What is NOT consistent with the rationale for having parent-child sessions?

The rationale for having parent-child sessions in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) emphasizes the critical role of caregivers in supporting the child's healing process and the need for effective communication between the two. Parent-child sessions serve multiple functions that directly relate to the therapeutic goals of TF-CBT.

The option indicating that these sessions provide opportunities for caregivers to explain how they overcame their self-blame is not consistent with the primary aims of parent-child sessions. While addressing self-blame and providing caregiver support is important, the focus of these sessions is more on fostering a supportive environment for the child’s emotional expression and progress. Thus, the primary purposes of the parent-child sessions focus on direct support for the child’s trauma recovery, enhancing the child’s coping skills, and improving the parental understanding of these processes.

In contrast, focusing on the child's progress and mastery of trauma directly aligns with the goal of encouraging resilience and empowering the child. Allowing children to share their feelings openly ensures that they feel heard and validated, which is vital for their therapeutic journey. Additionally, providing parents with validation for their progress recognizes the importance of their active involvement and emotion regulation in supporting the child, reinforcing a collaborative approach in the therapy process. Each of these elements contributes to facilitating healing