This document was printed from the website of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), which you can access at http://www.cachildwelfareclearinghouse.org/
This document was printed from the website of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), which you can access at http://www.cachildwelfareclearinghouse.org/
Type of Maltreatment: Exposure to domestic violence, Physical abuse, Physical neglect, and Sexual abuse
Target Population: Traumatized adolescents, including those who are still living with or experiencing ongoing chaos and extreme stress.
Brief Description:
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) has been rated by the CEBC in the area of Trauma Treatment for Children. SPARCS is a present-focused group intervention for adolescents who have experienced chronic trauma and have developed problems functioning in the following areas: affect regulation and impulsivity; dissociation; self-perception; relations with others; somatization (conversion of anxiety to physical symptoms); and systems of meaning (having a purpose and a hopeful future). SPARCS is primarily cognitive-behavioral based and teaches skills to both foster resilience and enhance group members' current strengths. Overall goals of the program are to address the three Cs: enhance the adolescent's ability to Cope more effectively in the moment, Cultivate consciousness, and Create connections and meaning.
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Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) was designed to be conducted in a group.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) has been tested for use in a group setting.
Testing references:
No research studies have been published on SPARCS.
The recommended group size is: Group size is between 8 and 10 members.
Recommended intensity: It is recommended that treatment sessions occur once a week.
Recommended duration: There are 16 sessions, with an average length of 1 hour.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) includes a homework component.
Description: Some examples of the skills practiced between sessions include self-soothe and distract skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Miller, Rathus & Linehan, in press), interpersonal skills, mindfulness exercises & a problem-solving approach designed to help group members identify values and beliefs that are important to them.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) is typically conducted in a(n): Community Agency, Outpatient Clinic, Residential Care Facility, and School.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) was designed with a Parent Component.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms: An optional multi-family group convenes for 6 sessions to learn emotion regulation strategies and to practice communication skills.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) was designed with a Child Component.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms: Impairment in functioning and co-morbidity that stem from the trauma and are not captured by a diagnosis of PTSD alone. The areas of functioning addressed include problems with 1) regulating emotions and impulsive behavior, 2) successfully negotiating and developing trusting relationships, 3) seeing a purpose and future in life, 4) dissociation, 5) chronic physical complaints, and 6) negative self-perception. The program is also suitable for use with traumatized adolescents who may not meet criteria for PTSD but are experiencing behavior problems, school refusal, substance use, early pregnancy, and other high-risk behaviors.
Age range(s): 12-18
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) was developed for children with developmental delays.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) has not been tested for children with developmental delays.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) was designed for specific racial/ethnic/cultural groups.
Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) was not tested in specific racial/ethnic/cultural groups.
Specific Groups: Pilot work has included the following groups: Hispanic, Caucasian and African American
There is a manual that describes how to implement this program.
There is training available for Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS).
Training contact: Victor Labruna, Ph.D. 516-562-3245, vlabruna@nshs.edu
Number of days/hours: 1.5 days before the start of group and 1.5 days one month after group begins
Training is obtained: Onsite.
There currently are not additional qualified resources for training.
The typical resources for implementing Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) are: Mental health clinician and co-therapist, group room, program handouts, VCR, and snacks.
Mental health clinicians
SPARCS currently has no published, peer-reviewed research studies.
DeRosa, R. & Pelcovitz, D. (2005). Treating traumatized adolescent mothers: A structured approach. In N. Boyd-Webb (Ed.), Working with traumatized youth in child welfare. NY: Guilford Press, pp. 219-245.
Cook, A. et al. (2005). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35(5), 390-398.
Contact name: Ruth DeRosa, Ph.D. or Victor Labruna, Ph.D.
Affiliation/Agency: Shore University Hospital, Dept. of Psychiatry
Email: ruth.derosa@bascom.com
Phone: 516-562-3245 or 516-993-7230
Fax: 516-562-4786