Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)

Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)

Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is an evidence-based, trauma-informed modality that was developed for young children (ages 0-5) to heal from difficult and scary experiences. When trauma is kept in the body without being processed or released, symptoms of behavioral dysregulation, depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, etc. can often show up. This model aims to strengthen the relationship between the caregiver and child in order to support and restore the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning of the child. At times, caregivers may find it difficult to know how to help their child navigate these experiences. They may also find that they themselves have strong emotional reactions to their child’s experiences. With the support of a CPP therapist, caregivers and children develop a narrative of the traumatic experience in order to identify triggers that cause dysregulated behaviors. Together, the caregiver and child are able to acknowledge and heal from traumatic experiences in the presence of a supportive therapist who is able to “speak the unspeakable”.

“Safety is not the absence of threat, but it is the presence of connection.” – Gabor Mate

For more resources on CPP click here.

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