What is CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy)?
CPT – Cognitive Processing Therapy has roots in CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and was developed in the late 1980s by psychologists, Resnick, Monson and Chard to address trauma. CPT addresses sexual assault, issues from military service, childhood abuse and complex trauma as well as other situations that cause PTSD to develop.
It typically consists of 12-20 sessions and challenges the underlying beliefs (stuck points) that an individual may have developed because of their traumatic experiences. CPT is more than a retelling of the story. It helps individuals examine how they think about the trauma and challenge beliefs about self-blame, shame, safety, trust, power and control, esteem, and intimacy using worksheets and homework.
CPT can be a good fit if you are goal oriented and want time limited therapy (12-20 sessions). It requires you to do homework between sessions in the form of worksheets. If regular homework feels overwhelming for you then CPT won’t be a good fit. CPT requires you to think and write. It requires you to think about your beliefs and challenge them. A good CPT therapist will teach you how to work with these thoughts. In addition, CPT has strong empirical evidence backing up its efficacy.
How do I know if CPT is right for me?
CPT might not be a good fit for you if you experience significant dissociation or have parts of self or strong states. Early trauma or chronic childhood abuse may also be indicators that it is not a good fit. Sometimes it is necessary to develop safety and regulation before starting CPT.
Annette Poechman is a trained CPT trauma therapist. She completed her training with one of the model’s developers, psychologist Candice Monson. Annette also participated in over 20 hours of group supervision to ensure a strong foundation in the effective application and delivery of CPT. Annette is ready to help you! Read Annette’s blog, what is a trauma therapist? and how can they help you!
Connect with Annette Poechman, trauma therapist
There are several ways to get in touch with Annette. You may be interested in scheduling a free 15-minute consultation, contacting Annette by (completely confidential) email, or checking out Annette’s appointment schedule. Concerned about a waiting list? It’s okay! While Annette usually has a waiting list she regularly keeps time available each week for new clients.
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