The PRACTICE Model Explained: Step by Step Through TF CBT
Introduction
Healing from trauma can feel like walking through fog. It is hard to see where the path begins or how it might end. That is why Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or TF CBT, gives both therapists and families a clear, compassionate roadmap known as the PRACTICE model.
This model gently guides the process of recovery, one meaningful step at a time. It helps children, caregivers, and therapists move together from understanding what trauma is to rebuilding a sense of safety, strength, and confidence.
Across Australia, professionals who complete Basic TF CBT Training, Advanced TF CBT Training, and join TF CBT Consultation Calls, Training for Organisations, and Webinars learn how to bring this structured yet deeply human model to life.
Understanding the PRACTICE Model
The word PRACTICE represents eight essential parts of therapy. Each step builds on the one before it, creating a rhythm of learning, healing, and growth.
P stands for Psychoeducation and Parenting
R stands for Relaxation
A stands for Affective Modulation
C stands for Cognitive Coping
T stands for Trauma Narrative and Processing
I stands for In Vivo Exposure
C stands for Conjoint Parent Child Sessions
E stands for Enhancing Safety and Future Development
This model is not just a checklist. It is a journey of connection and resilience that transforms fear into understanding and pain into possibility.
P: Psychoeducation and Parenting
The first step is all about understanding. When children and parents learn what trauma is and how it affects the brain and body, confusion starts to fade. They realise their reactions are not signs of weakness but natural responses to overwhelming experiences.
Therapists use stories, images, and simple explanations to help children see that what they feel makes sense. Parents learn how to support their child with empathy instead of frustration.
In Basic TF CBT Training, professionals practice how to make these conversations feel safe and approachable, ensuring that families leave each session feeling more hopeful and informed.
R: Relaxation
Trauma keeps the body on high alert. The next step helps children learn how to calm both mind and body. Breathing exercises, gentle stretching, and creative grounding activities remind them that peace is possible.
Sometimes therapists teach relaxation as a game. A child might imagine blowing up a balloon with each deep breath or picture themselves floating on calm water.
Therapists often share and refine these creative techniques during TF CBT Consultation Calls, learning new ways to help children and parents bring calm back into their lives.
A: Affective Modulation
This step focuses on emotions. Children who have lived through trauma often find it hard to name what they feel. They might only know that their stomach hurts or their heart races. Affective modulation helps them connect those sensations to emotions like sadness, anger, or fear.
Through art, colour charts, or stories, children learn to express emotions safely. Parents are guided to listen without judgment, helping their child feel understood.
Many therapists expand these skills through TF CBT Webinars, which explore creative ways to make emotional learning interactive and meaningful.
C: Cognitive Coping
At this stage, children and parents learn how thoughts influence feelings. A single thought can turn a small challenge into a wave of anxiety. By recognising and reshaping these thoughts, children regain control over how they feel.
A common transformation might sound like this:
From “It was my fault” to “I did my best during something very scary.”
In Advanced TF CBT Training, professionals explore how to adapt these exercises for different ages, cultures, and experiences, ensuring every child can connect with the message that they are not to blame.
T: Trauma Narrative and Processing
This is often the heart of TF CBT. The trauma narrative allows a child to share their story at their own pace in a safe, supportive environment. It is not about reliving pain but about making sense of it and removing its power.
For many children, this is the moment they begin to see themselves as survivors rather than victims. When parents are invited to listen, they often describe it as a turning point filled with understanding, relief, and love.
Therapists learn through Webinars and TF CBT Consultation Calls how to guide these moments with sensitivity and care, ensuring that each story is met with compassion.
I: In Vivo Exposure
Once safety and trust are established, children can begin facing real life reminders of their trauma. This might mean revisiting a place, holding an object, or talking about something that once caused fear.
The process is gentle and gradual. The goal is for the child to realise that they are safe now and capable of coping.
Therapists discuss their strategies during TF CBT Consultation Calls, helping each other design exposure steps that empower rather than overwhelm.
C: Conjoint Parent Child Sessions
TF CBT always values the bond between child and caregiver. In conjoint sessions, both come together to practice new skills, share stories, and celebrate progress.
Parents often feel immense pride as they watch their child use coping tools they have learned. These sessions restore trust and remind families that they are stronger together.
Many professionals enhance their ability to run these sessions effectively through Training for Organisations, which prepares teams to deliver TF CBT in schools, community centres, and clinical settings.
E: Enhancing Safety and Future Development
The final step looks toward the future. The therapist helps the family create a plan for staying safe and using their new skills in everyday life. They reflect on how far they have come and celebrate growth and resilience.
Children leave therapy knowing that while the past cannot change, it no longer defines them. Families walk away with confidence that they can face challenges together.
Through ongoing Basic TF CBT Training, Advanced TF CBT Training, and Webinars, professionals keep refining their skills to guide more families through this beautiful final stage of healing.
Why the PRACTICE Model Works
The PRACTICE model works because it combines science, structure, and humanity. It gives families a clear path forward while allowing therapists to adapt to each child’s unique needs. It balances knowledge with warmth and precision with compassion.
The model is not rigid. It breathes with the child’s story. It grows as trust deepens and as courage returns. That is what makes TF CBT such a transformative experience.
Conclusion
The PRACTICE model is more than just a therapy framework. It is a journey of hope, courage, and connection. It reminds families that recovery is not about forgetting but about reclaiming life with new strength.
Through Basic TF CBT Training, Advanced TF CBT Training, TF CBT Consultation Calls, Training for Organisations, and Webinars, therapists across Australia are learning to deliver this process with skill, heart, and empathy.
Every letter in PRACTICE represents progress. Every step brings a child and their family closer to peace. And every session is a reminder that healing is not only possible but deeply human.