Going through a traumatic experience is, by definition, horrific. As you try to make sense of what happened, your belief system may be impacted, which, in turn, can change your day-to-day thinking. Thinking patterns that are rooted in trauma can generate painful emotions and hold you back from living the life that you want for yourself. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is focused on changing unhelpful, trauma-related thoughts and beliefs that have prevented you from recovering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

CPT is considered a first-line, recommended treatment for PTSD by major treatment guidelines, such as those produced by the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and the World Health Organization. It has a substantial research base to support its effectiveness for treating PTSD. At least 35 randomized controlled........

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