Date of Submission

2007

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Robert A. DiTomasso, Ph.D., ABPP

First Advisor

Bruce Zahn, Ed.D, ABPP, Chairperson

Second Advisor

Virginia Salzer, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Angela Clack, Psy.D.

Abstract

Because of the increase in the numbers of adolescents presenting in residential care, the challenge and difficulty posed to therapists in treating this age-group, and the prevalence of chronic stress and complex trauma symptoms found in this population, the research conducted was a clinical case study investigating the transportability and effectiveness of using Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), a manualized treatment format, with adolescent clients in a residential treatment setting. A doctoral candidate was trained to engage each of three residential clients in 12 individual sessions of TF-CBT. The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC), Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), Jesness Behavior Checklist (JBC), Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), Working Alliance Inventory (WAI), were administered at pretest, mid-way through treatment, and at posttest to assess treatment outcome. A qualitative assessment of treatment outcome comparing pretest scores and posttest scores on measures were made, and a discussion of the treatment efficacy of TF-CBT with older adolescents in residential treatment was provided. Suggestions for future research of the application of TF-CBT with youth in a residential treatment setting are offered by the researcher. An empirical study proposal was devised to demonstrate the study's application to a larger sample size.

Share

COinS