Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a type of psychotherapy that is commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions. It is a form of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) that focuses on the way that individuals process and make sense of traumatic experiences. The goal of CPT is to help individuals develop more adaptive beliefs and behaviours that can help them manage and overcome symptoms of PTSD.
CPT is based on the idea that the way people think about their trauma can affect their emotional and behavioural responses to it. Traumatic experiences can disrupt an individual’s beliefs about themselves, others, and the world around them. They may develop negative beliefs and assumptions, such as feeling unsafe or being unable to trust others. CPT seeks to help individuals identify and challenge these negative beliefs and replace them with more adaptive thoughts and beliefs.
CPT typically involves 12-16 sessions that are conducted once or twice a week. The therapy is structured, with each session focusing on a specific theme or goal. The therapy is typically conducted in a group setting, but it can also be conducted in individual therapy sessions.
The first few sessions of CPT focus on educating the individual about PTSD and the way it affects their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. The therapist will also help the individual identify the specific traumatic events that have led to their PTSD symptoms.
The middle sessions of CPT involve teaching the individual specific cognitive and behavioural skills that can help them challenge negative thoughts and beliefs. These skills may include cognitive restructuring, which involves identifying and challenging negative beliefs and replacing them with more adaptive thoughts, and exposure therapy, which involves gradually confronting traumatic memories or situations.
The final sessions of CPT focus on consolidating the skills and strategies that the individual has learned throughout the therapy. The therapist will also help the individual develop a plan for maintaining the progress they have made and continue to use the skills they have learned.
CPT is a form of CBT, and as such, it involves many of the same techniques used in other forms of CBT. Some of the specific techniques used in CPT include:
CPT is primarily used to treat PTSD, but it can also be used to treat related conditions such as depression and anxiety. It has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD and improving overall functioning in a number of different populations, including military veterans, survivors of sexual assault, and individuals who have experienced childhood abuse or neglect.
Cognitive processing therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioural therapy that is used to treat PTSD and related conditions. It is based on the idea that the way people think about their trauma can affect their emotional and behavioural responses to it. CPT seeks to help individuals identify and challenge negative beliefs and replace them with more adaptive thoughts and beliefs.
Resick, P. A., Monson, C. M., & Chard, K. M. (2016). Cognitive processing therapy for PTSD: A comprehensive manual. Guilford Publications.
Monson, C. M., Schnurr, P. P., Resick, P. A., Friedman, M. J., Young-Xu, Y., & Stevens, S. P. (2006). Cognitive processing therapy for veterans with military-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 74(5), 898–907.
Chard, K. M., Schumm, J. A., Owens, G. P., & Cottingham, S. M. (2010). A comparison of OEF and OIF veterans and Vietnam veterans receiving cognitive processing therapy. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(1), 25-32. Forbes, D., Lloyd, D., Nixon, R. D., Elliott, P., Varker, T., Perry, D., Bryant, R. A., & Creamer, M. (2012). A multisite randomized controlled effectiveness trial of cognitive processing therapy for military-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 26(3), 442-452. Lee, D. J., Schnitzlein, C. W., Wolf,
J. P., Vythilingam, M., Rasmusson, A. M., Hoge, C. W., & Krystal, J. H. (2016). Psychotherapy versus pharmacotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Systemic review and meta-analyses to determine first-line treatments. Depression and anxiety, 33(9), 792–806.
