Therapy conference: New ways to heal traumatized children!

Therapy conference: New ways to heal traumatized children!

The second TF-CBT therapist day took place on September 26, 2025 at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. The event was organized by the Chair of Clinical and Biological Psychology under the direction of Prof. Dr. Rita Rosner organized. Their goal was to offer sustainable help for traumatized children and young people and to create a stable network for therapists. Loud ku.de Around 50 people took part on site in Eichstätt, while 35 further participants were present online via Zoom.

An essential part of the program was the initiation of two important research projects in the field of trauma therapy, which were started in 2019: BETTER CARE and BESTFORCAN. The final meeting of these projects, which took place last year, also helped to establish a nationwide network for TF-CBT trained therapists. BETTER CARE focuses specifically on unaccompanied young refugees, while BESTFORCAN deals with children and young people who have experienced physical or sexual violence and neglect.

Highlights of the event

Prof. Dr. Rita Rosner opened the event with a keynote speech about the crucial factors for successful further training in this area. In addition, Dr. Alexander Tewes the recurring themes in trauma-focused supervision. A presentation by Prof. Dr. Elisa Pfeiffer provided scientific evidence on the effectiveness of the stepped care approach in the BETTER CARE project. In addition, PD Dr. Naser Morina presents perspectives from a Swiss research project on low-threshold psychological interventions.

The event also included practical workshops in small groups that took place in the afternoon. These workshops allowed participants to try out specific therapeutic approaches and interventions, which promoted exchange and learning in the group. Further information about the individual projects and TF-KVT is available on the Catholic University website.

The concept of TF-CBT

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based program for the treatment of trauma-related disorders that was originally developed for the treatment of sexual abuse. However, it has been successfully adapted for a variety of other traumas. Especially for children and their caregivers, TF-CBT enables an individual approach that includes both individual sessions and joint sessions.

The TF-KVT online course, known as TF-KVT Web, provides a valuable addition to other learning resources. With step-by-step instructions, printable examples, and videos, therapists can learn at their own pace. All content is free and serves to further develop evidence-based therapies. A comprehensive evaluation of the program is currently being carried out to check its effectiveness and continually improve the offering, reports tfkvt.ku.de.

In addition, the German-speaking Society for Psychotraumatology (DeGPT) has set quality standards for the treatment of children with trauma-related disorders. These standards ensure that TF-CBT is carried out only by appropriately qualified professionals who have basic training in clinical work. In addition, theoretical further training and practical experience under qualified supervisors are required. More about this is available on the DeGPT website dgvt-fortbildung.de explained.

Overall, the TF-KVT Therapist Day at the KU offered a platform to intensify the exchange between experts and further professionalize the treatment of traumatized children and young people.