Developmentally focused cognitive case conceptualization for toddlers and preschoolers with posttraumatic symptoms following a medical trauma

There is growing evidence that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective method for treating posttraumatic stress in toddlers and preschoolers. However, implementing CBT in this population requires cognitive case conceptualization (CCC) that incorporates evidence-based methods to assess factors contributing to onset and maintenance of presenting problems and to guide treatment selection in a developmentally appropriate manner. The present article presents a developmentally focused model of CCC (DCCC) for the assessment and treatment of toddlers and preschoolers. The model elaborates on the relational context of posttraumatic symptomatology, and emphasizes the cognitive mechanisms within the toddler-parent relations matrix. A case conceptualization example illustrates the use of DCCC with a toddler who experienced a medical trauma followed by a brief description of the treatment and its outcomes. Therapists working with toddlers and preschoolers may find the DCCC model an appropriate guiding map to the understanding of presenting problems and treatment planning.