CPT Fact Sheet
for Clinicians
What is Cognitive Processing Therapy?
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a cognitive-behavioral therapyfor PTSD and related conditions. CPT typically consists of 12, 50-minutetherapy sessions and has been shown to be effective in treating PTSD acrossa variety of populations, including combat veterans, sexual assault victims,and refugees.
The theory behind CPT construes PTSD as a disorder of “non-recovery.”Specifically, symptoms are attributed to an inhibition, or “stalling out,” inthe natural process of recovery which prevents individuals from completelyworking through troublesome, trauma-related thoughts. CPT utilizestrauma-specific cognitive techniques to help patients move past these“stuck points” and progress toward recovery. Additionally, this therapy canbe conducted with or without a written trauma account and in individual orgroup formats.
Structure of CPT Individual Sessions:
• 12, 50-minute structured sessions
• Participants complete out-of-session practice assignments
• Sessions typically conducted weekly or bi-weekly
• 2 Formats:
CPT - includes a brief written trauma account component, along with
ongoing practice of cognitive techniques
CPT-Cognitive (CPT-C) - omits written trauma account, includes more
practice of cognitive techniques
Structure of CPT Group Sessions:
• 12, 90-120 minute structured sessions
• Participants complete out-of-session practice assignments
• Typically conducted by 2 clinicians
• 8-10 Veterans per group
• 3 Formats:
CPT - includes a brief written trauma account component, along with
ongoing practice of cognitive techniques
CPT-Cognitive (CPT-C) - omits written trauma account, includes more
practice of cognitive techniques
Individual and Group Combined – practice assignments and written
trauma account are processed in additional individual therapy sessions
An online CPT review courseis available through the Medical University of South Carolina at
CPT Literaturepatients
• Information about fit
Dismantling Study of CPT
Resick, P.A., Galovski, T.E., Uhlmansiek, M., Scher, C.D., Clum, G.A., & Young-
Xu, Y. (2008). A randomized clinical trial to dismantle components of cognitive
processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in female victims
of interpersonal violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,
76(2), 243-258.
CPT compared to Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Resick, P. A., Nishith, P., Weaver, T. L., Astin, M. C., & Feuer, C. A. (2002). A comparison of cognitive processing
therapy, prolonged exposure and a waiting condition for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in
female rape victims. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 867–879.
CPT as a Group Therapy
Resick, P. A., & Schnicke, M. K. (1992). Cognitive processing therapy for sexual assault victims. Journal of Consulting
and Clinical Psychology, 60(5), 748–756.
Chard, K. M. (2005). An evaluation of cognitive processing therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress
disorder related to childhood sexual abuse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 965–971.
CPT with Veterans
Monson, C. M., Schnurr, P. P., Resick, P. A., Friedman, M. J., Young-Xu, Y., & Stevens, S. P. (2006). Cognitive
processing therapy for veterans with military-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and
Clinical Psychology, 74, 898–907.
Monson, C. M., Price, J. L., & Ranslow, E. (2005, October). Treating combat PTSD through cognitive processing
therapy. Federal Practitioner, 75–83.