Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) specifically designed to treat PTSD. It is one of the most researched and effective treatments for trauma-related disorders. Delivered over 12 structured sessions, CPT helps you evaluate and change the upsetting thoughts that have lingered since your trauma. By working through these thoughts, you can begin to change the way you feel and improve your overall quality of life.

CPT has a strong foundation in research - thousands of individuals have benefitted from this treatment across diverse populations and trauma types.

Trauma can deeply affect how you see yourself, others, and the world. For example, you might believe:

• “I am to blame for what happened.”
• “The world is completely unsafe.”
• “I can never trust anyone again.”

These thoughts, while understandable, can keep you stuck in a cycle of PTSD symptoms, like fear, avoidance, and guilt.

CPT helps you break this cycle by teaching you how to evaluate these thoughts and develop new perspectives based on the facts. Through guided exercises, you’ll learn to:

• Identify the unhelpful thoughts keeping you stuck.
• Evaluate whether these thoughts are accurate or distorted.
• Replace them with more balanced, helpful beliefs.
• Feel different emotions about the traumatic events.

This process not only alleviates distress but also empowers you to face life with a renewed sense of control and clarity.

You can watch a detailed overview of CPT here, presented by Prof. Patricia Resick.

CPT is a collaborative process between you and your therapist. Here’s what the typical journey looks like:

• Understanding PTSD: Your therapist will begin by explaining how trauma impacts thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This foundational knowledge helps you better understand your symptoms and how they fit within the framework of PTSD.
• Exploring Your Thoughts: You’ll identify negative or unhelpful thoughts about your trauma and how these beliefs have influenced your emotions and behaviors.
• Challenging and Changing Beliefs: With the help of your therapist, you’ll use worksheets and exercises to evaluate your beliefs and consider alternative perspectives.
• Addressing Key Life Areas: Toward the end of therapy, you’ll focus on areas like safety, trust, self-esteem, and intimacy - parts of your life that trauma may have disrupted.

CPT typically involves 12 weekly sessions, each lasting 60 minutes. Most people start noticing improvements after just a few sessions, and the skills you learn often continue to help you long after therapy ends.

CPT requires facing thoughts and feelings that may initially feel uncomfortable. Talking about your trauma may cause mild to moderate distress in the short term. However, this discomfort usually decreases as you work through the sessions, and most people find the benefits far outweigh any initial challenges.

If you’re considering CPT, here are some key points to keep in mind:

• You won’t be rushed into discussing your trauma in detail - Your therapist will guide you at a pace that feels manageable.
• You’ll be an active participant in your recovery - CPT requires effort and engagement, including completing worksheets and practicing skills outside of sessions.
• You’ll be working with a method proven to work - CPT has been shown to help people from all walks of life recover from PTSD.

CPT can be done one-on-one with a therapist or in a group setting. Both formats are effective, and your therapist can help you decide which option is best for your needs.

Yes, CPT includes homework, such as worksheets and writing exercises. These assignments are designed to help you practice the skills you’re learning in therapy and apply them to your daily life. The more you engage with these exercises, the more you’re likely to benefit from the therapy.

A meta-analysis by Asmundson et al. (2019), showed that CPT significantly outperformed inactive control conditions. For example CPT-treated participants experienced large improvements in PTSD symptoms.

CPT’s strong evidence base also extends to its flexibility. It has been successfully adapted for individual therapy, group formats, and digital delivery methods, making it highly accessible.