cohen et al.
argue that factors such as international attributions, military settings, Latino descent, American
Indian, and Alaska Native families get incorporated into the chapter to indicate various
environmental effects on children and adolescents. Military personal get shown to serve as a
family in the military, including their children (Cohen et al. 2012). Using a constructive chart to
analyze and provide a critical support system towards Latino youth, the authors explain the book's
BOOK CRITIQUE 5
virtual instances. The author identifies and initiates an integrated and culturally modified TF-
CBT to help mend the attributes resulting in trauma. Various resources get indicated to be helpful
in the proliferation of championing TF-CBT. The book gets packed with practical information
with detailed examples of the unique features that must get followed by the clinicians to help
solve the stance of trauma in children and adolescents.
Concrete Responses
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a challenging condition to live with; this is from
experience, for I have suffered PTSD most of my life. I appreciate how events turned out since
today; I can encourage others suffering various traumatic experiences to toughen up for the light
at the end of the tunnel. My life got defined by terrible twists and turns resulting from an
undiagnosed mental condition for quite some time. Until the age of 27, a successful diagnosis was
conducted three years down the line; I live free of trauma and any accompaniments that define it.
Most of my life got defined by PTSD that got triggered by many traumas. For instance, in
my childhood, I got bullied in several accounts that affected my physical and mental growth. There
is this particular incident that brought with it a dark cloud into my life at the age of fourteen. I got
sexually abused by a close friend, and I thought I would never recover from such an incident.
Sometimes, when such things happen to you, you feel that that is the end of the road for you; but
I am here to assure that it is not the case. For the longest time, I was never the same after the
attack. I found it challenging to be in dark places and always loved the company. I remember filing
the incident to the police and going through various counseling to consider healing. At the onset,
I portrayed some adamancy towards any treatment since some attitude of getting judged and hating
BOOK CRITIQUE 6
myself clouded me. As a result, I experienced slow recovery, thus damaging my general growth
and development for a long time.
The incident got followed by many accounts of nightmares and flashbacks defined by
horrific images whenever I closed my eyes. The experience is something that I cannot wish on
anyone. As time went by, I became depressed and always wanted to keep to myself or be in the
crowds. Trusting my space with an individual is something I learned after years. The attribute of
confiding in no one was the day's order, resulting in loose end relationships. From time to time, I
would suffer a panic attack, a measure that has caused many challenges in my life concerning
growth and development. For instance, there was this day I was with my cousin over the weekend.
We were watching a movie and then came the scene of romance. The leading character wanted to
forcefully have an intimate moment with one of their team members. I found this so offensive that
I started crying and failed to watch the rest of the movie. I started staying away from TVs and
developed other withdrawal symptoms that relatively caused panic in me.
It is from such incidents that my PTSD got triggered. Generally, various experiences kept
taking me back to the past and causing me to get panic attacks. Recovering from any violence or
abuse is difficult. Usually, any small encounter tends to connect to the situation, resulting in mental
disorientation if one gets no treatment. I remember losing my concentration and stopping to make
friends or get involved in community activities. The was a time I remember telling my parents that
all I want is to exist alone. “I do not see the essence of relating with people who are going to hurt
me eventually, mom” these were the actual words that hit my mon as she prepared for work one
Tuesday morning. It was a way of imagining that nobody understood me, and if I let anyone in my
life, they would end up hurting me. It is critical to understand that such panic can push you into
BOOK CRITIQUE 7
depression and affect your personal and professional life. When my diagnosis read positive for
PTSD, it was not a surprise since I had anticipated this. The relief was in the news that it was
treatable with the involvement of critical interventions.
I got subjected to medication and behavioral therapy to help me recover from PTSD. After
a year, I had made a tremendous improvement, and it is a thank you to the health care providers as
they had high hopes in me and kept encouraging me throughout the way. Two years into the
treatment and the therapeutic program, I was at an eighty percent recovery rate. At this point, I had
begun enjoying my life and embraced my career to the fact that I thought it was an illusion. It was
too good to be true. After three years, I view the world from a different perspective and believe
that anyone suffering the traumatic condition conditions to get well and live to the fullest. Thinking
back to the times when I suffered anxiety, depression, and panic attack that resulted in PTSD, it
amazes me of the things I have managed to overcome.
Reflection
Trauma is something that everyone gets to encounter in their lifetime. While reading the
text, various questions stem up, and I understand that there is a need to respond to them to help
one deal with trauma as a child and an adolescent. “Many children in RTF have experienced long
histories of extreme family trauma, which contributes to serious impairments in establishing trust,
safety, and/or attachments” (Cohen et al. 2012). Technically, my experience led me to question
how to avoid revisiting the place that kept flashing back and forth the incidents. It is such a small
world, and we have to master to detach ourselves from the areas that cause us distress. Repressing
memory is a problematic motive. Primarily, through the cognition, the brain is accustomed to
storing more negative information than the complimentary information (Cohen et al. 2012).
BOOK CRITIQUE 8
Through TF-CBT, I learn that memories can be replaced by creating other new memories. By
talking and sharing the circumstances that we encounter, we get therapeutic healing and understand
that recovery is a process that takes time, but gets to take place eventually.
