Child-Parent Psychotherapy
Homeless Children’s Network supports the training of clinicians on evidence-based practices for mental health treatment. In 2024, HCN received dedicated funding to train clinicians and serve children and families with Child-Parent Psychotherapy, an Evidence-Based Practice.
CPP May Help When
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Children have been through scary or painful events such as the loss of a loved person, separation, serious medical procedures, abuse, or violence at home or in the community
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Children show difficult behaviors
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Children have a change in placement or caregivers
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Family members have physical health or mental health difficulties
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Caregivers would like to help with parenting and improving parent-child relationships
Our
Mission
Providing services that help young children and families recover and heal after stressful and traumatic events
What is CPP?
Therapy for young children, from birth through age 5,
as well as their parents/caregivers
• Supports family strengths and relationships
• Helps families heal and grow after stressful experiences
• Respects family and cultural values
What Happens During CPP
We work together in three stages:
1
Getting to Know the
Child & Family
We spend time meeting alone with parents/ caregivers to understand the family’s
• Needs and challenges
• Strengths and values
• History and experiences
If needed, we connect families to resources and services.
We make a plan for how CPP will help your family.
2
Addressing Families' Needs
We usually meet once a week with the parent/caregiver and child. If old enough, we first help children understand
• Who we are
• Why they are coming
• What we will do together
We often use toys because young children show feelings and thoughts through play
We may meet alone as adults
We help parents/caregivers and children to
• Understand each other
• Talk and play about difficult experiences
• Respond to difficult feelings
and behaviors
• Create a family story that leads to healing
3
Wrapping Up & Planning
for the Future
We celebrate the changes families have made
We talk about how parents/caregivers made changes happen
We consider how endings and goodbyes may bring up different feelings
We talk about what will be needed in the future
Cpp Studies Involving Diverse Families Show
Improvement in Children's
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Mood
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Problem Behaviors
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Learning
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Trauma Symptoms
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Biological Stress Response (Cortisol)
Improvement in Parent's
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Mood
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Parenting Stress
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Trauma Symptom
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Partner Relationship