Starting CPT

[subtleomen]

Does anyone have experience doing CPT? I have never done this type of therapy before, but it seems like it is in my best interest because my way of thinking and moving through life causes a lot of problems, especially interpersonal ones.

 

[hithere]

Are you doing 12 sessions? I learned a lot from it. very helpful.

 

[subtleomen]

Yes, I believe it will be 12 sessions. It seems pretty intense.

 

[hithere]

Yes, I believe it will be 12 sessions. It seems pretty intense.

It is. I forced myself to do the writing. the impact statement is really important and really helpful. Writing the trauma the way described by drawing a line and stopping, then coming back--super helpful. The most intense moment is the 1st written account and reading it to your therapist. The next session is a lot easier and very helpful. The 2nd written account is easier, then the rest are really easy as far as intensity. however, focusing on those units and doing all the questions and thought records. really helpful. Hopefully your therapist will keep you on task and not take on your emotions, and take care of themselves during the intense times.Good Luck. You'll be glad you did it.

 

[whiteraven]

The small bit I did (my therapist is friends with the person who developed it and when everything else didn't work, he thought we'd try it. He was very flexible with the structure.) was helpful, but I couldn't stick with it. A problem generally for me.

 

[void]

What is CPT???
Please be specific.

 

[subtleomen]

What is CPT???
Please be specific.

Cognitive processing therapy - Wikipedia

 

[hithere]

Cognitive Processing Therapy is a 12 sessions protocol that the United States of American Department of Veteran's Affiars uses as their "Gold Standard" treatment of PTSD. The only other prescribed therapy the VA uses is "Exposure Therapy"
Here is a link to the VA describing CPT and if you look around on the site the entire protocol that is used for each session is available for downloads. Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

 

[Friday]

The only other prescribed therapy the VA uses is "Exposure Therapy"

It should probably be noted that Exposure Therapy is an umbrella term that several different specific trauma processing modalities fall under. Including EMDR, as probably the best known.

 

[hithere]

It should probably be noted that Exposure Therapy is an umbrella term that several different specific trauma processing modalities fall under. Including EMDR, as probably the best known.

I should have said "Prolonged Exposure" which is another "protocol" with set sessions and here is the VA's link to their Prolonged Exposure for PTSD Prolonged Exposure for PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

 

[subtleomen]

I'd like to keep this going and give a basic overview of my experience with CPT, just in case this might be helpful for someone else considering this treatment. I won't be going into too much personal detail. Instead, I'll just be talking about what the treatment is like and the basic tasks that are involved.

So, I had my first of 12 sessions this week. There was a lot of discussion about my specific traumas. Afterwards I was in a foul mood, which makes sense.

Looking back, it seems like I wasn't even there during this session. I mean I was physically there, but it's like I was outside of myself and somebody else was in control of me and doing the talking for me.

Before next session, I'm supposed to write a statement on the worst trauma/type of trauma and WHY I think it occurred. It's not about the specific details of the trauma, but more about what drove it. I haven't started writing yet.

 

[hithere]

I'd like to keep this going and give a basic overview of my experience with CPT, just in case this might be helpful for someone else considering this treatment. I won't be going into too much personal detail. Instead, I'll just be talking about what the treatment is like and the basic tasks that are involved.

So, I had my first of 12 sessions this week. There was a lot of discussion about my specific traumas. Afterwards I was in a foul mood, which makes sense.

Looking back, it seems like I wasn't even there during this session. I mean I was physically there, but it's like I was outside of myself and somebody else was in control of me and doing the talking for me.

Before next session, I'm supposed to write a statement on the worst trauma/type of trauma and WHY I think it occurred. It's not about the specific details of the trauma, but more about what drove it. I haven't started writing yet.

Besides writing "why you think this event happened," will you be writing how it affected your life in the areas of power and control, safety, and self-esteem?