Out of the many causes of trauma in children and adolescents, one would question CBT's
suitability as a treatment option. I believe that the method is appropriate and significant in dealing
with situations that concern anxiety. Children and adolescents reap the most from this evidence-
based psychotherapy. Through sharing, the children and adolescents understand that the events
surrounding them are moments that must undoubtedly end. The critical inclination lies in how long
it takes to uncover this as a child. Through the proliferation of embracing developmental play, the
growing generation gets to understand the concepts of CBT in dealing with their traumatic
experiences and any actions that surround trauma (Cohen et al. 2012). It can get challenging to
explain CBT to a child. Telling a child to focus on how thoughts affect their behavior can get
complicated, but it is worth monitoring them. Through critical parenting, such measures can get
well inculcated into the system.
I agree with the authors to identify that people must make meaning of their traumatic
experiences. As a result of the TF-CBT, children and adolescents comprehend that it is not their
fault to suffer traumatic experiences and get happy again. It is possible to have fun through the
stance of carrying positive memories. The realization of one’s strength and resilience is also a
measure that develops as a result of TF-CBT, according to Cohen et al. (2012). The resource is an
embodying of the most critical elements. It provides information on how to communicate and pay
attention to somatic feelings after a traumatic experience. It provides the necessary learning of
recognizing safe places and individuals and promotes the stipulation of sharing to help one develop
BOOK CRITIQUE 9
a stance of forthrightness. The fear of getting introduced to subjects on what makes one go through
trauma gets connected to triggering PTSD or worse.
According to Cohen et al. (2012), most CBT programs enhance appropriate and effective
expression in children, adolescents, and adults. It is critical to understand that the authors deploy
positive imagery to influence children and adolescents positively. Through parent-based programs,
various stages of confidence and reassurance developments get initiated. Parents get encouraged
to deploy factions such as praise, patience, and persistence to promote their children to stay relaxed
during difficult moments for everything is just but a passage of time (Cohen et al. 2012). The
application of various critical attributes of TF-CBT illuminates the steps of significant growth
through adaptive functioning that concern the mastery of strength over feared situations. The
content excites me in the prospect of initiating appropriate expressions towards the parents, the
children, and adolescents. Focusing on proactive measures help form a strong generation defined
by substantive growth and development.
Application
The research undertaken by Cohen, Mannarino, and Deblinger bases its findings on the
significance of TF-CBT as a founding treatment methodology that focuses on family-based
dispositions to help children improve their conditions of PTSD and other illnesses revolving
around trauma. Parents get presented as the center of helping children overcome attributions
resulting from depression, anxiety, behavior, cognitive, and relational elements. Caregivers and
parents must understand that the stability of children depends on the actions of love. In the future,
I am inclined to listen to children and adolescents when I believe they got something happening to
them and consider showing them that no situation is never permanent and has solutions. I will do
BOOK CRITIQUE 10
this through social support that involves moral, physical, and financial appropriations if necessary.
It is a process that will instigate not only my growth but also that of the children and thus making
them grow and develop in a suitable environment that contributes to positive child outcomes.
As a practical approach to problem-solving, CBT must influence my thinking and behavior
at the workplace as it must incorporate the measure of active response to situations. “Surprisingly,
many youngsters who have had numerous outpatient and inpatient experiences report TF-CBT as
the first therapy experience during which childhood traumas were acknowledged and directly and
openly discussed” (Cohen et al. 2012). It is prolific to understand that problematic conditions
change the way people feel. Still, it is through a cognitive reply that we learn how to embrace pain
and overcome it. The book's information predicts a critical inclination of growth and development
where children, adolescents, and parents must share to solve traumatic disorders. It must get easy
to deal with situations based on the book's context in my professional life. The authors are experts
with accolades and decorated honors, a stance that makes the data sufficient to use in active
decision making.
The book contributes critically to championing knowledge gain in various fields
concerning the applications of TF-CBT. It comes with distinct flexibility and incorporation of
stable growth that describes how to adapt to many demographics. For instance, it provides how
one adapts to military families, culturally diverse children, and children with developmental
abilities (Cohen et al. 2012). The discussions on TF-CBT focuses on particular children's needs
through the attribute of play incorporation and drawing on cultural traditions. The insights
established in the book are essential for everyone undergoing trauma. Through theoretical
BOOK CRITIQUE 11
orientation defined in the book, the authors elucidate the significance of understanding traumatic
experiences and how to solve them using proactive approaches involving TF-CBT appropriations.
The actions and changes that I am likely to take to influence my personal and professional
growth must involve a proactive stance. Below are the action steps for solving traumatic conditions
when they occur;
1. Identify and define the problem.
2. Assess the problem
3. Generate alternatives
4. Explore the alternatives
5. Choose the best alternative
6. Implement the best alternative
7. Communicate the decision, and take action
The information gained from the book provides a critical illumination where an individual
gets proliferated to grow and develop based on having a coherent plan packed with substantive
context for guidance. I have learned the significance of understanding what one goes through and
talking to someone you can trust or a therapist, as TF-CBT suggested. The development of a
relaxed inclination gets incorporated, and this is essential for progressive realization. By
identifying and defining the problem, you recognize its presence, which provides the leeway to
access it on the merits of benefits and disadvantages. Personal and professional growth
constitutes the need to generate alternatives and exploit them while considering the best option.
