Topic: Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Trauma
Target Population: Middle Childhood, Parents
Sector: Community-Based
This program is for children who are 6 to 12 years old and are experiencing difficulties following a traumatic experience and their parents.
The I Feel Better Now! Trauma Intervention Program (IFBN), modified from the original Structured Sensory Intervention for Traumatized Children, Adolescents and Parents (SITCAP) program, is designed to help children manage trauma-related concerns through use of cognitive-based therapy and sensory-based activities.
A pretest, posttest study was conducted with children who demonstrated poor coping skills following trauma. Significant effects were demonstrated on rating scales measuring constructs such as trauma, anxiety, and depression. Results were maintained at a 3-month follow-up.
This program intends to support children who have been affected by a traumatic experience by using cognitive-based therapy and sensory-based activities to decrease participant struggles and increase their coping skills. Children engage in therapy sessions that help them develop a sense of safety and control in relation to the trauma. In addition, children engage in cognitive restructuring processes to develop coping skills, which can improve participants' learning, behavioral, social, emotional, and psychological behaviors. This program is structured to work with the individual and discusses concerns in a group setting. Specific session information follows.
This program has been implemented in over 120 sites with more than 10,000 children across the United States since first being field tested in 1997.
Facilitators should have a minimum of 1 year of group experience with elementary school-aged children and must complete training. Training options include 3 to 6 days of onsite or offsite training at the TLC Institute, Inc. Please use details in the Contact section to learn more.
Considerations for implementing this program include acquiring parent and child buy-in, obtaining facilitators who possess suitable experience and knowledge and ensuring they receive training, and finding space and time to run the program.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing IFBN, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
This program includes 8- to 10-weekly, 60-minute sessions.
The program manual costs $78. Please visit https://starr.org/product/i-feel-better-now-program/ for more information.
To move IFBN to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least one evaluation must be conducted utilizing a randomized control trial or a quasi-experimental design that demonstrates sustained (for at least six-months post-intervention), positive effects.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact Caelan Kuban by phone 1-586-899-5056, fax 1-313-885-1861, email info@starr.org, or visit https://store.starr.org/Course/view/i-feel-better-now-intervention-program-1
Raider, M. C. (2010). Structured sensory trauma intervention program for elementary school children. National Social Science Journal, 34(2), 129-138.
Steele, W., Kuban, C., & Raider, M. C. (2009). Connections, continuity, dignity, opportunities model: Follow-up of children who completed the I Feel Better Now! Trauma Intervention Program. School Social Work Journal, 33(2), 89-110.
