The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Trauma Treatment (Child & Adolescent), but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Physical Neglect, Exposure to Domestic Violence
• Target Population: Traumatized adolescents, including those who are still living with or experiencing ongoing chaos and extreme stress.

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.