Everything You Need to Know About CPT

What is CPT?

Cognitive Processing Therapy or CPT was designed by Patricia Resick and her team in the USA. It has a large evidence base which means there’s been lots of research and testing that shows this approach is effective in reducing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

How Does It Work?

CPT uses a very structured approach to examine and work with how trauma changes the way people think about themselves, others, and the world in general. Its primary focus is cognition, or how we think, and its overarching principle is teaching people how to shift unhelpful patterns of thinking.

CPT uses very specific language to describe the negative thoughts we’re left with after trauma. Things like ‘it was my fault’, ‘I can’t trust anybody’, and ‘I am broken’. These unhelpful, often distorted beliefs are known as ‘stuck points’ because they can prevent healing and recovery, leaving people feeling stuck. CPT helps us identify these thoughts and develop more balanced perspectives.

Who Can Benefit From CPT?

This modality is recommended for individuals with PTSD caused by various traumatic events, particularly military personnel, first responders, and civilian survivors of combat, assault, accidents, etc.

CPT tends to suit people who like a clear, structured approach. It’s also ideal for those who want to specifically change their thinking patterns.

What to Expect

CPT focusses less on specific memories compared to other forms of trauma therapy. It’s more interested in the meaning of the memory rather than the memory itself. It is generally a short-term therapy, so it tends to be structured around 12 sessions. It also follows a very specific process:

Psychoeducation around understanding and learning more about the trauma you’ve experienced.
Identifying your ‘stuck points’.
Using worksheets to test and challenge these beliefs.
Further worksheets to help build different perspectives.

CPT is quite collaborative. It involves you and the therapist working together to uncover your stuck points, be curious about them, and identify different perspectives. It focusses on learning as you practice and it’s a fairly active therapy that requires quite a bit of work outside of sessions.

A big vehicle for transformation in CPT is being able to shift position from seeing thoughts as facts to removing their power and recognising our capacity to change our thinking. Through this, we can limit the impact of these negative thoughts on our emotional state.

Find Out More

If you’re interested in CPT or would like to learn more about how I can help you heal and recover from trauma, please get in touch. I also share lots of tips and advice via Instagram.