Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an evidence-based therapy for PTSD. It has been proven to assist with reducing trauma-related symptoms developed after experiencing a variety of traumatic events including military combat, physical and sexual abuse or assault, accidents, threats, or being a witness ofviolence or death. Treatment consists of 12 weekly, 60-minutes sessions, which can be delivered in-person, virtual, and group modalities. In therapy, you will evaluate and change the beliefs developed secondary to the trauma which will help with changing how you feel.
What is CPT?
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy that has been effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD. CPT assists with understanding why recovering from traumatic experiences is challenging and how symptoms can impact daily life. It focuses on identifying how traumatic experiences will change thoughts and beliefs and its impact on mood and behaviors.
Treatment begins with psychoeducation about PTSD, thoughts, and emotions. Patient is provided with the option of completing therapy with or without a trauma account, a detailed written description of traumatic events. Treatment in both modalities has proven to be effective.
In all deliveries of PTSD, patient will write an impact statement including thoughts about why the trauma occurred and how it has impacted life focusing on aspects of safety, intimacy, trust, esteem, power, and control. Once impact statement is completed and discussed in session, patient will be introduced to several worksheets that will assist with identifying and modifying unhelp thoughts or beliefs about the self, other people, and the world. Provider will implement Socratic questioning to assist with modifying maladaptive thinking. Patient will then develop the necessary skills to identify and address unhelpful thinking, process which will focus on beliefs related to the traumatic eventparticularly focusing on the impact of trauma in different aspects of life (i.e., safety, trust, power, control, esteem and intimacy).
In summary, the goals of CPT consists on (1) improving understanding of PTSD, (2) reducing distress about memories of the trauma, (3) decrease emotional numbness and avoidance of trauma reminders, (4) reducing feelings of being tense or “on edge”, (5) decrease depression, anxiety, guilt or shame, and (6) improve overall quality of life.
Research
CPT is one of the most studied treatments for PTSD. There have been over twenty randomized controlled trials of CPT with more in progress. Meta-analyses suggest that CPT assists with PTSD symptom reduction. Its efficacy has also been demonstrated in studies across diverse populations. CPT has been translated into 12 languages. Research has provided that there is moderate strength of evidence to support the efficacy of CPT for reduction of PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms.
We can help
There are several evidence-based treatments available for PTSD including exposure approaches such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) aimed for patients who learn “by doing.” If you are experiencing trauma-related symptoms and are someone who learns “by reading and writing”, enjoys journaling, and is very rationale, then CPT is the approach for you. Please contact us to schedule your intake, by calling 813-563-1155, or emailing admin@wellnesspsychservices.com