Enhancing Safety — the “E” in PRACTICE
What is enhancing safety in TF-CBT?
Enhancing safety helps a child build a personal plan for staying safe — identifying trusted adults, recognizing unsafe situations, and knowing what to do and who to tell. It consolidates the coping skills learned in treatment into a concrete plan the child can carry into everyday life.
What this component is working toward
| Objective | How it works | Primary audience |
|---|---|---|
| Build a personal safety plan | Identifying trusted adults and safe next steps | Child & caregiver |
| Teach body-safety and boundaries | Developmentally-appropriate psychoeducation | Child |
| Plan for life after treatment | Consolidating coping skills into a usable plan | Child & caregiver |
Official resources
Primary resources from the model developers and national authorities. Links open on their original sites.
Authoritative clinical resources
Validated, system-level toolkits and adaptations from established trauma centers and networks.
Optional skill-building supports
These materials are supplemental creative supports made by Skills for Children. They are not official TF-CBT model materials, not required, and should not replace clinical training, supervision, or therapist judgment. They may help reinforce this component as an optional companion at home or in session.
♪ Song — “My Plan, My People”
A companion song from When Feelings Get Loud mapped to this component.
View access options ↗📱 BRAVE app module
A child-facing activity module in the free BRAVE companion app (ages 4–18).
View access options ↗The final part of TF-CBT helps your child name their safe people and make a simple plan for what to do if something feels unsafe — so the skills they built keep working after therapy ends.
About enhancing safety
This page is an evidence-informed educational resource, not clinical advice or a substitute for treatment by a trained TF-CBT therapist. TF-CBT was developed by Cohen, Mannarino, and Deblinger. Official model resources are linked to their original publishers; Skills for Children does not host proprietary clinical materials. Resources curated by Joshua Fisherkeller, MSW.