What is trauma-focused CBT?

This short animation from the UK Trauma Council explains how trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help children and young people recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Using a memorable wardrobe analogy, it shows why traumatic memories feel so different from ordinary ones — intrusive, disorganised, and hard to control — and how trauma-focused CBT works with a trained therapist to help young people process those memories at their own pace, so that the trauma no longer dominates their day-to-day life.