TY - JOUR
T1 - “Like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders”
T2 - Exploring young peoples’ experiences of treatment in a pilot trial of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy
AU - Eastwood, Oliver
AU - Peters, Wilma
AU - Cohen, Judith
AU - Murray, Laura
AU - Rice, Simon
AU - Alvarez-Jimenez, Mario
AU - Bendall, Sarah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Society for Psychotherapy Research.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: The efficacy of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is well-established, yet little work has been done to understand how young people experience this intervention. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 young people aged 17–25 years (M = 20.0, SD = 2.61) who received TF-CBT as part of a pilot trial. Transcripts were analyzed via interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Four super-ordinate themes were identified: (i) experience of authentic care, (ii) personal role in therapy and recovery, (iii) talking about trauma is difficult but important, and (iv), transformative change. Young people described authenticity on behalf of the therapist, which seemed to foster emotional connection and comfort discussing trauma. They emphasized the importance of retaining autonomy and control during therapy, and a degree of personal responsibility in their recovery. Talking about trauma was described as difficult and potentially distressing, but also as critical for recovery. Transformative life changes were noted, which had a significant impact on young peoples’ future outlook and self-perception. Conclusions: This study suggests that therapists should be attuned to the interpersonal needs of clients, attempt to foster self-determination throughout therapy, and simultaneously recognize the difficulty and importance of trauma work for young people when delivering TF-CBT.
AB - Background: The efficacy of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is well-established, yet little work has been done to understand how young people experience this intervention. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 young people aged 17–25 years (M = 20.0, SD = 2.61) who received TF-CBT as part of a pilot trial. Transcripts were analyzed via interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Four super-ordinate themes were identified: (i) experience of authentic care, (ii) personal role in therapy and recovery, (iii) talking about trauma is difficult but important, and (iv), transformative change. Young people described authenticity on behalf of the therapist, which seemed to foster emotional connection and comfort discussing trauma. They emphasized the importance of retaining autonomy and control during therapy, and a degree of personal responsibility in their recovery. Talking about trauma was described as difficult and potentially distressing, but also as critical for recovery. Transformative life changes were noted, which had a significant impact on young peoples’ future outlook and self-perception. Conclusions: This study suggests that therapists should be attuned to the interpersonal needs of clients, attempt to foster self-determination throughout therapy, and simultaneously recognize the difficulty and importance of trauma work for young people when delivering TF-CBT.
KW - PTSD
KW - TF-CBT
KW - abuse
KW - interpretative phenomenological analysis
KW - trauma
KW - youth
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U2 - 10.1080/10503307.2020.1851794
DO - 10.1080/10503307.2020.1851794
M3 - Article
C2 - 33283674
AN - SCOPUS:85097208631
VL - 31
SP - 737
EP - 751
JO - Psychotherapy Research
JF - Psychotherapy Research
SN - 1050-3307
IS - 6
ER -