Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

CPT, or Cognitive Processing Therapy, is a treatment for PTSD that’s rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

CPT explores the relationships between trauma situations and a survivor’s thoughts and feelings related to them. Many survivors of trauma often experience shame and guilt after the event, often caused by thoughts of self-blame surrounding the trauma. CPT is designed to examine such thoughts (which we call “stuck points”), and teaches you a set of skills to help systematically examine thoughts related to your trauma. By examining and learning to change unhelpful or untrue thoughts, you can lessen your shame or guilt. These  skills, if practiced diligently throughout therapy, facilitate long-lasting recovery.

CPT is specifically designed for the treatment of PTSD, and considered a first-line treatment. It is well-studied in research and works for any kind of trauma, including complex trauma. Follow-up studies of 1, 5 and 10 years demonstrate that symptom improvements from CPT are sustained over time. 

If you’d like to see CPT in action, you can listen to the This American Life podcast episode, which features one of Nema’s Clinical Advisors, Dr. Debra Kaysen, delivering CPT to a patient.