Cognitive Processing Therapy

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a manualized therapy for PTSD that focuses on evaluating and challenging distressing thoughts and beliefs tied to traumatic events. It follows a structured 12-session protocol including homework that leads to new ways of thinking and feeling about traumatic experiences.

Traumatic events commonly result in negative and problematic beliefs related to themes of blame, safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy. CPT addresses each of these traumatic themes by focusing on ways to modify and challenge unhelpful beliefs in order to generate alternative and more helpful beliefs. CPT is a primarily a cognitive therapy that helps to create a new understanding of the traumatic event with the goal of reducing emotional distress and improving functioning. It is endorsed as a recommended treatment for PTSD by the American Psychological Association, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Veterans Affairs Canada.

As a Trauma-Trained Therapist in the Program for Traumatic Stress Recovery (PTSR) at Homewood Health Centre, I gained experience in providing CPT therapy for inpatients diagnosed with PTSD. In this role, I served as a facilitator of CPT Groups and as an individual CPT therapist. My training in Cognitive-Processing Therapy was hosted by Evidence-Based Therapy, Training and Testing (EBT3) and led by Dr. Phillipe Schnaider and Dr. Candice Monson, an originator of CPT. I further developed my expertise in CPT through weekly group case consultation sessions offered by Dr. Schnaider. Now in private practice, I continue to provide individual CPT therapy for graduates of Homewood’s PTSR program, as well as for others interested in this approach.

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