The consideration of choosing the best choice must be preceded by its implementation and
BOOK CRITIQUE 12
finalized by its communication. I am inclined to become increasingly productive in my personal
and professional life if I handle all impending situations through this proactive approach.
BOOK CRITIQUE 13
Reference
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Deblinger, E. (Eds.). (2012). Trauma-focused CBT for
children and adolescents: Treatment applications. Guilford Press. Retrieved from
https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YlbQeyPkliQC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=
Treating+Trauma+and+Traumatic+Grief+in+Children+and+Adolescents&ots=ubOfZRF
blH&sig=EVEOf8gJdQqUoCu3WzbHV6RSPbo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Treating
%20Trauma%20and%20Traumatic%20Grief%20in%20Children%20and%20Adolescent
s&f=false
Paper Outline
Title: Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Body
This is the main part of the paper
It consists of four sections;
1. Summary
It provides a summary of the book “Trauma-focused CBT for children and
adolescents: Treatment applications”
2. Concrete Response
It provides a personal account of traumatic event in relation to the topic
3. Reflection
It addresses the significance of the research and lessons learned in the
course of reading the book
4. Application
It is the last part of the paper. It discusses the significance of the book in
influencing personal and professional growth.
Reference: citation is done in APA style
Running head: BOOK CRITIQUE 1
Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Student’s Name
Liberty University
TRMA 800
Date
BOOK CRITIQUE 2
Table of Contents
Summary…………………………………………………………………………….3
Concrete Response………………………………………………..............................5
Reflection……………………………………………………………………………7
Application………………………………………………………………………......9
Reference…………………………………………………………………………....12
BOOK CRITIQUE 3
Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Summary
Cohen (2012) divides “Trauma-focused CBT for children and adolescents: Treatment
applications” book into three distinct parts to expand on the trauma-focused cognitive behavioral
therapy (TF-CBT). It is so for initiating various approaches directed towards the acute setting,
developmental measures, and clients that fall in particular demographics (Cohen et al. 2012). The
authors deploy the use of evidence-based support via mnemonics to analyze the core value of
TF-CBT in evaluating traumatized children and adolescents. Various chapters get dedicated to
laying out the significance of good parenting, exposure, children relaxation, heightening future
growth, cognitive adaptability, prolific modulation and expression, and curbing trauma growth.
Clinicians, parents, children, and youths should read this book for an extraordinary development
in dealing with various traumatic experiences that might stem within the environment in our
critical relationships.
The first part of the book looks into TF-CBT setting applications, where it includes a
rationale for the TF-CBT methodology under various settings. Cohen et al. (2012) consider the
school environment, foster care, and residential treatment to criticize the measure of trauma and
how it unfolds. The case of schools gets into play to help us understand what constitutes trauma.
In the stance that no matter of physical trauma gets recorded, looking at children's performance
in the classroom can help one know the child's trauma level. Poor performance gets defined by
traumatic exposure, and this results in diverse behaviors in children. The book indicates that
trauma must present itself in various ways; for instance, it can be verbal, non-verbal, physical, or
emotional, among other categorizations (Cohen et al. 2012). Understanding how to access trauma
BOOK CRITIQUE 4
is a great future that the author indicates can help solve the issues that buffet the children and
adolescents. For instance, UCLA PTSD and Reaction Index and the Trauma Syndrome Checklist
for Children are methods endorsed for understanding trauma composition in the population.
The author takes the initiative to incorporate developmental applications of TF-CBT in the
second part. The section opens with play applications that emphasize flexibility and the need to
embrace developmentally essential play. From this chapter, a critical development gets initiated
where learners get expected to comprehend that trauma can get processed in a non-verbal
connotation. The case of helping a child undergoing trauma is used in this section by applying
the Gingerbread Person Feelings Map and Basket of Feelings to indicate how flexibility must get
embraced in TF-CBT. Cohen et al. (2012) imply that developmentally disabled children with the
most appropriate treatment options get displayed in tables within the chapters through the critical
representations. It is fundamental for the learners to comprehend the categorizations presented in
this section that identifies multiple, chronic, and interpersonal trauma. Every chapter portrays the
value of TF-CBT in solving trauma within the population. The increased needs of demographic
calls for the use of phase-based treatment to deal with complex trauma—the projection bases on
the requirement of critical results for advanced progress within the treatment team.
TF-CBT for a unique population gets secluded for the last part of the book. Cohen et al.
argue that factors such as international attributions, military settings, Latino descent, American
Indian, and Alaska Native families get incorporated into the chapter to indicate various
environmental effects on children and adolescents. Military personal get shown to serve as a
family in the military, including their children (Cohen et al. 2012). Using a constructive chart to
analyze and provide a critical support system towards Latino youth, the authors explain the book's
BOOK CRITIQUE 5
virtual instances. The author identifies and initiates an integrated and culturally modified TF-
CBT to help mend the attributes resulting in trauma. Various resources get indicated to be helpful
in the proliferation of championing TF-CBT. The book gets packed with practical information
with detailed examples of the unique features that must get followed by the clinicians to help
solve the stance of trauma in children and adolescents.
