Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Everything You Need to Know
What is Cognitive Processing Therapy?
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a type of psychotherapy that is primarily used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related symptoms. It is an evidence-based treatment approach that focuses on helping individuals understand and change the negative thoughts and beliefs they may have following a traumatic event.CPT is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and aims to address the way individuals interpret and make sense of their traumatic experiences. It operates on the premise that the thoughts and beliefs individuals develop about themselves, others, and the world after a traumatic event can contribute to their emotional distress and interfere with their ability to recover.
How long does CPT take?
CPT is typically conducted over a specific number of sessions, often ranging from 12 to 16, although the duration can vary based on individual needs. The goal of CPT is to reduce PTSD symptoms, improve overall functioning, and facilitate the individual's ability to integrate the traumatic experience into their life narrative in a way that promotes resilience and growth.CPT Process
During CPT, individuals work closely with a trained therapist to identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to the traumatic event. The therapy typically involves the following key components:- Education: The therapist provides information about common reactions to trauma and explains the CPT treatment process.
- Developing a trauma narrative: The individual is encouraged to recount the details of the traumatic event(s) and express their thoughts and emotions associated with it.
- Identifying thoughts and beliefs: The therapist helps the individual identify and examine the thoughts and beliefs they hold about the traumatic event, themselves, and the world.
- Challenging and modifying thoughts: Through a systematic process, the therapist assists the individual in evaluating the accuracy and helpfulness of their thoughts and beliefs. They work together to develop more adaptive and realistic ways of thinking.
- Enhancing coping skills: CPT also focuses on teaching individuals various coping strategies and skills to manage distressing emotions, improve problem-solving abilities, and promote overall well-being.
To help you learn more about CPT, we’ve enlisted the help of Dr. Kathleen M. Chard, a co-developer of CPT. In the videos below, Dr. Chard walks you step-by-step through exactly what you need to know to make CPT therapy successful with your clients from start to finish.
Who is CPT for?
Does CPT require a trauma narrative?
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) vs. EMDR
Does a client have to be stable to begin CPT?
Modifying CPT for Children
Using Cognitive Processing Therapy as a trauma therapy
How to get trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Using Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Homework and its impact on the effectiveness of CPT
Register today, and you’ll not only get LIVE Q&A calls with Dr. Kate Chard but also a copy of the Cognitive Processing Therapy Treatment Manual, FREE!
Kathleen M. Chard, Ph.D., is a co-developer of CPT and director of the Trauma Recovery Center at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Serving as the VA CPT Implementation Director, Dr. Chard oversees the dissemination of CPT to mental health clinicians across the United States. She is the co-author of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: A Comprehensive Model (The Guilford Press, 2017) and author of CPT for Sexual Abuse treatment manual (2012). A sought-after speaker, Dr. Chard has personally trained over 5,000 clinicians throughout the United States on using CPT with veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilians in addition to overseeing the training of tens of thousands of others via the trainers she supervises. She is co-chair of a 17-site study comparing CPT to Prolonged Exposure in US veterans in addition to conducting a $6 million-dollar Department of Defense study on the assessment of PTSD. She served as a past editor of the Journal of Traumatic Stress and is a professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kathleen Chard has employment relationships with Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, the Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, the University of Cincinnati, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. She receives royalties as a published author. She has a research activity that is grant funded through DoD/CDMRP/TBIPHRP and the PESI Foundation. Kathleen Chard receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kathleen Chard is an ad hoc reviewer for several peer review journals, for a complete list contact PESI, Inc. She is a member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
