What is Cognitive Processing Therapy & Why Does It Work for PTSD?
Cognitive Processing Therapy, similar to the cognitive aspects of CBT, was designed by some of the foremost experts in PTSD including Dr. Patricia Resick, and Dr. Candice Monson, and Dr. Kathleen Chard. These women have devoted their careers to researching effective treatments for those suffering with PTSD and are well established as experts in the field of trauma.
Cognitive Processing Therapy, also known as CPT, has been shown to be effective in helping you to feel the natural emotions that are often blocked out by PTSD and to challenge the thinking that is keeping you stuck.
CPT is typically broken down into three phases and provides a very structured course for therapy. The first phase involves exploring the significance of the trauma, the meaning behind it, and learning about the connection between what you think and how you feel. The second phase begins with exploring the trauma itself, retelling your story, and pinpointing how the trauma has impacted your view of yourself, the world, and others. At the point, you can begin identifying the points at which you’ve become “stuck” and unable to move past your traumatic experience. These stuck points are what cause you to relive the experience through intrusive flashbacks, memories, and dreams. The third and final phase, and what constitutes the bulk of therapy, is the process of using these identified “stuck points” to re-evaluate the trauma. You will also have the chance to explore how the trauma has impacted your view on many aspects of your life such as power and control, self-esteem, intimacy, trust, safety, and communication.
This therapy can be incredibly powerful as a means of helping you to move past the trauma, begin to reconnect with the world, and get back to living your life. While this therapy is not for everyone, if you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, consider taking the free PTSD Screening online and/or speaking with a mental health professional.
We can help.
If you or someone you love is struggling with the effects of trauma, please reach out. We offer trauma therapy with CBT Therapists in Orlando and online throughout the state of Florida. Call today or send us your info and we’ll reach out for a free consultation to see if one of our therapists would be a good fit.