Concrete Responses
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a challenging condition to live with; this is from
experience; my ex-husband who was a soldier in the military; struggled with PTSD. I appreciate
how events turned out since today. My ex-husband life had some terrible twists and turns resulting
from an undiagnosed mental condition for quite some time. Until the age of 27, a successful
diagnosis was conducted three years down the line; he lives free of trauma and any
accompaniments that define it. This is my ex-husband story of his life, which he is from Hawaii.
My ex-husband told me most of his life got defined by PTSD that got triggered by many
traumas. Which in the marriage many things triggered him to get angry? For instance, his
childhood, he got bullied in several accounts that affected his physical and mental growth. His
mother physical and mentally abused him, he was homeless at 14. I think sometimes, when such
things happen to you, it led you to feel that this is the end of the road for you. I had a friend which
she was raped at 14 from a close friend of the family, she stated for the longest time, she was never
the same after the attack. she found it challenging to be in dark places and always loved the
company. She stated filing the incident to the police and going through various counseling to
consider healing. At the onset, she portrayed some adamancy towards all treatment since some
BOOK CRITIQUE 6
attitude of getting judged and hating herself. As a result, she experienced slow recovery, thus
damaging her general growth and development for a long time.
The incident got followed by many accounts of nightmares and flashbacks defined by
horrific images whenever she closed her eyes. The experience is something that she cannot wish
on anyone. As time went by, she became depressed and always wanted to keep to herself or be in
the crowds. Trusting her space with an individual is something she learned after years. The
attribute of confiding in no one was the day's order, resulting in loose end relationships. From time
to time, she would suffer a panic attack, a measure that has caused many challenges in her life
concerning growth and development. For instance, there was this day she was with her cousin over
the weekend. We were watching a movie and then came the scene of romance. The leading
character wanted to forcefully have an intimate moment with one of their team members. she found
this so offensive that she started crying and failed to watch the rest of the movie. She started staying
away from TVs and developed other withdrawal symptoms that relatively caused panic.
It is from such incidents that her PTSD got triggered. Generally, various experiences kept
taking her back to the past and causing her to get panic attacks. Recovering from any violence or
abuse is difficult. Usually, any small encounter tends to connect to the situation, resulting in mental
disorientation if one gets no treatment. She remembers losing her concentration and stopping to
make friends or get involved in community activities. There was a time she try to tell her parents
that all I want is to exist alone. “I do not see the essence of relating with people who are going to
hurt me eventually, mom” these were the actual words that hit her mon as she prepared for work
one Tuesday morning. It was a way of imagining that nobody understood her, and if she let anyone
in her life, they would end up hurting her. It is critical to understand that such panic can push you
BOOK CRITIQUE 7
into depression and affect your personal and professional life. When her diagnosis read positive
for PTSD, it was not a surprise since she had anticipated this. The relief was in the news that it
was treatable with the involvement of critical interventions.
she got subjected to medication and behavioral therapy to help her recover from PTSD.
After a year, she had made a tremendous improvement, and it is a thank you to the health care
providers as they had high hopes for her, also they kept encouraging her throughout the treatment.
Two years into the treatment and the therapeutic program, she was at an eighty percent recovery
rate. At this point, she had begun enjoying her life and eventually learned to embrace her culture
and self. Approximately three years of treatment her and mindset changed, she learned to view the
world from a different perspective and believe that anyone suffering the traumatic conditions can
get well and live to the fullest. She said, “Thinking back to the times when I suffered anxiety,
depression, and panic attack that resulted in PTSD, it amazes me of the things I have managed to
overcome”. My friend is married and have two children of her own. She is an inspiration for man
women which suffered child hood trauma and recovered from it.
Reflection
While reading the text, various questions stem up, and I understand that there is a need to
respond to them to help one deal with trauma as a child and an adolescent. “Many children in RTF
have experienced long histories of extreme family trauma, which contributes to serious
impairments in establishing trust, safety, and/or attachments” (Cohen et al. 2012). Listening to
my friend experience, sometimes she has flashback on incident which led her to question how to
avoid revisiting the place that kept flashing back and forth of this incident when she was a child.
She told me; It is such a small world, and we have to master detaching ourselves from the areas
BOOK CRITIQUE 8
that cause us distress and repressing memory which is a problematic motive. Primarily, through
the cognition, the brain is accustomed to storing more negative information than the
complimentary information (Cohen et al. 2012). Through TF-CBT, I learn that memories can be
replaced by creating other new memories. By talking and sharing the circumstances that we
encounter, we get therapeutic healing and understand that recovery is a process that takes time, but
gets to take place eventually.
Out of the many causes of trauma in children and adolescents, one would question CBT's
suitability as a treatment option. I believe that the method is appropriate and significant in dealing
with situations that concern anxiety. Children and adolescents reap the most from this evidence-
based psychotherapy. Through sharing, the children and adolescents understand that the events
surrounding them are moments that must undoubtedly end. The critical inclination lies in how long
it takes to uncover this as a child. Through the proliferation of embracing developmental play, the
growing generation gets to understand the concepts of CBT in dealing with their traumatic
experiences and any actions that surround trauma (Cohen et al. 2012). It can get challenging to
explain CBT to a child. Telling a child to focus on how thoughts affect their behavior can get
complicated, but it is worth monitoring them. Through critical parenting, such measures can get
well inculcated into the system.
