Our Team
Wendy Barillas
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #133716
View ProfileTrauma-Informed Care for Young People
Trauma-Focused CBT
A structured approach for children and teens after trauma that brings parents and caregivers into the work. At HOPE, Wendy Barillas uses it as one option within child and family counseling.
01
What Trauma-Focused CBT Is
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, usually shortened to TF-CBT, is a structured approach for children and teens who have been through something frightening or overwhelming. That might be abuse, violence at home or in the community, a serious accident, or the sudden loss of someone close. The cognitive behavioral part refers to the links between thoughts, feelings and actions. The trauma-focused part means the work makes careful, gradual room for what happened instead of steering around it.
What sets TF-CBT apart is that a parent or caregiver is part of the work. The adults at home are often the ones who see a child's fear at bedtime, the anger that seems to come from nowhere, or the questions that surface weeks later. TF-CBT usually includes time with the caregiver as well as time with the young person, so the support a child receives in counseling can carry over into daily life.
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Structured does not mean rigid. The approach generally moves step by step, beginning with skills that help a child feel steadier and turning toward harder memories only once support is in place. Within that shape, the therapist pays attention to the child's pace, personality, culture and family, and adjusts along the way.
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Where TF-CBT Fits in Wendy's Work
At HOPE, Trauma-Focused CBT is part of the training of Wendy Barillas, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #133716, our Executive Director and Clinical Supervisor. Wendy's work spans individuals, couples, families and children, and her focus includes trauma and attachment wounds, along with children and families who have been through abuse, neglect and other adverse experiences.
Wendy is also trained in play therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and attachment-based approaches. For a family, that means TF-CBT does not have to stand alone. It can be one thread within broader child and family counseling, alongside play, family conversations and attention to the bond between a child and the adults who care for them. Your therapist can talk with you about how those pieces might fit together.
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Wendy counsels in English and Spanish, so a parent or caregiver who would feel more at ease in Spanish can mention that when reaching out. You can also ask which formats are available for this work. Caregivers are welcome to ask how their own role would look before anything begins, and to raise any worries about how their child might respond.
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What Sessions Can Include
Early sessions often center on understanding and skills. A child or teen can learn what trauma is and why their reactions make sense, then practice ways to calm the body, name feelings and notice the thoughts that come with them. Caregivers can learn what trauma reactions may look like at home and how to meet hard moments with steadiness and warmth.
Once those supports are in place, TF-CBT usually includes gradually putting the experience into words, sometimes by building a story of what happened through talking, writing or drawing. This part moves at the child's pace, and the therapist checks in about readiness along the way. When it fits, a child may later share some of that story with a caregiver in a session prepared carefully ahead of time.
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Safety is part of the approach as well. If a child or family is still facing something unsafe, that becomes part of the conversation with your therapist. If you need immediate help, call or text 988. Veterans and service members can press 1. In an emergency, call 911; this website, email, and phone lines are not monitored for emergencies.
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Choice Within Individualized Care
No single approach defines counseling at HOPE. Our therapists work collaboratively, learn about the person and concern in front of them, and shape care around individual goals. An approach may be one part of the work, and you can ask questions or discuss another direction at any time.
The therapeutic relationship remains central. Your therapist will explain what they are inviting you to do, listen to your response, and respect your pace. You do not need to arrive knowing which method you want. Therapist profiles can help, or call or email us and we will help you find a good starting point.
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HOPE offers counseling in person in Roseville and by secure video when the client is physically located in California. When you reach out, you can name an interest in a particular approach or simply describe what you would like support with.
Questions
Questions About This Support
Does My Child Have to Talk About What Happened Right Away?
No. Trauma-Focused CBT generally builds skills and support first, so a child is not asked to describe a hard experience before they have ways to feel steadier. When the work does turn toward what happened, it moves gradually and at the child's pace. The therapist explains each step to the child and caregiver, and you are welcome to ask questions or raise concerns at any point.
Do Parents or Caregivers Take Part in Trauma-Focused CBT?
Yes. Caregiver involvement is a central feature of TF-CBT. A parent, grandparent, relative or another trusted adult in a caregiving role can learn about trauma reactions, practice ways to support the child at home, and sometimes join sessions with the child. Your therapist will explain how time is shared between the young person and the caregiver, and what each part of the work is for.
Is TF-CBT the Only Option for a Child After Trauma?
No. TF-CBT is one option, not a requirement. Within the practice, other ways of working with children and families include play therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and attachment-based approaches, and HOPE therapists also bring perspectives such as EMDR and Brainspotting. You can describe what your child or teen is going through, and the therapist can talk with you about what seems like a good fit.
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