Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in Midtown, New York City

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in Midtown, New York City is an evidenced-based treatment that has been found to be effective for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma related conditions.

The treatment works by placing a focus on how a traumatic event is construed and dealt with by an individual who is trying to regain a sense of normalcy and control in their life.

The Process Behind Cognitive Processing Therapy

CPT is typically conducted as a 12-session treatment with a recommended follow-up session around 30 days after the end of treatment.

A great way to build a better understanding of CPT as a whole is to consider the overall therapy in terms of phases of treatment.

The initial phase consists of assessing if the CPT program is the right fit for the individual seeking care. This takes into account, but is not limited to making a proper PTSD diagnosis, discussing treatment priorities, and more.

Afterwards CPT prioritizes psychoeducation - which is consistent with much of the theory of cognitive-behavioral therapy, that is, that both the patient and the Psychologist operate as a team and that the patient becomes fully aware of all facets of their recovery.

To be able to process the trauma properly in CPT it involves identifying and allowing for the dissipation of the natural emotions related to the trauma and then specifically identifying those automatic negative thoughts that are preventing recovery.

These automatic negative thoughts or irrational statements are referred to as "stuck points" in CPT because they tend to keep the individuals "stuck" in PTSD symptoms and it may limit therapy progress. However, identifying the stuck points is a major hurdle and success all on its own, because once the "stuck points" are identified the Psychologist then will delve more deeply into the cognitive component of the therapy by beginning to challenge identified stuck points through the use of open-ended questions and reality checks.

These open-ended questions begin the penultimate cognitive restructuring process that zeroes in on thoughts about self-blame and the patient's attempts to go back and "rewrite" or undo the actual event. In this stage of therapy, the patient really takes center stage and almost becomes their own therapist with the Psychologist acting in more of a consultant role. During this crucial process, the patient hones their newly-learned cognitive techniques by identifying stuck points and placing them into broader trauma themes such as beliefs around safety, trust, power and control, self-esteem, and intimacy that help them understand and overcome their trauma.

Lastly, CPT is typically capped off by a thorough review of the therapeutic journey and planning for the future, including relapse prevention which marks the conclusion of the therapy in an effort to produce effective long-term results.

Getting Started with CPT at Clinical Psychology Services

We hope by explaining the processes behind CPT that you have a greater understanding of the benefits behind this evidence based treatment and whether it can help you or someone you know.

If you're looking for Cognitive Processing Therapy options in Midtown, New York City or the New York area via telehealth, consider Dr. Tatiana Grant at Clinical Psychology Services. With her breadth of experience, she can conduct effective CPT in both individual and group settings to fit her client needs.

If you have any questions or concerns on whether CPT is right for you, please don't hesitate to contact us.