Cognitive Processing Therapy

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a well-researched, evidence-based approach commonly used to support individuals who have experienced trauma or deeply distressing events. Trauma can leave people feeling “stuck” in patterns of thinking that affect their sense of safety, trust, intimacy, self-esteem, and personal power or control. CPT focuses on gently examining these thoughts and understanding how they may be contributing to ongoing emotional distress.

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Often, the thoughts connected to trauma feel very real and convincing—but they may be missing important information or alternative perspectives. After trauma, people may find themselves caught in “if…then” thinking, such as “If I hadn’t gone down that street that day, the accident wouldn’t have happened,” or “If I had done something differently, this wouldn’t have occurred.” While these thoughts can feel logical, they often place responsibility on the individual in ways that increase fear, shame, guilt, or self-blame. When this happens, emotional overwhelm can intensify and strain daily functioning and close or intimate relationships. CPT works by helping you identify these patterns and revise trauma-related beliefs so they are more balanced and complete, which may lessen their ability to keep you feeling stuck in distress.

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CPT follows a structured, manualized treatment model designed to be completed over approximately 12 sessions. It is primarily a cognitive (thought-focused) approach rather than a somatic or body-based one. As with any therapeutic method, individual responses vary and progress depends on many factors, including readiness for change, engagement in the process, and consistency in attendance and practice. When appropriate and with client consent, I may integrate expressive arts practices into CPT to support greater awareness of emotional and bodily experience, allowing for a more holistic, somatic, and personalized therapeutic process. This integration may deepen insight while still honoring the structure and evidence-based foundation of the CPT model.