Transcript
Cognitive Processing Therapy is an evidence-based treatment
for PTSD, and it addresses the two factors that we know
maintain PTSD, which is avoidance -- avoidance thinking
about the trauma and people and places and situations
that might remind us of the trauma -- and it addresses
perspectives that we might have about,
that we might have developed as a result of the trauma,
thoughts and beliefs that we might have about ourselves
and other people and the world.
And it does so from a very cognitive standpoint,
where you are asked to really identify what you are
telling yourself about yourself and about other people
and about the world and to become very scientific about it
and evaluate these ideas, these beliefs that you have.
And through collecting evidence and challenging these beliefs
and looking at all the evidence that you have,
coming to a more balanced viewpoint.
So an example would be if after experiencing a trauma,
I develop a belief that "I am not safe in the world."
It makes sense, you know, something terrible happened to me,
maybe that means I'm not safe in the world.
Then you would evaluate that thought by looking at
evidence of all the times you are safe in the world
and you have been safe in the world
and that you continue to be safe in the world
versus maybe one or two pieces of evidence
where you have not been safe.
And coming to a more balanced viewpoint would be,
"You know, I'm not 100 percent safe in the world,
but for the most part, I am."