Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

What is CPT?

CPT is a type of evidence based therapy that is used for people who have experienced trauma. Trauma often changes how people view themselves and the world. Sometimes these changed views are helpful and other times these changed viewpoints are not fully accurate and can get in the way of recovery from trauma. CPT helps clients learn to identify, evaluate, and change their distorted thoughts.

What happens during CPT?

Trauma often changes how people view themselves and the world. Sometimes these thoughts become distorted, such as when a victim of assault feels they are 100{282fb01bf783b352367327584bbde5d20aed572cfc318177c41f6d8b6c0efa39} to blame for the trauma, which means that the person who committed the assault is not responsible at all. Another distorted thought could be when a place that is likely to be safe, such as our home, feels completely dangerous as result of a trauma. In CPT, clients learn how to identify, evaluate and change distorted thoughts.

The beginning of CPT provides an overview of CPT and a discussion about a client’s PTSD symptoms. Then the client and the therapist work to identify negative or unhelpful thoughts that the client has been having as a result of the trauma. The client will learn some tools to challenge these thoughts and will complete worksheets, both in session and at home, using these new tools. The last few sessions of CPT focus on how the trauma has affected the client’s sense of safety, control, trust, self-esteem, and intimacy.

How long does treatment last?

CPT usually consists of 12 sessions.

Is homework a part of CPT?

Yes, homework is an essential component of CPT. Homework assignments typically consist of completing worksheets to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts. The homework assignments will typically take about 10-15 minutes per day.