What is “CPT”?
If you’re seeking recovery through addiction treatment, you may hear the term “cognitive processing therapy” (CPT for short) throughout your medical and clinical treatment plan. Sessions are structured and limited, and sessions focus on understanding how trauma impacts the way individuals view themselves, others, and the world around them. The goal is to help reduce trauma-related symptoms.
CPT is a life-changing approach alongside a spectrum of types of treatment for people seeking addiction recovery.
Cognitive Processing Therapy Defined
According to the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a specialized form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy proven effective in reducing PTSD symptoms following a wide range of traumatic experiences, including but not limited to: childhood abuse, combat exposure, sexual assault, and natural disasters.
CPT focuses on understanding how trauma impacts the way individuals view themselves, others, and the world around them. Trauma can often subconsciously lead to inaccurate, unhelpful, or distressing beliefs, and CPT helps individuals recognize, examine, and challenge these thought patterns.
How Might I Experience Cognitive Processing Therapy/CPT?
Delivered through several, ongoing structured sessions, CPT teaches individuals practical skills to identify and modify beliefs connected to the traumatic experience. Through this process, individuals develop a healthier, more balanced understanding of the trauma, supporting emotional healing and long-term recovery.
Why Cognitive Processing Therapy is Helpful
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is helpful because it allows individuals to better understand how traumatic experiences affect their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Trauma can often lead to unhealthy beliefs about oneself, others, and the world, including feelings of guilt, shame, fear, helplessness, or self-blame. CPT helps individuals recognize these patterns and develop healthier, more balanced ways of thinking.
Through structured therapy sessions, individuals learn to identify and challenge issues or unhelpful thoughts that may keep them feeling emotionally overwhelmed or trapped in the trauma. By processing these experiences in a safe and supportive environment, many people experience reduced symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, and emotional distress.
What Are the Benefits of CPT?
- Reduce trauma-related symptoms
- Improve emotional regulation and coping skills
- Decrease feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame
- Encourage healthier thought patterns and beliefs
- Reduce avoidance of trauma-related memories and emotions
- Improve relationships, trust, and self-esteem
- Support long-term healing and overall quality of life
CPT also teaches practical skills which individuals can continue use to manage difficult emotions and situations even after treatment ends. By creating a healthier understanding of the traumatic experience, individuals are often able to move forward with greater confidence, resilience, and emotional freedom.
What to Expect During Cognitive Processing Therapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) begins with psychoeducation about trauma, including how thoughts and emotions are connected. Through this process, individuals become more aware of the relationship between their thinking patterns and emotional responses. They also learn to identify “automatic thoughts” that may contribute to ongoing symptoms. Early in treatment, individuals create an impact statement describing why they believe the traumatic event occurred and how it has influenced their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world.
As treatment progresses, individuals begin more in-depth processing of the traumatic experience. This often includes writing a detailed account of the most distressing trauma and reviewing it during therapy sessions to reduce avoidance of trauma-related thoughts and emotions. Therapists use techniques to help individuals examine and challenge unhelpful beliefs, including guilt, shame, or self-blame connected to the trauma.
Once these skills are developed, individuals continue practicing how to recognize and modify unhealthy thinking patterns both inside and outside of therapy. Treatment often focuses on areas commonly impacted by trauma, including safety, trust, power, control, self-esteem, and intimacy. The goal is to help individuals build healthier beliefs, improve daily functioning, and enhance overall quality of life.
CPT can be provided in individual or structured group settings and typically includes practice assignments completed outside of sessions.
Getting the Most Out of Your CPT Sessions
It’s important to get as much as you can out of your treatment, including cognitive processing therapy sessions. Remember: this is a partnership between you and your therapist. You make decisions and set goals together. Always be honest and open, even when sharing painful or embarrassing thoughts or feelings. There is no judgment. This is a shame-free environment.
Additionally, don’t skip therapy sessions. You need consistency to help establish a strong foundation for recovery.
Just like with anything else worth having in life, you’ll have to work hard for maximum benefit. You might not see instant results, but you’ll notice subtle changes pretty quickly. These changes add up. Part of gaining maximum benefit from CPT comes from completing assignments. If you neglect the work, you could prevent a CPT breakthrough.
CPT for Addiction Recovery at Santé Center for Healing
Located in Argyle, Texas, Santé Center for Healing is a privately-owned addiction treatment facility that helps clients achieve life-saving, life-affirming, long-term recovery. With decades in the substance abuse field, Santé Center uses the 12 steps along with an array of proven therapeutic modalities and medical interventions.
We offer multiple levels of addiction treatment services, including:
- Licensed professional assessments
- On-site medical detox
- Residential treatment
- Day and Evening intensive outpatient treatment programs
- Life-long alumni programming
In all levels of care, Santé’s clinical and medical staff are experts in dual diagnosis treatment to help individuals achieve wellness and balance as we address co-occurring conditions.
If you’re ready to overcome addiction, Santé Center for Healing has the levels of care and the therapeutic expertise to fit your unique needs. Call us today at 866.238.3154 or contact us online.