Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD

CPT falls under the umbrella of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is a structured treatment lasting an average of 12 sessions, delivered 2 times per week for 60 minutes each.

During CPT, the therapist provides information on how common reactions to trauma may change our beliefs and thoughts, and how these thoughts can affect feelings and behaviors. The therapist also reviews modules on trust, safety, power and control, esteem, and intimacy.

Much of the treatment is focused on identifying “stuck points,” or unhelpful thoughts/beliefs that keep an individual stuck in their trauma. The therapist uses the technique of Socratic dialogue and introduces skills to help the individual identify, work through, restructure, and resolve these stuck points. The individual practices and applies what is learned in session with regular homework assignments.

CPT can be completed with or without a trauma narrative and in combination with art therapy.

Factors that have been shown to expedite the healing process and reduction of PTSD symptoms include:

• the more homework an individual completes

• the more frequent the therapy sessions (Gutner et al., 2016)

Even more, CPT is linked to an increase in:

• hopefulness (Gallagher & Resick, 2012)

• self-esteem

• social and work functioning (Wachen et al., 2014)

and a decrease in:

• depression (Resick et al., 2002, 2012)

• guilt (Nishith, Nixon, & Resick, 2005; Resick et al., 2002, 2012)

• visits to the doctor (Galovski et al., 2009)

• anger (Rizvi, Vogt, & Resick, 2009)

• and suicidal ideation (Gradus et al., 2013)

Coastal Art Therapy Services can help you experience peace from the traumas that have been keeping you stuck in as little as 6 weeks if seen 2 times per week. You do not need to wait to be out of a trauma-inducing environment nor do you need to complete any preparatory work before starting CPT.

If you want to start treating your intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, flashbacks, nightmares, suicidal ideation, self-medicating behaviors, self-talk, views of the world, and/or chronic feelings of guilt, shame, or fear today, contact us to see how CPT can help set you free!

Visit cptforptsd.com for more information or check out this blog post.

References:

Campbell, M., Decker, K. P., Kruk, K., & Deaver, S. P. (2016). Art Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Combat-Related PTSD: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Art therapy : journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 33(4), 169–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2016.1226643

Gallagher, M.W., Resick, P.A. (2012). Mechanisms of Change in Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Preliminary Evidence for the Differential Effects of Hopelessness and Habituation. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36, 750–755. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-011-9423-6

Galovski, T. E., Monson, C., Bruce, S. E., & Resick, P. A. (2009). Does cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD improve perceived health and sleep impairment?. Journal of traumatic stress, 22(3), 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20418

Gradus, J. L., Suvak, M. K., Wisco, B. E., Marx, B. P., & Resick, P. A. (2013). Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder reduces suicidal ideation. Depression and anxiety, 30(10), 1046–1053. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22117

Gutner, C. A., Gallagher, M. W., Baker, A. S., Sloan, D. M., & Resick, P. A. (2016). Time course of treatment dropout in cognitive-behavioral therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy, 8(1), 115–121. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000062

Nishith, P., Nixon, R. D., & Resick, P. A. (2005). Resolution of trauma-related guilt following treatment of PTSD in female rape victims: a result of cognitive processing therapy targeting comorbid depression?. Journal of affective disorders, 86(2-3), 259–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2005.02.013

Resick, P. A., & Schnicke, M. K. (1992). Cognitive processing therapy for sexual assault victims. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(5), 748–756. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.60.5.748

Resick, P. A., Nishith, P., Weaver, T. L., Astin, M. C., & Feuer, C. A. (2002). A comparison of cognitive-processing therapy with prolonged exposure and a waiting condition for the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in female rape victims. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 70(4), 867–879. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006x.70.4.867

Resick, P. A., Williams, L. F., Suvak, M. K., Monson, C. M., & Gradus, J. L. (2012). Long-term outcomes of cognitive-behavioral treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder among female rape survivors. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 80(2), 201–210. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026602

Rizvi, S. L., Vogt, D. S., & Resick, P. A. (2009). Cognitive and affective predictors of treatment outcome in Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour research and therapy, 47(9), 737–743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.06.003

Wachen, J. S., Jimenez, S., Smith, K., & Resick, P. A. (2014). Long-term functional outcomes of women receiving cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 6(Suppl 1), S58-S65. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035741