What Is it like…
Experiencing Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD can feel like embarking on a journey to reclaim control over your life. PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, can leave you feeling trapped by memories of traumatic events, making it hard to enjoy things or even feel safe.
If you're a teenager dealing with PTSD, you might feel like your emotions are all over the place, or that you’re stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts and feelings. CPT is a type of therapy designed to help you break free from that cycle.
But does it work? Decades of research says yes.
Research consistently supports the effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Numerous studies, including randomized controlled trials, have demonstrated that CPT significantly reduces PTSD symptoms, such as intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, and negative thought patterns.
Meta-analyses, which compile data from multiple studies, reinforce these findings, showing that individuals undergoing CPT experience substantial improvements compared to those receiving no treatment or alternative therapies.
Moreover, CPT has proven effective across diverse populations, including veterans, survivors of sexual assault, and adolescents, making it a versatile option for different age groups and backgrounds.
Long-term follow-up studies indicate that the benefits of CPT are sustained over time, helping individuals maintain their progress and continue to manage their symptoms effectively. Overall, the robust body of research underscores CPT’s role as a highly effective, evidence-based therapy for those seeking to overcome the challenges of PTSD.
CPT focuses on changing the way you think about your trauma. PTSD often causes you to get stuck in unhelpful beliefs about the event, yourself, and the world around you.
These beliefs can make you feel like the world is dangerous or that you’re to blame for what happened. The goal of CPT is to help you understand and change these thoughts so they don't control your emotions and actions.
The therapy usually takes place over 12 to 16 sessions, each lasting about an hour. The first step is learning about PTSD and how it affects your thoughts and feelings. This involves writing about how the trauma has affected you (not about the trauma itself).
One of the key parts of CPT is learning to challenge the negative thoughts that come with PTSD. For example, you might believe that you’re weak because you couldn’t prevent what happened. Your therapist will help you see that this belief isn’t true and that the trauma doesn’t define your worth. This helps change your feelings in ways that your brain naturally metabolizes them.
Over time, many people find that the memories and feelings become less intense. You start to feel more like yourself again and gain confidence in facing situations that used to scare you.
It’s important to know that CPT is not about erasing your trauma but helping you find a way to live with it in a healthier way. By the end of therapy, many people find that they’re able to look back at what happened with less pain and more understanding. You won’t forget the trauma, but it doesn’t have to control your life.
If you’re considering CPT, remember that it’s okay to feel scared or uncertain. Healing from trauma is a process, and CPT is a way to help you on that journey. Reach out to us to see if it’s right for you, and know that taking this step shows a lot of courage.
