Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is a therapeutic intervention utilized with young children between the ages of 0 to 5 and their parents/caregivers who have experienced at least one traumatic event such as:
- Loss of a loved one
- Separation
- Serious medical procedures
- Abuse or violence at home or in the community
- Children show difficult behavior
- Children have a change in placement or caregivers
- Family members have physical health or mental health difficulties
- Caregivers would like help with parenting and improving parent-child relationships
Experiencing such traumatic events can result in challenges with the child’s behavior, attachment and/or mental health problems. Children function in the context of their relationships which is why the goal of CPP is to support and strengthen the relationship between a child and their parent/caregiver. CPP uses the parent-child relationship as vehicle for restoring the child’s sense of safety, attachment, appropriate affect and improved cognitive, behavioral and social functioning.