Thirteen-year old Elizabeth had been traumatized by neglect, and both physical and sexual abuse. When she came to The Village Family Services, she was suffering from severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and was struggling at school and in her family relationships. She was also continuing to be vulnerable to further abuse.
Elizabeth and her therapist began using Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to help address her trauma and better regulate her emotional responses. The therapist engaged Elizabeth’s parents in the treatment process, and through individual and family counseling, was able to establish a safe environment for her. Elizabeth had difficulty recalling the nature and extent of the sexual abuse she had suffered; and, she had never revealed the perpetrator. However, as she became more comfortable in the TF-CBT process, she began to trust and learned coping and relaxation skills to deal with her trauma. Eventually, she was able to identify the perpetrator and provide details of her abuse. Through continued therapy, Elizabeth has steadily improved and achieved her therapeutic goals. She and her mother have also gained the skills they need to prevent further abuse from occurring.
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