Considered a gold standard treatment approach, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a cognitive-behavioral treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related problems. PTSD can develop when an individual experiences a traumatic event such as physical and sexual abuse or assault, accidents, threats, military combat, or being a witness to violence or death. CPT focuses on the connections between thoughts, feelings, behavior and bodily sensations. CPT is an evidenced based therapy, which means that it has been proven to be effective through rigorous scientific research. The overall goals of CPT are to improve your PTSD symptoms, as well as associated symptoms such as depression, anxiety, guilt, and shame. It also aims to improve your day-to-day living.
CPT consists of 12 individual (one-on-one) 50-60 minute therapy sessions. In these sessions, you will learn about the symptoms of PTSD, and why we believe some people develop it. CPT provides a way to understand why recovery from traumatic events is difficult and how symptoms of PTSD affect daily life. We will collaboratively focus on identifying how traumatic experiences change thoughts and beliefs, and how thoughts influence current feelings and behaviors. An important part of the treatment is addressing ways of thinking that might keep individuals “stuck” and get in the way of recovery from symptoms of PTSD and other problems. CPT does not involve repeatedly reviewing the details of your trauma(s). However, you will be asked to write about your experiences in order to understand how they have affected your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
In addition, after each session you will be given practice assignments to complete outside of the sessions. These assignments are designed to more rapidly improve your PTSD symptoms outside of the treatment sessions.
Goals of CPT:
Improve understanding of PTSD
Reduce distress about memories of the trauma
Decrease emotional numbing (i.e., difficulty feeling feelings) and avoidance of trauma reminders
Reduce feelings of being tense or “on edge”
Decrease depression, anxiety, guilt or shame
Improve day-to-day living
Topics Covered During CPT:
The meaning of the traumatic event(s)
Identification of thoughts and feelings
Trust issues
Safety issues
Issues of power and control
Esteem issues
Intimacy issues
Please contact me to set up a screening or for more information about this evidence based group.
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