Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a short-term, in-depth type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that focuses specifically on negative thoughts people have about themselves and the world due to trauma they experienced. CPT was developed specifically for people diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is a highly structured approach to therapy.
Each CPT session has a specific activity or goal in mind, designed to be implemented in one-hour sessions. First, your CPT therapist will talk with you about key concepts, including the effects of trauma and PTSD on mental health. After this, your CPT therapist will go through negative thoughts and how what’s referred to as your “stuck points” can make healing from trauma difficult. The next stages include recounting the details of the trauma you experienced, which CPT practitioners say is key to identifying related problematic thoughts about the self or the world that developed from the trauma.
Identifying stuck points is critical to the healing process. These unhelpful beliefs can contain untrue information, such as “I am a bad person and deserved for my trauma to happen to me.” Your therapist will work with you to challenge these thoughts. Challenging these stuck points can help you regain a sense of power and control over your thoughts, which can lessen trauma symptoms.
Learning positive coping skills is the final step in Cognitive Processing, where you and your therapist work together to establish activities that help you deal with trauma symptoms in ways that enhance your life and move toward your healing goals.
Therapists Who Specialize in Using Cognitive Processing Therapy
Welcome, I’m Sabra! I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and EMDR Certified Therapist. I specialize in treating PTSD by integrating evidence-based EMDR and energy psychology into my work. Whether you're facing personal obstacles or looking for couples therapy, my door is open. Let's start your healing journey together.
In my practice, Ohana Holistic Psychiatry, we foster a welcoming and nurturing environment, ensuring clients feel secure and deeply understood. We are unwaveringly committed to cultivating a positive and empathetic therapeutic alliance, providing you with the unwavering support you deserve.
Utilizing a team-based approach, I work with my clients to learn where they are and where they would like to be. I provide good feedback and we oftentimes work through several iterations of short, medium and long term goals.
Sometimes, life becomes stressful in our society, things change at a rapid pace and at times our mental health often suffers. Marriage, divorce, new jobs, changes in profession, family conflicts, overwhelming stress, and lack of time to devote to yourself may all cause you to put up emotional walls which may require you to seek help outside of your circle of loved ones. If you are looking at th...
At the core of my practice is the belief in personalized care. I am passionate about developing tailored treatment plans that resonate with the unique needs of each client. My methodology encompasses evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities, ensuring a holistic and effective approach to mental health care.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I received a B.S. in Liberal Arts and and M.S. in Criminal Justice from Excelsior University and an M.A. in Social Work from the University of Chicago. I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers. For the past several years, my practice has focused at the intersection of trauma, addiction, and men...
I specialize in providing care to people plagued by imposter syndrome, anxious and overwhelmed by life’s pressures, or haunted by traumas to feel connected, calm, and secure.
I often use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in my practice. I assist clients in exploring the ways in which they may be stuck in a way of living that is unhelpful and unfulfilling. I help clients tap into their values, reduce avoidance patterns, and compassionately express their thoughts, emotions, and needs in hopes to achieve a more flexible, values-based, and wholesome way of living.
