AF-CBT represents an approach to working with physically abused children and their offending caregivers that incorporates therapeutic principles/procedures from several areas, included learning/behavioral theory, family-systems, cognitive therapy, and developmental victimology.

Focus: Physical abuse or exposure to harsh/excessive punishment/discipline. Emotional abuse/verbal aggression, physical aggression or family conflict/coercion.

Intended Ages: Children ages 5-17, along with a caregiver (offending or non-offending)

Length Of Treatment: 12-24 sessions over 3-6 months

Therapist Training:

  • PLMHP, PCMSW, LMHP, LIMHP, LCSW, Psych, etc
  • Complete pre-training online assessment
  • Participate in all scheduled trainings
  • Participate in 75% of consultation calls, presenting on 2 cases during consultation and also submit audio files for 2 cases
  • Complete post-training online assessment (80% or higher)
  • Complete 2 AF-CBT cases and submit case completion verification forms
  • Developer time frame for trainings and consultation calls is 1 year. Test and case completion are after 1 year.
  • 5 year renewal period

Short-term, crisis-oriented intervention for trauma, including single event or chronic, multiple, and complex trauma exposure. CFTSI aims to reduce traumatic stress symptoms and prevent chronic PTSD, improve screening and initial assessment of children impacted by traumatic stress, and assess longer-term treatment needs.

Focus: For children immediately after exposure to a traumatic event or disclosure of physical or sexual abuse.

Intended Ages: Ages 7-18, along with a parent/caregiver

Length Of Treatment: 4-6 sessions

Therapist Training:

  • Possibly provisional, LMHP, LIMHP, LCSW, Psych, etc.
  • Attend the 2-day basic CF-TSI training conducted by a master trainer
  • Attend and actively participate in a minimum of 9 out of 12 follow-up consultation calls
  • Complete a minimum of 3 CF-TSI cases during the time frame of the follow-up consultation calls (approximately 6-7 months)

An intervention for children and their parents who have experienced at least one form of trauma, and presenting with attachment problems or difficult behaviors as a result. The goal of this model is to strengthen the parent-child relationship, so that the child’s sense of safety and attachment can be repaired.

Focus: Impact of trauma on parent-child relationship; domestic violence, maltreatment.

Intended Ages: Ages 0-5, along with parent/caregiver

Length Of Treatment: 6 months+; Average of 50 sessions;

Therapist Training:

  • PLMHP, PCMSW, LMHP, LIMHP, LCSW, Psych, etc.
  • There are 3 Learning Sessions (3 days, 2 days, 2 days) over 18 months with twice monthly consultation with a CPP trainer
  • Case completion on a minimum of 2 cases (1 year) and remain in at least twice a month contact for 1.5 years
  • Complete 2 one-day CPP CEU workshops/booster sessions within 2 years

The Nebraska Resource Project for Vulnerable Young Children (NRPVYC) is a major partner in expanding Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) in Nebraska. NRPVYC’s website provides helpful resources as well as information for anyone interested in the process to become a CPP Provider. https://www.nebraskababies.com/ecmh/trainings/cpp

Summary: CBITS is a skills-based, child group intervention that is aimed at relieving symptoms of PTSD, depression, and general anxiety among children exposed to multiple forms of trauma.

Focus: School-aged children who have been exposed to violence or other forms of trauma

Intended Ages: Ages 9-18

Length Of Treatment: 10 weeks (10 groups sessions, 1-3 individual sessions, 2 parent psychoeducational sessions, 1 teacher educational session)

Therapist Training:

  • PLMHP, PCMSW, LMHP, LIMHP, LCSW, Psych, etc.
  • Training is recommended, not requierd, and therefore not regulated. 2 types of training offered.
  • Free online training which gives access to the videotaped training course, along with advice from the intervention developers and experienced CBITS providers, downloadable materials, a list of resources, and an online community to take part in peer-to-peer dicsussion boards, document sharing, and Ask an Expert
  • OR an in-person training which is two to two and one half day on-site trainings, consisting of session-by-session instruction, demonstrations, role-plays, and practice.

DBT is a structured psychotherapy designed to provide skills for managing intense emotions and negotiating social relationships. Given its strong emphasis on emotional regulation skills can be applicable to a wide array of mental health conditions such as:

  • Self-harm
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Personality disorders, etc.

DBT focuses on providing therapeutic skills in 4 key areas

  • Mindfulness
  • Distress Tolerance
  • Emotion Regulation
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness

(https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/dialectical-behavior-therapy#when-is-it-used)

The goal of EMDR is to process distressing memories associated with traumatic events, reducing their lingering effects and allowing the client to develop more adaptive coping mechanisms, using bilateral sensory input (e.g., side-to-side eye movement).

Focus: Distress associated with traumatic memories

Intended Ages: Ages 3 and up (can be used in conjunction with play therapy)

Length Of Treatment: 8 phases of treatment

Therapist Training:

  • PLMHP, PCMSW, LMHP, LIMHP, LCSW, Psych, etc.
  • Completion of Part I and Part II EMDR training (6 days total)
  • 10 hours of consultation
  • Clinicians completing these will obtain a certificate of completion
  • 12 hours of specialized EMDR training
  • 20 additional hours of consultation

FFT is designed to improve within-family attributions, family communication and supportiveness while decreasing intense negativity and dysfunctional patterns of behavior.

Focus: Short-term, family-based therapeutic intervention for delinquent youth at risk for institutionalization and their families.

