Working with Parents/Caregivers in Trauma-Focused Therapy: A Conversation Guide

Parents/caregivers can be an invaluable part of the healing journey for children, by expressing confidence in their ability to heal, supporting progress and demonstrating their own capacity to come to terms with the child’s trauma experience.

We created this guide to help providers talk with parents/caregivers about skills that are important for participating in trauma-focused therapy relationships with their children and families.

This guide was developed by the Family-Informed Trauma Treatment Center at the University of Maryland and with support from the Center for Resilient Families at the University of Minnesota and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

View/Download Guide

  • Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress Toolkit for Health Care Providers
    These materials are designed for hospital-based health care providers (physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals) and may also be of use to mental health professionals who work in health care or disaster settings. The materials provide: (1) an introduction to traumatic stress as it relates to children facing illness, injury, and other medical events; (2) practical tips and tools for health care providers; and (3) handouts that can be given to parents that present evidence-based tips for helping their child cope.
  • David Baldwin’s Trauma Information Pages
    These Trauma Pages focus primarily on emotional trauma and traumatic stress, including PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and dissociation, whether following individual traumatic experience(s) or a large-scale disaster. The purpose of this award winning site is to provide information for clinicians and researchers in the traumatic-stress field.
  • Sidran Institute
    Because many people underestimate the developmental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual injuries that can result when people experience or witness traumatic events, Sidran Traumatic Stress Institute, Inc. develops and delivers educational programming, resources for treatment, support, and help, trauma informed community and professional collaboration projects, and publications about trauma and recovery.
  • Child Trauma Academy
    The Child Trauma Academy, a not-for-profit organization based in Houston, Texas is a unique collaborative of individuals and organizations working to improve the lives of high-risk children through direct service, research and education.

Additional Resources