TF-CBT CERT EXAM COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A
◉ . Dr. Johnson is seeing Alaina, a 9 year-old child sexual abuse
victim, for TF-CBT. They are in the process of creating Alaina's
trauma narrative, and she is providing very little information about
what happened to her during and after the trauma. Dr. Johnson is
not sure whether Alaina's difficulties represent trauma-related
avoidance or simply a deficit in the ability to tell a story with a high
level of detail. Which technique could Dr. Johnson have used during
the Psychoeducation phase of treatment to give her a clearer
understanding of Alaina's abilities? a) a test of verbal fluency b)
gradual exposure c) more education about the consequences of
sexual abuse d) a baseline/neutral narrative task. Answer: Correct
answer: d) a baseline/neutral narrative task
◉ 18. Mrs. Sands is bringing her daughter Tonette in for TF-CBT
treatment of symptoms related to witnessing community violence.
Mrs. Sands was expecting to drop Tonette off for her session each
week, run errands, and then come back to the office to pick her up.
Mrs. Sands is a little bit surprised to find out that the therapist
expects to meet with her for part of the session each week. Which of
the following messages should the therapist be sure to communicate
to Mrs. Sands about TF-CBT? a) TF-CBT is flexible enough to be
adapted so that Mrs. Sands does not need to participate b) Providing
,Tonette with treatment is vitally important to prevent significant
symptoms later in her life c) The TF-CBT treatment model
emphasizes the importance of working as a team with caregivers d)
Tonette is at very high risk of future victimization without
appropriate and timely treatment e) Witnessing violence is
associated with symptoms. Answer: Correct answer: c) The TF-CBT
treatment model emphasizes the importance of working as a team
with caregivers
◉ 19. Active ignoring is a strategy that is designed to help parents:
a) Cool down when they are feeling stressed or angry b) Avoid
responding to their child's unharmful, inappropriate behavior c)
Respond to their child with facial expressions and gestures only,
without yelling or arguing d) Avoid reacting impulsively by giving
them some time to think about how to punish the child's behavior.
Answer: Correct answer: b) Avoid responding to their child's
unharmful, inappropriate behavior
◉ 20. One important aspect of parental praise for a child's behavior
is: a) To make praise very general so it applies to a variety of good
behaviors b) To find reasons to praise the child even when they are
engaging in undesirable behavior c) To praise specific types of
desired behavior d) To be inconsistent in the use of praise, so the
child will be pleasantly surprised by it and have a more positive
reaction to it. Answer: Correct answer: c) To praise specific types of
desired behavior
, ◉ 21. Which of the following strategies is a recommended first-step
strategy for responding to a young child when the child
disrespectfully makes angry or defiant verbalizations directed at the
parent? a) Active ignoring b) Time out c) Taking away a toy or
television d) Give them a new chore for the day. Answer: Correct
answer: a) Active ignoring
◉ 22. The primary goal of time out is to: a) Punish the undesirable
behavior by depriving the child of attention b) Require the child to
sit and think about what they did wrong c) Give the parent and child
time to cool down after the child misbehaves d) Teach the child how
their behavior was inappropriate. Answer: Correct answer: a)
Punish the undesirable behavior by depriving the child of attention
◉ 23. Mr. Gaboury is bringing his 12-year-old grandson in for TF-
CBT following a physical assault at school. Mr. Gaboury is very
focused on the behavior problems his grandson is experiencing.
