Therapeutic Treatment of Children
Our mission at BRACAC is to provide specialized, cutting-edge, and evidence-based treatment services for the treatment of psychological trauma to each child we serve. We strive to work collaboratively with other child-serving agencies in our community ensuring effective continuity of care.
The therapists on our treatment team provide advocacy for children through testimony in court, participation Multidisciplinary Teams, engagement of the child’s care system (DCBS, schools, families, foster families, lawyers, and law enforcement), community education, and participation in local advocacy organizations. We currently provide Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Trauma-Informed Interventions Available
Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is a phase-based trauma-focused intervention appropriate for youth ages 3-18 who are experiencing traumatic-stress related symptoms. TF-CBT uses gradual exposure to distressing thoughts and feelings connected to traumatic events and focuses on building coping skills to manage stressful emotional content, decrease avoidance, address negative alterations in cognition and mood, and reduce levels of arousal and reactivity. The intervention also facilitates the processing of traumatic and negative life events and any related cognitions and emotions. Caregivers are considered an important part of treatment and are included in sessions so that they can help youth to practice acquired skills at home, develop trauma-informed parenting skills, and support the emotional well-being of their child. TF-CBT is supported by a robust empirical base that has demonstrated its ability to decrease traumatic-stress related symptoms in trauma-exposed youth.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps children safely process traumatic memories. It uses bilateral stimulation, like guided eye movements, to help the brain's natural healing process unblock and digest distressing experiences.
Interns
Our therapy program works closely with Western Kentucky University’s social work program to provide relevant and timely field experience to bachelor- and master-level social work students. This program allows for exposure to empirically supported, measurement-based treatment for trauma; field research; policy; and advocacy. Master-level students gain experience providing psychological treatment to clients under the supervision of our experienced clinicians.
