What is CPT?

Developed by Dr. Patricia Resick, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is an evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral treatment designed to help individuals recover from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related distress.

By focusing on how traumatic events alter your beliefs about yourself, others, and the world, CPT provides practical tools to help you unlearn unhelpful thoughts and regain control over your life.

CPT is based on the understanding that trauma can leave you with "stuck points"—unhelpful, distorted beliefs about why the event occurred or what it means for your future. These stuck points maintain emotional pain, fear, and avoidance long after the danger has passed.

Standard CPT follows a 12-session protocol delivered either weekly over 6 to 12 weeks or with slight adjustments made based on individual pacing and complexity.