I agree with the authors to identify that people must make meaning of their traumatic
experiences. As a result of the TF-CBT, children and adolescents comprehend that it is not their
fault to suffer traumatic experiences and get happy again. It is possible to have fun through the
stance of carrying positive memories. The realization of one’s strength and resilience is also a
measure that develops as a result of TF-CBT, according to Cohen et al. (2012). The resource is an
BOOK CRITIQUE 9
embodying of the most critical elements. It provides information on how to communicate and pay
attention to somatic feelings after a traumatic experience. It provides the necessary learning of
recognizing safe places and individuals and promotes the stipulation of sharing to help one develop
a stance of forthrightness. The fear of getting introduced to subjects on what makes one go through
trauma gets connected to triggering PTSD or worse.
According to Cohen et al. (2012), most CBT programs enhance appropriate and effective
expression in children, adolescents, and adults. It is critical to understand that the authors deploy
positive imagery to influence children and adolescents positively. Through parent-based programs,
various stages of confidence and reassurance developments get initiated. Parents get encouraged
to deploy factions such as praise, patience, and persistence to promote their children to stay relaxed
during difficult moments for everything is just but a passage of time (Cohen et al. 2012). The
application of various critical attributes of TF-CBT illuminates the steps of significant growth
through adaptive functioning that concern the mastery of strength over feared situations. The
content excites me in the prospect of initiating appropriate expressions towards the parents, the
children, and adolescents. Focusing on proactive measures help form a strong generation defined
by substantive growth and development.
Application
The research undertaken by Cohen, Mannarino, and Deblinger bases its findings on the
significance of TF-CBT as a founding treatment methodology that focuses on family-based
dispositions to help children improve their conditions of PTSD and other illnesses revolving
around trauma. Parents get presented as the center of helping children overcome attributions
resulting from depression, anxiety, behavior, cognitive, and relational elements. Caregivers and
BOOK CRITIQUE 10
parents must understand that the stability of children depends on the actions of love. In the future,
I am inclined to listen to children and adolescents when I believe they got something happening to
them and consider showing them that no situation is never permanent and has solutions. I will do
this through social support that involves moral, physical, and financial appropriations if necessary.
It is a process that will instigate not only my growth but also that of the children and thus making
them grow and develop in a suitable environment that contributes to positive child outcomes.
As a practical approach to problem-solving, CBT must influence my thinking and behavior
at the workplace as it must incorporate the measure of active response to situations. “Surprisingly,
many youngsters who have had numerous outpatient and inpatient experiences report TF-CBT as
the first therapy experience during which childhood traumas were acknowledged and directly and
openly discussed” (Cohen et al. 2012). It is prolific to understand that problematic conditions
change the way people feel. Still, it is through a cognitive reply that we learn how to embrace pain
and overcome it. The book's information predicts a critical inclination of growth and development
where children, adolescents, and parents must share to solve traumatic disorders. It must get easy
to deal with situations based on the book's context in my professional life. The authors are experts
with accolades and decorated honors, a stance that makes the data sufficient to use in active
decision making.
The book contributes critically to championing knowledge gain in various fields
concerning the applications of TF-CBT. It comes with distinct flexibility and incorporation of
stable growth that describes how to adapt to many demographics. For instance, it provides how
one adapts to military families, culturally diverse children, and children with developmental
abilities (Cohen et al. 2012). The discussions on TF-CBT focuses on particular children's needs
BOOK CRITIQUE 11
through the attribute of play incorporation and drawing on cultural traditions. The insights
established in the book are essential for everyone undergoing trauma. Through theoretical
orientation defined in the book, the authors elucidate the significance of understanding traumatic
experiences and how to solve them using proactive approaches involving TF-CBT appropriations.
The actions and changes that I am likely to take to influence my personal and professional
growth must involve a proactive stance. Below are the action steps for solving traumatic conditions
when they occur;
1. Identify and define the problem.
2. Assess the problem
3. Generate alternatives
4. Explore the alternatives
5. Choose the best alternative
6. Implement the best alternative
7. Communicate the decision, and take action
The information gained from the book provides a critical illumination where an individual
gets proliferated to grow and develop based on having a coherent plan packed with substantive
context for guidance. I have learned the significance of understanding what one goes through and
talking to someone you can trust or a therapist, as TF-CBT suggested. The development of a
relaxed inclination gets incorporated, and this is essential for progressive realization. By
identifying and defining the problem, you recognize its presence, which provides the leeway to
access it on the merits of benefits and disadvantages. Personal and professional growth
constitutes the need to generate alternatives and exploit them while considering the best option.
BOOK CRITIQUE 12
The consideration of choosing the best choice must be preceded by its implementation and
finalized by its communication. I am inclined to become increasingly productive in my personal
and professional life if I handle all impending situations through this proactive approach.
