Trauma can have a profound and lasting impact on an individual’s mental health, affecting how they think, feel, and interact with the world. Whether the trauma is the result of a specific event such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster, or prolonged exposure to difficult circumstances like abuse or neglect, the emotional scars can be deep. For those struggling to cope with the aftermath of trauma, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) offers a structured and effective approach to healing. This evidence-based treatment helps individuals process their traumatic experiences and reframe negative beliefs, ultimately empowering them to reclaim their lives.
What is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)?
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that was developed specifically to help individuals who have experienced trauma, particularly those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Trauma (CPTSD). PTSD and CPTSD can occur when someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event or series of traumatic events and has difficulty processing the emotions associated with the event or events. Some PTSD symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, hyperarousal, negative changes in thinking or mood, shifts in sense of self, emotional dysregulation, persistent sadness and difficulty trusting others.
CPT focuses on helping individuals understand how their trauma has impacted their thoughts, beliefs, and emotional responses. By identifying and exploring unhelpful thoughts related to the trauma or traumas, individuals can begin to reframe their experience or narrative and develop healthier coping strategies.
How Does CPT Work?
CPT typically involves 7 to 16 sessions and can be done individually or in a group setting. The therapy is structured, with each session building upon the previous one. Here’s an example of what could be addressed:
- Understanding Trauma and Its Impact: The first part of CPT involves helping the individual understand how trauma affects their thoughts and feelings. The therapist helps the individual recognize the patterns of narratives developed from the result of the traumatic experience, such as feelings of guilt, shame, or mistrust. This lays the groundwork for addressing those thoughts later in treatment.
- Identifying Trauma-Related Beliefs: One of the key elements of CPT is identifying the unhelpful narrative that arise from trauma. These narratives might include thoughts like, “I am weak,” “The world is dangerous,” or “I am responsible for what happened.” These narratives often lead to emotional distress and interfere with recovery and a life that could feel more fulfilling.
- Challenging Unhelpful Thoughts: In the next phase of CPT, the therapist works with the individual to be curious about such narratives and work on reframing them. By examining the evidence for and against these thoughts, individuals begin to recognize that their narratives might no longer be helpful. The goal is not to simply “erase” these beliefs, but to adjust them in a way that allows the individual to move forward without being weighed down by them.
- Developing New, Healthier Beliefs: As individuals begin to challenge their old, unhelpful beliefs, they work toward developing new, more balanced perspectives. For example, a person who once believed, “I am forever broken because of what happened,” may shift their belief to, “I am strong for having survived this experience, and I can heal.” This shift allows for personal growth and empowerment, which is crucial for recovery.
- Incorporating New Beliefs Into Daily Life: As therapy progresses, the individual starts to integrate their new beliefs and coping strategies into their daily life. This helps them manage stress, avoid triggers, and engage in activities they once found difficult due to the trauma.
Benefits of CPT for Trauma
Cognitive Processing Therapy offers a variety of benefits for individuals dealing with trauma, particularly those struggling with PTSD of CPTSD:
- Evidence-Based: CPT is supported by years of research and clinical studies, showing it to be highly effective in treating PTSD, CPTSD and other trauma-related disorders. Studies have demonstrated that individuals undergoing CPT experience significant reductions in trauma symptoms, as well as improvements in overall mental health and quality of life.
- Improved Emotional Regulation: By helping to restructure unhelpful thoughts and beliefs, CPT helps individuals regulate their emotions more effectively. As a result, they experience less distressing flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety and more fulfilling relationships.
- Empowerment: CPT is designed to empower individuals by teaching them how to identify and challenge negative thoughts, making them active participants in their own healing. This sense of control and mastery is crucial for long-term recovery.
- Addressing Guilt and Shame: Trauma survivors often struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame. CPT helps individuals address and reframe these feelings, allowing them to release unnecessary burdens and move forward.
- Long-Term Recovery: Because CPT is designed to teach individuals lasting skills in managing their thoughts and emotions, the benefits of therapy extend beyond the treatment period. Many people find that they continue to use the tools and techniques learned in CPT long after therapy ends.
Who Can Benefit from CPT?
Cognitive Processing Therapy is beneficial for anyone who has experienced trauma and is struggling with the emotional aftermath. It is particularly effective for individuals with PTSD, but it can also help those dealing with depression, anxiety, and other trauma-related mental health issues. CPT is a flexible treatment that can be adapted to different age groups and settings, including individual therapy, group therapy, and online formats.
Conclusion
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a powerful and proven treatment for individuals who have experienced trauma. By addressing the negative beliefs and thought patterns that stem from traumatic experiences, CPT helps individuals regain control of their lives, reduce emotional distress, and move toward long-term healing. If you or someone you know is struggling with the aftermath of trauma, CPT may be the key to unlocking the path to recovery. Reach out to a qualified therapist to learn more about how CPT can help restore peace and healing.
How we use CPT at SunCloud
SunCloud Residential
If interested in receiving CPT at SunCloud talk to your treatment team! If you elect in to receiving CPT at SunCloud while in our residential program, one of your two individual sessions a week will be CPT focused.
SunCloud Residential PHP/IOP
If interested in receiving CPT at SunCloud talk to your treatment team! If you elect in to receiving CPT at SunCloud while in our PHP/IOP program, 45 minutes of your individual sessions will be focused on CPT whereas the rest of the session will be focused on treatment planning or treatment coordination.
More About SunCloud Health
SunCloud Health is an integrated, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential treatment center for individuals with substance use disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and underlying trauma. Locations include Northbrook, Naperville, and Chicago, Illinois, and Gaithersburg, Maryland. Co-founded by nationally acclaimed pioneering psychiatrist Dr. Kim Dennis, SunCloud offers holistic, state-of-the-art, and evidence-based approaches that address the biological, psycho-social, and spiritual aspects of healing, supporting our clients’ desires to live free from self-destructive behavior as they embark on a lifelong recovery journey.
