Research on Effectiveness of TF-CBT on Grief in Children

A study published in the Journal of Applied Family Therapy looked at how trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) can help children who lost a parent to COVID-19.

The researchers wanted to know whether this specific type of therapy could help lessen grief and other emotional challenges faced by bereaved children while focusing on both immediate and lasting effects.

The study found that TF-CBT was effective in reducing grief symptoms in the children who participated. The children in the experimental group, who received TF-CBT, showed significant improvement in grief symptoms compared to the control group, which did not receive any intervention.

TF-CBT not only helped children cope with their grief in the short term but also provided lasting emotional benefits, as the positive effects were maintained during follow-up assessments. This makes the study important because it shows that TF-CBT can help grieving children with their loss and improve their mental health.

Grief is a natural response to loss, but it can have a huge impact on a child’s emotions. Without the right support, these feelings can make it difficult for them to function.

Understanding the Research

The study used a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test assessments. It included two groups of children, aged 9 to 11, who had lost a parent to COVID-19.

The experimental group attended 16 TF-CBT group therapy sessions — each lasted 90 minutes. Meanwhile, the control group received no therapy until after the follow-up test.

Bereavement symptoms were measured using the Children’s Bereavement Scale (IPG-C) at three points: before therapy, after therapy, and during follow-up.

Based on the results, children who received TF-CBT had a big decrease in grief symptoms. The follow-up test showed that these improvements lasted, meaning TF-CBT helped the children cope with their grief over time.

The results are important because they show that trauma-focused therapy can help children who are grieving, especially during difficult times. This study gives mental health professionals a helpful approach to support children’s emotional healing.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

Given the emotional challenges that children may face after losing a loved one, we’ve listed a few tips to help support them through their grief:

Normalize grief

Grief can be confusing and overwhelming for young people — but by explaining that it’s a natural part of the healing process, you can make them feel less isolated in their experience. Let them express their feelings in healthy ways. Talking about their emotions openly can help them process what they are going through.

However, if they’re not yet ready to talk, suggest journaling or drawing as alternative ways to express their thoughts and feelings.

Avoid rushing the healing process

Don’t pressure your child to “move on” or “get over it.” It’s important to remember that healing is not linear — there will be good days and hard days, and that’s okay. Allow them to process their emotions without placing expectations on when or how they should feel better.

Praise your child when they use healthy coping strategies

If your child talks about their feelings, writes in a journal or uses a calming technique like deep breathing, acknowledge their effort with praise. You can tell them, “I’m proud of you for sharing how you feel” to motivate them to keep using these strategies.

Healthy coping skills are especially important for managing grief because they give children tools to regulate rather than suppress their emotions.

Consider connecting your child with a CBT therapist

Explore options for CBT therapists in your area with a background in trauma treatment. Share this research with your child’s therapist so they can consider TF-CBT as a treatment option. Online CBT resources can support your child in understanding the CBT process.

The authors suggest that the study, which focused on boys and girls aged 9-11, should also be done with other age groups and in different communities to see if the findings apply to them too.

Check out our Grief Worksheets and Trauma Worksheets to help guide children in understanding and managing their emotions, so they can grieve in a healthy way.