BOOK CRITIQUE 13
Reference
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Deblinger, E. (Eds.). (2012). Trauma-focused CBT for
children and adolescents: Treatment applications. Guilford Press. Retrieved from
https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YlbQeyPkliQC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=
Treating+Trauma+and+Traumatic+Grief+in+Children+and+Adolescents&ots=ubOfZRF
blH&sig=EVEOf8gJdQqUoCu3WzbHV6RSPbo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Treating
%20Trauma%20and%20Traumatic%20Grief%20in%20Children%20and%20Adolescent
s&f=false
Running head: BOOK CRITIQUE 1
Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Student’s Name
Liberty University
TRMA 800
Date
BOOK CRITIQUE 2
Table of Contents
Summary…………………………………………………………………………….3
Concrete Response………………………………………………..............................5
Reflection……………………………………………………………………………7
Application………………………………………………………………………......10
Reference…………………………………………………………………………....12
BOOK CRITIQUE 3
Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Summary
Cohen (2012) divides “Trauma-focused CBT for children and adolescents: Treatment
applications” book into three distinct parts to expand on the trauma-focused cognitive behavioral
therapy (TF-CBT). It is so for initiating various approaches directed towards the acute setting,
developmental measures, and clients that fall in particular demographics (Cohen et al. 2012). The
authors deploy the use of evidence-based support via mnemonics to analyze the core value of
TF-CBT in evaluating traumatized children and adolescents. Various chapters get dedicated to
laying out the significance of good parenting, exposure, children relaxation, heightening future
growth, cognitive adaptability, prolific modulation and expression, and curbing trauma growth.
Clinicians, parents, children, and youths should read this book for an extraordinary development
in dealing with various traumatic experiences that might stem within the environment in our
critical relationships.
The first part of the book looks into TF-CBT setting applications, where it includes a
rationale for the TF-CBT methodology under various settings. Cohen et al. (2012) consider the
school environment, foster care, and residential treatment to criticize the measure of trauma and
how it unfolds. The case of schools gets into play to help us understand what constitutes trauma.
In the stance that no matter of physical trauma gets recorded, looking at children's performance
in the classroom can help one know their trauma level. Poor performance gets defined by
traumatic exposure, and this results in diverse behaviors in children. The book indicates that
trauma must present itself in various ways; for instance, it can be verbal, non-verbal, physical, or
emotional, among other categorizations (Cohen et al. 2012). Understanding how to access trauma
BOOK CRITIQUE 4
is a great future that the author indicates can help solve the issues that buffet the children and
adolescents. For instance, UCLA PTSD and Reaction Index and the Trauma Syndrome Checklist
for Children are methods endorsed for understanding trauma composition in the population.
The author takes the initiative to incorporate developmental applications of TF-CBT in the
second part. The section opens with play applications that emphasize flexibility and the need to
embrace developmentally essential play. From this chapter, a critical development gets initiated
where learners get expected to comprehend that trauma can get processed in a non-verbal
connotation. The case of helping a child undergoing trauma is used in this section by applying
the Gingerbread Person Feelings Map and Basket of Feelings to indicate how flexibility must get
embraced in TF-CBT. Cohen et al. (2012) imply that developmentally disabled children with the
most appropriate treatment options get displayed in tables within the chapters through the critical
representations. It is fundamental for the learners to comprehend the categorizations presented in
this section that identifies multiple, chronic, and interpersonal trauma. Every chapter portrays the
value of TF-CBT in solving trauma within the population. The increased needs of demographic
calls for the use of phase-based treatment to deal with complex trauma—the projection bases on
the requirement of critical results for advanced progress within the treatment team.
TF-CBT for a unique population gets secluded for the last part of the book. Cohen et al.
argue that factors such as international attributions, military settings, Latino descent, American
Indian, and Alaska Native families get incorporated into the chapter to indicate various
environmental effects on children and adolescents. Military personal get shown to serve as a
family in the military, including their children (Cohen et al. 2012). Using a constructive chart to
analyze and provide a critical support system towards Latino youth, the authors explain the book's
BOOK CRITIQUE 5
virtual instances. The author identifies and initiates an integrated and culturally modified TF-
CBT to help mend the attributes resulting in trauma. Various resources get indicated to be helpful
in the proliferation of championing TF-CBT. The book gets packed with practical information
with detailed examples of the unique features that must get followed by the clinicians to help
solve the stance of trauma in children and adolescents.
Concrete Responses
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a challenging condition to live with; this is from
experience; my ex-husband, a soldier in the military, struggled with PTSD. My ex-husband’s life
had some terrible twists and turns resulting from an undiagnosed mental condition for quite some
time. Every individual military risk the attack of suffering from PTSD out of the encounter of
various traumatic experiences in the line of duty. Until the age of 27, a successful diagnosis was
conducted on my ex-husband, and three years down the line, he lives free of trauma and any
accompaniments that define it. My ex-husband’s life story can get gruesome; he is from Hawaii.
His life got mostly defined by PTSD that got triggered by many traumas. In marriage, many
things triggered him to get angry. For instance, in his childhood, he got bullied in several accounts
that affected his physical and mental growth. His mother physically and mentally abused him; he
was homeless at 14. I sometimes think when such things happen to you, leading you to feel that
this is the end of the road for you. By 16, my ex-husband had moved into foster care, and this new
home came with its share of challenges. For the longest time, he was never the same after several
attacks from the mother and those close to him. He found it challenging to be in dark places and
always loved the company. He filed the incidents he through to the social department and the
police and considered various counseling for healing. He portrayed some adamancy towards all
BOOK CRITIQUE 6
treatment at the onset since some attitude of getting judged and hating himself presented
themselves. As a result, he experienced slow recovery, thus damaging his general growth and
development for a long time.
