Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents

Book excerpt: Developed by experts in trauma psychiatry and psychology and grounded in adolescent developmental theory, this is a modular, assessment-driven treatment that addresses the needs of adolescents facing trauma, bereavement, and accompanying developmental disruption. Created by the developers of the University of California, Los Angeles PTSD Reaction Index© and the Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder Checklist, the book links clinicians with cutting-edge research in traumatic stress and bereavement, as well as ongoing training opportunities. This innovative guide offers teen-friendly coping skills, handouts, and specialized therapeutic exercises to reduce distress and promote adaptive developmental progression. Sessions can be flexibly tailored for group or individual treatment modalities; school-based, community mental health, or private practice settings; and different timeframes and specific client needs. Drawing on multidimensional grief theory, it offers a valuable toolkit for psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, and others who work with bereaved and traumatized adolescents. Engaging multicultural illustrations and extensive field-testing give this user-friendly manual international appeal.