Let’s Learn About CPT

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) aims to help patients in challenging and modifying maladaptive thoughts related to a trauma they’ve endured. By doing so, the patient can develop a new, more healthy, understanding and conceptualization of the event in order to decrease its ongoing negative impact in the present and future.

CPT is a specific type of CBT, and as such helps the patient become aware of the automatic thoughts that are maintaining their trauma’s effect, or symptoms. Therapists will also instruct the patient to share how the trauma changed their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. Treatment will then focus on teaching specific cognitive restructuring skills that help patients learn how to challenge their unhelpful thoughts on the trauma. These skills will ultimately help patients modify their maladaptive thinking patterns, establish a healthier view of the trauma, and better cope with future trauma. Common themes that are targeted in CPT include safety, control, power, trust, esteem, and intimacy, as these are elements that are often impacted by traumatic events. Post-trauma, these themes also tend to elicit negative emotions that halt an individual’s recovery from the trauma.

Patents will leave therapy with an altered approach as to how they interpret and processes trauma moving forward. Additionally, they have developed the skills to identify and address flawed thinking; now able to extend this tool to evaluate and alter beliefs related to other aspects of life. Effectively providing patients with adaptive strategies to face challenges outside of therapy.

When is CPT Useful?

Although CPT is designed to help those who’ve experienced trauma, this form of therapy has also been used for conditions where symptoms resemble those of trauma. Such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. This is as CPT teaches individuals to better approach situations by developing a more adaptive perspective. This perspective can be applied to any kind of unhelpful thinking clients catch themselves ruminating on, and with most problems there lies an opportunity for maladaptive thinking to be present. For example, anxiety may entail catastrophizing thinking patterns, where people automatically worry and assume the worst when a problem presents itself. However, it’s important to discuss with a therapist whether CPT is the right choice of therapy for you.