The incidents got followed by many accounts of nightmares and flashbacks defined by
horrific images whenever he closed her eyes to sleep. The experience is something that he cannot
wish on anyone, as he says. Empathy is what I felt for him whenever he narrated these gruesome
moments. As time went by, he became depressed and always wanted to keep to himself or be in
the crowds. Trusting his space with an individual is something he learned after years. The attribute
of confiding in no one was the day's order, resulting in loose end relationships. From time to time,
he would suffer a panic attack, a measure that caused many challenges in our marriage concerning
growth and development. For instance, there was this day we went out and with my husband and
his cousin. We were watching a movie, and then came the scene of a homeless fellow getting
mistreated. The leading character wanted to forcefully buy a building that acted as a resident for
the homeless and transform it into some business district. My ex-husband found this so offensive
that he failed to watch the rest of the movie. He stayed away from TVs and developed other
withdrawal symptoms that relatively caused panic.
It is from such incidents that his PTSD got triggered. Generally, various experiences kept
taking him back to the past and causing him to get panic attacks. Recovering from any violence or
abuse is difficult. Usually, any small encounter tends to connect to the situation, resulting in mental
disorientation if one gets no treatment. I remember my ex-husband losing his concentration and
stopping to make friends or get involved in community activities. There was a time he told me that
all he wanted was to exist alone. “I do not see the essence of relating with people who are going
BOOK CRITIQUE 7
to hurt me eventually,” these were the actual words that hit her me as I prepared for work one
Tuesday morning. It was a way of imagining that nobody understood him, and if he let anyone in
his life, they would end up hurting him. It is critical to understand that such panic can push you
into depression and affect your personal and professional life. It is one of the factors that resulted
in our broken marriage. When his diagnosis read positive for PTSD, it was not a surprise since it
was anticipated. The relief was in the news that it was treatable with the involvement of critical
interventions.
He got subjected to medication and behavioral therapy to help him recover from PTSD.
After a year, he had made a tremendous improvement, and it is a thank you to the health care
providers as they had high hopes for him; they also kept encouraging him throughout the treatment.
Two years into the treatment and the therapeutic program, he was at an eighty percent recovery
rate. He had begun enjoying his life and eventually learned to embrace his culture and self.
Approximately three years of treatment, his and mindset changed; he learned to view the world
from a different perspective and believe that anyone suffering the traumatic conditions can get
well and live to the fullest. He said, “Thinking back to the times when I suffered anxiety,
depression, and panic attack that resulted in PTSD, it amazes me of the things I have managed to
overcome." My ex-husband got married and have two children of his own. He is an inspiration and
a beacon of hope to many individuals that suffer childhood trauma.
Reflection
While reading the text, various questions stem up, and I understand that there is a need to
respond to them to help one deal with trauma as a child and an adolescent. “Many children in RTF
have experienced long histories of extreme family trauma, which contributes to serious
BOOK CRITIQUE 8
impairments in establishing trust, safety, and/or attachments” (Cohen et al. 2012). Listening to
my ex-husband’s experience, sometimes I have a flashback on incidents that lead me to question
how to avoid revisiting the place that kept flashing back and forth the incidents that led to our
broken marriage. I believe it is such a small world, and we have to master detaching ourselves
from the areas that cause us distress and repressed memory, which is a problematic motive.
Primarily, through the cognition, the brain is accustomed to storing more negative information
than the complimentary information (Cohen et al. 2012). Through TF-CBT, I learn that memories
can be replaced by creating other new memories. By talking and sharing the circumstances that we
encounter, we get therapeutic healing and understand that recovery is a process that takes time, but
gets to take place eventually.
Out of the many causes of trauma in children and adolescents, one would question CBT's
suitability as a treatment option. I believe that the method is appropriate and significant in dealing
with situations that concern anxiety. Children and adolescents reap the most from this evidence-
based psychotherapy. Through sharing, the children and adolescents understand that the events
surrounding them are moments that must undoubtedly end. The critical inclination lies in how long
it takes to uncover this as a child. Through the proliferation of embracing developmental play, the
growing generation gets to understand the concepts of CBT in dealing with their traumatic
experiences and any actions that surround trauma (Cohen et al. 2012). It can get challenging to
explain CBT to a child. Telling a child to focus on how thoughts affect their behavior can get
complicated, but it is worth monitoring them. Through critical parenting, such measures can get
well inculcated into the system.
BOOK CRITIQUE 9
I agree with the authors to identify that people must make meaning of their traumatic
experiences. As a result of the TF-CBT, children and adolescents comprehend that it is not their
fault to suffer traumatic experiences and get happy again. It is possible to have fun through the
stance of carrying positive memories. The realization of one’s strength and resilience is also a
measure that develops as a result of TF-CBT, according to Cohen et al. (2012). The resource is an
embodying of the most critical elements. It provides information on how to communicate and pay
attention to somatic feelings after a traumatic experience. It provides the necessary learning of
recognizing safe places and individuals and promotes the stipulation of sharing to help one develop
a stance of forthrightness. The fear of getting introduced to subjects on what makes one go through
trauma gets connected to triggering PTSD or worse.
