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Support for Students Exposed to Trauma: School Support for Childhood Trauma

SSET is a skills-based, group intervention for middle and high school students who’ve been exposed to trauma and have symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). SSET is an adaptation of the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), designed for delivery by teachers and school counselors without clinical training. SSET aims to reduce PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and improve social and academic functioning. SSET is appropriate for students who have experienced a range of traumatic events including community or family violence, natural disasters, abuse, or traumatic separation from a loved one. Students learn skills in  affect regulation, relaxation, challenging maladaptive thoughts and problem solving, and work on processing traumatic memories and grief. These skills are learned through experiential learning in group settings. Between  sessions, students complete assignments and participate in activities that reinforce the skills they’ve learned. Updated 2024.

Acronym: 
SSET
Targeted Populations: 
For youth ages 11-18; for use in schools for youth experiencing a wide range of traumas
Published in 2017