What is Cognitive Processing Therapy?

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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

Birch Cooper, LMHC

New York

New York

I believe everyone has a time in their life when they could benefit from additional support. When facing life’s challenges, it is helpful to know that there is a place you can turn to for help and guidance. I understand finding a therapist can be anxiety inducing, rest assured I provide a comfortable space that is safe, accepting and judgement free. This and my authentic and empathetic therapeu...

Olivia Carelli

Stuart

Florida

My goal and life purpose is to provide individualized and compassionate care to adults, teenagers, and families in emotional crisis.

Ife Sangode-Olaitan, BS, MSW, ASW

Rancho Cucamonga

California

Hello and Welcome. Our agency offers affordable, low-cost, telehealth/online therapy. I understand that humans are complex and can face a variety of challenging experiences throughout life that create difficult or unwanted thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to manage. I approach mental health from a compassionate, and holistic perspective.
Hey! My goal as your therapist is to support and empower you to focus on your strengths in order to become the best version of yourself possible. I help my clients cope with the psychological and emotional difficulties that underlie our unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. I am multi-culturally trained to work with people from diverse backgrounds. I ensure that regardless of sex, race, orientation...
Sol Therapy is a 100% teletherapy practice offering video and phone sessions. I believe therapy should be accessible to EVERYONE. Therefore, I offer a “Pay What You Can” Scale. After the initial consultation call, if it’s deemed that we are a good fit and you are committed to coming to therapy and working on your goals, then we will work together to find an option that works for you!
I strive to use a method that will work best for you and your situation. I believe that developing mutual trust is an important element in the success of your work together. I believe that people do not exist in isolation, and our feelings and behavior are strongly influenced by our interactions with others and our environment.