Healing Trauma with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Trauma changes the way we see ourselves, others, and the world. It can leave us feeling unsafe, ashamed, disconnected, or stuck. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a structured, evidence-based therapy developed to help people understand and heal from trauma, especially when those experiences continue to shape everyday life.

At Tripeak Behavioral Health, we use CPT to help clients recover from PTSD and traumatic stress by changing the way trauma is processed and integrated into their story.

What Is CPT?

Cognitive Processing Therapy is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed for treating PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms. It focuses on helping you:

Understand how the trauma has affected your beliefs about yourself and the world
Identify "stuck points," rigid or distorted thoughts that keep you trapped in shame, blame, or fear
Challenge and reframe those beliefs using evidence, logic, and compassion

CPT typically lasts 12 sessions and includes structured writing and reflection exercises to help you gain insight, process your story, and shift unhelpful patterns.

What Are Stuck Points?

After trauma, the brain often tries to make sense of what happened, but sometimes it lands on beliefs that aren’t accurate or helpful, such as:

"It was my fault."
"I can't trust anyone."
"I'm not safe."
"I'm permanently damaged."

These beliefs may feel true, but they tend to keep us stuck in fear, shame, or avoidance. CPT gently helps you explore where these thoughts come from, how they affect your emotions and behaviors, and what other perspectives might be possible.

Why CPT Works

CPT helps trauma survivors:

Reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, guilt, and depression
Reclaim a sense of identity and worth
Feel safer in relationships and more engaged in daily life
Build clarity and self-compassion around the trauma experience

It’s a collaborative process that empowers you to regain control over your story, not by erasing what happened, but by transforming the way it’s held.

Who Is CPT For?

CPT is a strong fit for individuals who:

Have experienced trauma (recent or past)
Struggle with trauma-related thoughts, memories, or avoidance
Want a structured, time-limited therapy with clear goals

CPT can be used for survivors of sexual assault, military trauma, medical trauma, childhood abuse, accidents, and other overwhelming events. It can also be helpful for people who feel "stuck" even after trying other types of therapy.

Getting Started with CPT

At Tripeak Behavioral Health, we’re trained in trauma-informed therapy approaches like CPT. We’ll work with you at your own pace, with compassion, clarity, and respect for your lived experience.

You don’t have to carry it alone, and you don’t have to stay stuck.

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