Tradeoffs How Treating Teens’ Trauma Is Stopping Violence in Chicago
Dec 18, 2025
Julie Noobler, Director of Mental Health and Wellness at Brightpoint, explains cognitive behavioral therapy for youth exposed to violence. She describes how CBT slows reactive thinking and pairs with intensive mentoring and wraparound support. The conversation covers program design, real-world practice after detention, and why mentorship helps CBT skills stick.
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Sprite Bottle Moment Changed A Teen
- T-Man lost his cousin to an overdose and later recognized his own anger patterns while in juvenile detention.
- CBT metaphors like the shaken Sprite bottle helped him practice small, controlled emotional releases instead of explosive reactions.
Engagement, Not Efficacy, Is The Bottleneck
- Delivering voluntary CBT to hard-to-reach youth is the key challenge beyond efficacy proven in captive settings.
- Programs must solve engagement for noncompulsory contexts to scale impact.
Combine CBT With Intensive Advocates
- Pair group CBT with intensive, culturally credible advocates who attend sessions and reinforce skills.
- Use advocates to help families accept therapy and practice lessons in community settings.