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When trauma is affecting your life

Trauma-Focused CBT Across The North East

A specialist therapy for children, young people, and adults who have experienced trauma, combining CBT with a trauma-informed approach to address its emotional and psychological impact.

  • 44 Practitioners
  • 6 North East clinics
  • Free First Pathway call

How it works

Processing what happened, at a pace that feels safe.

TF-CBT follows a structured sequence. The early phase focuses on psychoeducation, helping you (and caregivers, where relevant) understand trauma responses, and on building practical coping skills before any trauma processing begins.

The middle phase introduces gradual, controlled exposure to traumatic memories through a technique called trauma narration. This is done carefully and at a pace you and your therapist agree on together. The aim is to help the brain process the memory rather than suppress it, reducing the distress it triggers.

The final phase consolidates what has changed and strengthens safety and coping skills. For younger clients, this typically involves sessions with parents or caregivers to ensure the gains are supported at home.

Individual trauma therapy session at Select Psychology

What TF-CBT can help with

Rooted in traumatic experience.

  • PTSD and trauma

  • Childhood trauma

  • Abuse and domestic violence

  • Grief and loss

  • Anxiety following trauma

  • Depression following trauma

  • Emotional dysregulation

  • Intrusive thoughts and flashbacks

  • Avoidance and withdrawal

  • Complex trauma

How Select routes the work

The right Trauma-Focused CBT therapist, matched with care

Our Pathway Team takes the time to understand your experiences before matching you with a practitioner who has the right Trauma-Focused CBT expertise, experience, and availability. A carefully matched therapist helps create a safe, supportive environment for recovery and meaningful progress.

  1. 01

    A confidential first discussion

    The Pathway Team begins by understanding the nature of the trauma and its current impact, then matches you to a practitioner trained in TF-CBT with the right experience.

  2. 02

    Psychoeducation

    Early sessions focus on understanding trauma responses and the TF-CBT model. Relaxation and emotion regulation skills are introduced before any direct trauma processing begins.

  3. 03

    Trauma narrative and processing

    With a foundation of safety established, sessions work directly with the traumatic memory, building a narrative and processing the beliefs and emotions attached to it.

  4. 04

    Consolidation and closure

    Final sessions integrate the work done, address any remaining avoidance, and build confidence in managing future difficulties without ongoing therapy.

Practitioner fit

Is TF-CBT right for me?

TF-CBT is most effective when distress is clearly linked to one or more traumatic events and is maintained by avoidance, negative beliefs about the self, or intrusive re-experiencing.

Signs it could be right for you

  • You have experienced trauma and are still affected
  • You are supporting a child or young person affected by trauma
  • You want a structured, time-limited approach to processing trauma
  • Previous approaches have not fully resolved the trauma

A simple first move

Not sure where to start? Talk it through with the Pathway Team.

Request a callback

Who you might work with

Practitioners who offer this

Browse the full team, or let the Pathway Team match you.

Where we offer this

Trauma-Focused CBT across the North East

Select Psychology Tynemouth clinic, coastal view

Tynemouth

1 Tynemouth Road, NE30 4AY

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Select Psychology Newcastle Gosforth clinic

Newcastle

The Grainger Suite, Dobson House, Regent Centre, NE3 3PF

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Also available all locations.

Explore related care

Conditions, clinics and related therapies

Conditions this helps with

Related therapies

Fees and insurance

Clear fees, and most major insurers accepted

No GP referral is needed. If you are using private medical insurance, tell the Pathway Team when you get in touch and they will help with authorisation.

Session fees

  • Relationship therapy£95
  • Specialist psychological therapy£110
  • Clinical & counselling psychology£140
  • Psychological assessmentsfrom £350
Insurers accepted

Bupa · Aviva · AXA · Allianz · Simply Health · Vita Health Group

Questions before you start

What people usually ask

1 Is TF-CBT only for children?

No. While TF-CBT was originally developed for children and adolescents, the model has been adapted for adults and is effective across age groups. The structure and specific techniques may vary slightly depending on age and developmental stage.

2 Do I have to describe the trauma in detail?

The trauma narration element involves engaging with traumatic memories in a structured way, but this is introduced gradually and only when you have built sufficient coping skills. Your psychologist will not push you beyond what feels manageable, and the pace is always agreed together.

3 How is TF-CBT different from standard CBT?

Standard CBT addresses unhelpful thinking patterns broadly. TF-CBT uses the same cognitive tools but applies them specifically to trauma, adding trauma narration, psychoeducation about trauma responses, and structured exposure to traumatic memories. It also incorporates parental involvement for younger clients.

4 How is TF-CBT different from EMDR?

Both TF-CBT and EMDR are evidence-based trauma treatments. TF-CBT uses a cognitive-behavioural framework with structured narrative work; EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories without requiring detailed verbal description. Your psychologist can discuss which is more appropriate for your situation during the initial assessment.

From the blog

Read more before you decide

How Long Does EMDR Take to Work? Effects & Recovery

EMDR therapy typically takes 6 to 12 sessions for a single traumatic event (such as a car accident) and 12 or more sessions for complex or repeated trauma. Each session lasts 60 to 90 minutes, usually once a week. Many people notice significant improvement within the first 3 to 4 sessions. Post-session effects like tiredness or vivid dreams are normal and usually settle within 1 to 3 days. EMDR is recommended by NICE as a first-line treatment for PTSD and is as effective as trauma-focused CBT.

Select Psychology Team · 23 Mar 2026 · 6 min read

Read article

Get in touch

Ready to feel heard?

Leave your details and a member of our Pathway Team will be in touch, usually within one working day. Or call us directly on 0191 258 0008.

  • Confidential and judgement-free
  • No obligation, no pressure to book
  • No GP referral needed
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How can we help?

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Phone lines open Mon to Thu 8.30am to 5pm, Fri 8.30am to 4.30pm

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