During an early parent session, he says that his grandson "has
become a budding juvenile delinquent! I know that he has some
nightmares and things, but until he stops being so aggressive I don't
think any kind of therapy will be helpful." What important parenting
message should the therapist convey to Mr. Gaboury? a) All kids
have some behavior issues, and his grandson's will resolve in time.
b) Behavior problems in many cases are the product of trauma
symptoms, not a separate issue c) Acceptance of misbehavior is an
important step for caregivers, who can't expect traumatized children
to accept rules or limits d) It is critical that Mr. Gaboury work on his
own anger issues before he can help his grandson. Answer: Correct
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A
◉ . Dr. Johnson is seeing Alaina, a 9 year-old child sexual abuse
victim, for TF-CBT. They are in the process of creating Alaina's
trauma narrative, and she is providing very little information about
what happened to her during and after the trauma. Dr. Johnson is
not sure whether Alaina's difficulties represent trauma-related
avoidance or simply a deficit in the ability to tell a story with a high
level of detail. Which technique could Dr. Johnson have used during
the Psychoeducation phase of treatment to give her a clearer
understanding of Alaina's abilities? a) a test of verbal fluency b)
gradual exposure c) more education about the consequences of
sexual abuse d) a baseline/neutral narrative task. Answer: Correct
answer: d) a baseline/neutral narrative task
◉ 18. Mrs. Sands is bringing her daughter Tonette in for TF-CBT
treatment of symptoms related to witnessing community violence.
Mrs. Sands was expecting to drop Tonette off for her session each
week, run errands, and then come back to the office to pick her up.
Mrs. Sands is a little bit surprised to find out that the therapist
expects to meet with her for part of the session each week. Which of
the following messages should the therapist be sure to communicate
to Mrs. Sands about TF-CBT? a) TF-CBT is flexible enough to be
adapted so that Mrs. Sands does not need to participate b) Providing
,Tonette with treatment is vitally important to prevent significant
symptoms later in her life c) The TF-CBT treatment model
emphasizes the importance of working as a team with caregivers d)
Tonette is at very high risk of future victimization without
appropriate and timely treatment e) Witnessing violence is
associated with symptoms. Answer: Correct answer: c) The TF-CBT
treatment model emphasizes the importance of working as a team
with caregivers
◉ 19. Active ignoring is a strategy that is designed to help parents:
a) Cool down when they are feeling stressed or angry b) Avoid
responding to their child's unharmful, inappropriate behavior c)
Respond to their child with facial expressions and gestures only,
without yelling or arguing d) Avoid reacting impulsively by giving
them some time to think about how to punish the child's behavior.
Answer: Correct answer: b) Avoid responding to their child's
unharmful, inappropriate behavior
◉ 20. One important aspect of parental praise for a child's behavior
is: a) To make praise very general so it applies to a variety of good
behaviors b) To find reasons to praise the child even when they are
engaging in undesirable behavior c) To praise specific types of
desired behavior d) To be inconsistent in the use of praise, so the
child will be pleasantly surprised by it and have a more positive
reaction to it. Answer: Correct answer: c) To praise specific types of
desired behavior
, ◉ 21. Which of the following strategies is a recommended first-step
strategy for responding to a young child when the child
disrespectfully makes angry or defiant verbalizations directed at the
parent? a) Active ignoring b) Time out c) Taking away a toy or
television d) Give them a new chore for the day. Answer: Correct
answer: a) Active ignoring
◉ 22. The primary goal of time out is to: a) Punish the undesirable
behavior by depriving the child of attention b) Require the child to
sit and think about what they did wrong c) Give the parent and child
time to cool down after the child misbehaves d) Teach the child how
their behavior was inappropriate. Answer: Correct answer: a)
Punish the undesirable behavior by depriving the child of attention
◉ 23. Mr. Gaboury is bringing his 12-year-old grandson in for TF-
CBT following a physical assault at school. Mr. Gaboury is very
focused on the behavior problems his grandson is experiencing.
During an early parent session, he says that his grandson "has
become a budding juvenile delinquent! I know that he has some
nightmares and things, but until he stops being so aggressive I don't
think any kind of therapy will be helpful." What important parenting
message should the therapist convey to Mr. Gaboury? a) All kids
have some behavior issues, and his grandson's will resolve in time.
b) Behavior problems in many cases are the product of trauma
symptoms, not a separate issue c) Acceptance of misbehavior is an
important step for caregivers, who can't expect traumatized children
to accept rules or limits d) It is critical that Mr. Gaboury work on his
own anger issues before he can help his grandson. Answer: Correct
