Healing Trauma with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a specialized form of therapy that educates individuals on how to confront and refute negative assumptions related to their trauma. Commonly utilized to address conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, CBT empowers individuals to combat the impact of trauma and develop effective coping strategies through the identification and challenging of harmful thought patterns. Through regular sessions with a qualified therapist, patients can regain command over their mental well-being and acquire the skills to reframe their perspectives on past experiences.
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy found to be effective for treating post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD in people who have experienced violence, abuse, natural disasters, or other traumatic events. CPT is short-term, typically conducted over the course of 12 sessions.
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Cognitive Processing Therapy
CPT is a viable treatment option for most adults who have received a diagnosis of PTSD; it may also be used to treat older adolescents. Some researchers and clinicians believe that CPT might be particularly beneficial for those who anticipate encountering additional traumatic events—say, in the military or as an emergency worker, such as a firefighter, police officer, or EMT—as it aims to alter the way patients interpret and process trauma on an ongoing basis.
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When It's Used
Cognitive Processing Therapy
CPT is a viable treatment option for most adults who have received a diagnosis of PTSD; it may also be used to treat older adolescents. Some researchers and clinicians believe that CPT might be particularly beneficial for those who anticipate encountering additional traumatic events—say, in the military or as an emergency worker, such as a firefighter, police officer, or EMT—as it aims to alter the way patients interpret and process trauma on an ongoing basis.
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Cognitive Processing Therapy
Someone who has experienced significant trauma and has developed PTSD as a result may notice that they think very differently about themselves or their environment than they did prior to the trauma. This is often particularly noticeable in the following five areas:
- Safety: They may doubt their ability to protect themselves and others.
- Trust: They may question their judgment and/or the judgment and intentions of others.
- Control: They may feel unable to control their own life or influence the lives of those they care about.
- Esteem: They may view themselves and/or others differently, perhaps seeing themselves as “broken” or others as “evil.”
- Intimacy: They may feel incapable of connecting with or being understood by and accepted by others.
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Cognitive Processing Therapy
It’s important to find a provider who is trained in CPT, or who has received a certification in it; you can search for such therapists on the Psychology Today therapy directory or ask your doctor or mental healthcare provider for a referral. Many hospitals run by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs also offer CPT treatment programs specially designed for military veterans.
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What to Expect
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Initial sessions are typically focused on psychoeducation that helps the patient learn about PTSD and what they can expect from treatment. In subsequent sessions, the patient will work with their therapist to identify and explore the ways that trauma may have altered the patient’s thoughts and beliefs, affecting both the way they feel and how they act. Specifically, the therapist will help the patient pick out thoughts that create barriers to recovery. The patient will learn a set of strategies to challenge and modify thoughts that are inaccurate and/or unhelpful and will practice these strategies with the therapist and on their own with worksheets and exercises.
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What is Cognitive Processing Therapy?
Cognitive Processing Therapy is undertaken over approximately 12 therapy sessions. Clients can expect to:
- Learn about the common changes in beliefs that occur after experiencing trauma which can include beliefs about safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy
- Learn to identify and challenge unhelpful beliefs and thoughts
- Learn to find a balance in the beliefs you may have had after the trauma
- Are asked to write about the impact of your traumatic experience(s)
- May choose to write the story of your traumatic event(s)
- Be asked to complete practice assignments outside of sessions to apply the learning from therapy
Written by: Centre of Clinical Psychology Staff
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What is Cognitive Processing Therapy?
- Reflect - Increase your understanding of PTSD. Examine the impact of the trauma on your beliefs/thoughts and feelings. Decrease avoidance and difficulties you may be experiencing with positive emotions.
- Redefine - Learn skills to evaluate your thinking Consider alternative viewpoints of the trauma, oneself and the world.
- Recover - Reduce distress related to your memories of the trauma. Reduce feelings of anxiety, anger, guilt and shame
Improve day-to-day living.
Written by: Centre of Clinical Psychology Staff
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