According to Cohen et al. (2012), most CBT programs enhance appropriate and effective
expression in children, adolescents, and adults. It is critical to understand that the authors deploy
positive imagery to influence children and adolescents positively. Through parent-based programs,
various stages of confidence and reassurance developments get initiated. Parents get encouraged
to deploy factions such as praise, patience, and persistence to promote their children to stay relaxed
during difficult moments for everything is just but a passage of time (Cohen et al. 2012). The
application of various critical attributes of TF-CBT illuminates the steps of significant growth
through adaptive functioning that concern the mastery of strength over feared situations. The
content excites me in the prospect of initiating appropriate expressions towards the parents, the
children, and adolescents. Focusing on proactive measures help form a strong generation defined
by substantive growth and development.
BOOK CRITIQUE 10
Application
The research undertaken by Cohen, Mannarino, and Deblinger bases its findings on the
significance of TF-CBT as a founding treatment methodology that focuses on family-based
dispositions to help children improve their conditions of PTSD and other illnesses revolving
around trauma. Parents get presented as the center of helping children overcome attributions
resulting from depression, anxiety, behavior, cognitive, and relational elements. Caregivers and
parents must understand that the stability of children depends on the actions of love. In the future,
I am inclined to listen to children and adolescents when I believe they got something happening to
them and consider showing them that no situation is never permanent and has solutions. I will do
this through social support that involves moral, physical, and financial appropriations if necessary.
It is a process that will instigate not only my growth but also that of the children and thus making
them grow and develop in a suitable environment that contributes to positive child outcomes.
As a practical approach to problem-solving, CBT must influence my thinking and behavior
at the workplace as it must incorporate the measure of active response to situations. “Surprisingly,
many youngsters who have had numerous outpatient and inpatient experiences report TF-CBT as
the first therapy experience during which childhood traumas were acknowledged and directly and
openly discussed” (Cohen et al. 2012). It is prolific to understand that problematic conditions
change the way people feel. Still, it is through a cognitive reply that we learn how to embrace pain
and overcome it. The book's information predicts a critical inclination of growth and development
where children, adolescents, and parents must share to solve traumatic disorders. It must get easy
to deal with situations based on the book's context in my professional life. The authors are experts
BOOK CRITIQUE 11
with accolades and decorated honors, a stance that makes the data sufficient to use in active
decision making.
The book contributes critically to championing knowledge gain in various fields
concerning the applications of TF-CBT. It comes with distinct flexibility and incorporation of
stable growth that describes how to adapt to many demographics. For instance, it provides how
one adapts to military families, culturally diverse children, and children with developmental
abilities (Cohen et al. 2012). The discussions on TF-CBT focuses on particular children's needs
through the attribute of play incorporation and drawing on cultural traditions. The insights
established in the book are essential for everyone undergoing trauma. Through theoretical
orientation defined in the book, the authors elucidate the significance of understanding traumatic
experiences and how to solve them using proactive approaches involving TF-CBT appropriations.
The actions and changes that I am likely to take to influence my personal and professional
growth must involve a proactive stance. Below are the action steps for solving traumatic conditions
when they occur;
1. Identify and define the problem.
2. Assess the problem
3. Generate alternatives
4. Explore the alternatives
5. Choose the best alternative
6. Implement the best alternative
7. Communicate the decision, and take action
BOOK CRITIQUE 12
The information gained from the book provides a critical illumination where an individual
gets proliferated to grow and develop based on having a coherent plan packed with substantive
context for guidance. I have learned the significance of understanding what one goes through and
talking to someone you can trust or a therapist, as TF-CBT suggested. The development of a
relaxed inclination gets incorporated, and this is essential for progressive realization. By
identifying and defining the problem, you recognize its presence, which provides the leeway to
access it on the merits of benefits and disadvantages. Personal and professional growth
constitutes the need to generate alternatives and exploit them while considering the best option.
The consideration of choosing the best choice must be preceded by its implementation and
finalized by its communication. I am inclined to become increasingly productive in my personal
and professional life if I handle all impending situations through this proactive approach.
BOOK CRITIQUE 13
Reference
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Deblinger, E. (Eds.). (2012). Trauma-focused CBT for
children and adolescents: Treatment applications. Guilford Press. Retrieved from
https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YlbQeyPkliQC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=
Treating+Trauma+and+Traumatic+Grief+in+Children+and+Adolescents&ots=ubOfZRF
blH&sig=EVEOf8gJdQqUoCu3WzbHV6RSPbo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Treating
%20Trauma%20and%20Traumatic%20Grief%20in%20Children%20and%20Adolescent
s&f=false
Paper Outline
Title: Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Body
This is the main part of the paper
It consists of four sections;
1. Summary
It provides a summary of the book “Trauma-focused CBT for children and
adolescents: Treatment applications”
2. Concrete Response
It provides a personal account of traumatic event in relation to the topic
3. Reflection
It addresses the significance of the research and lessons learned in the
course of reading the book
4. Application
It is the last part of the paper. It discusses the significance of the book in
influencing personal and professional growth.
Reference: citation is done in APA style
