FAQs

What is CPP?

CPP is an evidence-based treatment model for children aged 0-5 who have experienced traumatic events and/or are experiencing mental health, attachment, and/or behavioral problems. A central goal is to support and strengthen the caregiver-child relationship as a vehicle for restoring and protecting the child’s mental health. Treatment also focuses on contextual factors that may affect the caregiver-child relationship, including sociocultural and historical trauma. For children exposed to trauma, caregiver and child are guided over the course of treatment to create a joint narrative of the traumatic event and to identify and address trauma reminders that lead to dysregulated affect and behavior.Therapeutic sessions typically include the child and primary caregiver. If clinically indicated, treatment may include multiple caregivers and/or siblings.

What are the goals of CPP?

Repair the impact of trauma to restore the child’s healthy social and emotional development.
Increase caregiver’s capacity to provide physical, relational, and emotional safety to the child.
Restore trust and safety in the caregiver-child relationship as a vehicle for promoting the child’s mental health.

What does treatment look like?

Treatment lasts at least five months and can extend to over one year. It consists of three phases: Foundational, Core Intervention, and Closing. For more information see About CPP.

How do we know it works?

CPP has Practice-based evidence and Research evidence from 5 randomized control trials and treatment effectiveness studies conducted in the United States, Israel, Sweden, and Australia to support its benefits.

What changes for the better as a result of CPP?

CPP improves child-level functioning (e.g., PTSD symptoms, behavioral problems, cognitive performance), caregiver-level functioning (e.g., PTSD and general symptoms), and child-caregiver relationship (e.g., attachment, interactions, view of each other). CPP also slows down child Epigenetic Age Acceleration, a biomarker associated with long-term medical and psychiatric conditions. For more information, visit our Research page.

Where can I find a CPP therapist?

The CPP Provider Roster contains a directory of our trained CPP therapists.

Why do parents/caregivers need to be involved in treatment?

When difficult things happen, young children need parents and caregivers to help them make sense of what their family went through. For more information see About CPP.

What age range is appropriate for CPP?

CPP is designed for children under six years old and their parent(s) or caregiver(s).

How do I know if CPP is right for my family?

CPP is designed for families with a child under six years old who has experienced at least one traumatic event. CPP also requires consistent involvement from a primary caregiver who participates in joint child-caregiver therapy sessions.