Why I Use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD—and Why It Works
Post-traumatic stress can leave people feeling trapped in a loop of memories, guilt, and “what ifs.” Many trauma survivors describe it as living in two timelines at once—part of you knows you’re safe now, but another part of your mind and body still reacts as if the danger never ended.
As a therapist specializing in trauma and evidence-based care, I use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) because it directly targets the stuck points that keep trauma symptoms going—and it does so in a structured, practical way that helps clients reclaim a sense of safety and control.
What Is CPT?
Cognitive Processing Therapy is a short-term, evidence-based treatment developed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was first created by Dr. Patricia Resick and colleagues and has been validated in over 30 years of research with veterans, first responders, and survivors of assault, accidents, and loss.
CPT helps people:
Understand how trauma changes the way they think and interpret the world
Identify “stuck points”—rigid or distorted beliefs about safety, trust, control, or self-blame
Learn to evaluate and challenge those beliefs through guided worksheets and therapist-led dialogue
Reconnect with a more balanced, flexible view of themselves and their future
Why CPT Is So Effective
While many therapies can help trauma survivors, CPT stands out for a few key reasons:
1️⃣ It’s Evidence-Based and Time-Limited
CPT usually takes 12–16 sessions, with measurable progress along the way. Clients see a clear roadmap from start to finish—understanding, practicing, and applying new thinking skills. Research from the VA, APA, and DoD consistently ranks CPT among the most effective treatments for PTSD.
2️⃣ It Focuses on Meaning, Not Just Memory
Unlike exposure-based methods that focus mainly on reliving the trauma, CPT works by addressing how trauma has changed your beliefs. It helps you shift thoughts like:
“It was my fault.”
“I can’t trust anyone.”
“I’m weak because I didn’t stop it.”
By examining the meaning behind these beliefs, clients learn to replace shame and fear with compassion and perspective.
3️⃣ It Teaches Tools You Can Keep Using
CPT is skills-based. You don’t just process a single trauma—you gain tools for handling future stressors, intrusive thoughts, and emotional triggers. It empowers long-term resilience rather than dependence on therapy.
4️⃣ It Works for Complex Trauma and Moral Injury
CPT has shown strong results not only for acute trauma (like a car crash or assault) but also for ongoing or cumulative trauma—such as military service, medical trauma, abuse, or complicated grief. It’s especially effective for moral injury, where guilt, shame, or self-blame keep healing from moving forward.
How CPT Differs from Other PTSD Treatments
EMDR: Uses bilateral stimulation to reprocess memories. CPT relies on cognitive restructuring—making meaning through language and logic.
CBT for PTSD: A general cognitive-behavioral approach. CPT is a specialized, manualized form of CBT with a trauma-specific structure.
Supportive Therapy: Provides space and empathy. CPT combines empathy with structured skill-building for measurable change.
Prolonged Exposure (PE): Repeatedly revisiting the trauma memory to reduce fear. CPT focuses less on exposure and more on how you interpret the trauma
Why I Choose CPT in My Practice
I use CPT because it helps my clients move from “Why did this happen to me?” to “I can live with what happened and move forward.”
In my work with veterans, survivors of loss, and clients who’ve experienced moral injury, I’ve seen how CPT provides a sense of direction when trauma has taken away the map.
What I appreciate most is how it balances structure and empathy. Each session builds on the last, helping clients see their growth in real time. CPT invites both accountability and compassion—two ingredients essential for lasting recovery.
What to Expect in CPT with Me
Education: We start by understanding how PTSD works in the brain and why avoidance and guilt keep the cycle going.
Identifying Stuck Points: We find the specific beliefs that hold you back from recovery.
Challenging Patterns: Through writing, discussion, and reflection, you learn to test those beliefs with logic, evidence, and compassion.
Integration: As symptoms lessen, we apply your new skills to daily life—relationships, work, and self-confidence.
You don’t have to relive every moment of your trauma to heal. CPT gives you a structured, evidence-backed way to think differently, feel differently, and live more freely.
Final Thought
Healing from trauma isn’t about forgetting what happened—it’s about changing the meaning it holds.
CPT helps you reclaim that meaning. That’s why I use it, and why I’ve seen it change lives.
If you’re ready to learn more about CPT or schedule a consultation, contact:
Daniel Edwards, LCSW, MPA
Evidence-Based Therapy for PTSD, OCD, Grief and Anxiety
📍 Westmont / Hinsdale / Downers Grove, IL
📞 (815-919-5101) | 🌐 www.danieledwardspsychotherapies.com