Intended Ages: Ages 11-18

Length Of Treatment: 8-12, one-hour sessions for mild cases and up to 30 sessions of direct service for more difficult situations

Therapist Training:

  • Phase I: Directed to the development of adherence and competent FFT therapists (12-18 months)
    • One-Day on-site implementation/assessment and CSS (clinical services system) training
    • Two-Day on-site clinical training
    • Begin Cases
    • Ongoing telephone supervision
    • Externship (clinical team must identify one team member to attend): consists of three separate training experiences over a three month period at an off-site location
    • Two-Day follow-up visits (3 per site during year 1)
    • Two-Day off-site clinical training (occurs during months 8-9 of initial training year)
  • Phase II (to be started after month 8 of Phase I)
    • Aimed at developing on-site clinical supervisors and implementing quality assurance and improvement procedures to maintain high model fidelity
  • Phase III: Provides on-going continuing education, technical assistance and ongoing quality improvement

MST is an intensive family and community-based treatment program that focuses on addressing all environmental systems that impact juveniles who offend, their homes and families, schools and teachers, neighborhoods and friends.

Focus: Helping youth who offend to develop healthier coping skills and make positive choices.

Intended Ages: Ages 12-18, along with their families. MST targets juveniles with chronic, serious, violent, or substance abuse offenses. Inappropriate referrals include youth referred for primarily psychiatric behaviors (actively suicidal, actively homicidal, actively psychotic, etc.) and youth referred for sex offenses.

Length Of Treatment: 3-5 months. Therapists generally spend more time with families in the initial weeks (daily if needed) and gradually taper their time (to as infrequently as once a week) over the 3- to 5-month course of treatment.

Therapist Training:

  • MST Therapists must be full-time employees assigned to the MST program solely; with a case load of 4-6 families (not to exceed 6)
  • MST Therapists must operate in teams of no fewer than 2 or more than 4 therapists (plus clinical supervisor which should be Ph. D level professionals) and use a home based model of service delivery
  • Pre-training program start-up services (assessment completed by MST Program Developer of organization’s ability to successfully implement MST)
  • Initial 5-Day Orientation training, prior to accepting cases
  • Weekly phone consultation with the MST consultant for each team of clinicians
  • Quarterly one-and-a-half-day booster trainings
  • Ongoing organizational assistance

PCIT is a treatment model with highly specified, step-by-step, live coached sessions with both the parent/caregiver and the child. The emphasis is on changing negative parent-child patterns. A 12-month intensive training program to enable therapists in Nebraska and other states to work with caregivers and children 2 to 7 who exhibit disruptive and challenging behaviors. PCIT has been shown to reduce disruptive behavior, parental stress and child abuse.

Focus: Children with acting out behaviors; impaired parent-child relationship; NOT for sexual abuse.

Intended Ages: Ages 2-7, along with parent/caregiver (Can be used up to age 10 if it is appropriate)

Length Of Treatment: Average of 12-20 sessions. Treatment is complete when parent has mastered the CDI and PDI skills.

Therapist Training:

  • LMHP, LIMHP, LCSW, Psych, etc. (PLMHP, PCMSW may complete but cannot be certified until fully licensed)
  • Complete 40 hours of face-to-face training with a PCIT Trainer (or 10 hours onling training and 30 hours face-to-face)
  • Treatment session observed by a PCIT trainer
  • Complete the certified PCIT therapist applicaiton
  • 2-year renewal period (required to complete a minimum of 3 PCIT CEU’s to renew)

The Nebraska Resource Project for Vulnerable Young Children (NRPVYC) is a major partner in expanding Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) in Nebraska. NRPVYC’s website provides helpful resources as well as information for anyone interested in the process to become a PCIT Provider. https://www.nebraskababies.com/ecmh/trainings/pcit

Play therapy is typically targeted to children ages 3 to 11 (and sometimes used with adults) who have social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties. Through play therapy, children learn the following:

  • Expressing their thoughts and feelings in appropriate ways
  • Learn about the feelings of others
  • Learn ways of controlling their own behavior
  • Learn how to solve the problems they encounter

(https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/play-therapy)

Psychological First Aid is an evidence-informed modular approach to help children, adolescents, adults, and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism. It is designed to reduce initial distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short-and long-term adaptive functioning and coping.

The 8 core actions include:

  • Contact and Engagement
  • Safety and Comfort
  • Stabilization (if needed)
  • Information Gathering on Current Needs and Concerns
  • Practical Assistance
  • Connection with Social Supports
  • Information on Coping
  • Linkage with Collaborative services

(https://www.nctsn.org/treatments-and-practices/psychological-first-aid-and-skills-for-psychological-recovery/about-pfa)

An evidence-based psychotherapy for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parent(s)/caregiver(s). The goal of TF-CBT is to provide both the youth and caregiver(s) with the knowledge and skills to help them identify and cope with emotional and behavioral difficulties associated with single, multiple, and complex trauma experiences.

Focus: Sexual abuse, traumatic grief, domestic violence, disasters, terrorism, multiple traumatic events.

Intended Ages: Ages 3-21, along with parent/caregiver

Length Of Treatment: 12-25 sessions (60-90 minute sessions, divided approximately equally between youth and parent/caregiver)

Therapist Training:

  • LMHP, LIMHP, LCSW, Psych, etc. (PLMHP, PCMSW may complete but cannot be certified until fully licensed)
  • Complete online TF-CBT web training
  • Participate in the live 2 day training
  • Completing 9 out of 12 consultation calls, staffing a case during the calls and completing a case during the course of the calls.
  • Completing 3 cases total, completing the application, and passing the TF-CBT Therapist Certification Program Knowledge-Based Test.
  • Developer time frame from start to finish is 2 years
  • 5 year renewal period

Nebraska Mental Health.com offers a general definition of common evaluations, however encourages individuals to check with their insurance carrier regarding specific evaluation requirements as they may differ by carrier.