CPT is one of the most researched PTSD treatments in the world. It was developed by Dr. Patricia Resick, a leading trauma researcher, and has been studied for over 30 years.

Research shows:

• CPT significantly reduces PTSD symptoms

• Many clients no longer meet criteria for PTSD after completing CPT

• Improvements often continue long after therapy ends

• CPT is effective for both single‑incident and complex trauma

• It works across diverse populations, including veterans, survivors of assault, and civilians

Major organizations recommend CPT as a first‑line treatment for PTSD, including:

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• The Department of Defense

• The American Psychological Association

If you’ve tried other therapies and still feel stuck, CPT may be the missing piece.

CPT is more direct than most therapy you've experienced. It's structured. It has a clear timeline. And it asks you to do real work—not just show up and talk.

Here's what makes it different:

It's focused. Every session has a purpose. You're not rehashing your week or circling the same stories. You're targeting the specific beliefs that keep PTSD symptoms going.

It's skills-based. You'll learn concrete tools for examining your thoughts. These aren't vague coping strategies. They're specific techniques you can use for the rest of your life.

It's time-limited. Standard CPT takes about 12 sessions. Some people need a few more, especially with complex trauma. But this isn't therapy that drags on indefinitely. There's an endpoint—and a clear path to get there.

It's backed by serious research. CPT is recommended by the VA, the American Psychological Association, and the Department of Defense. Studies consistently show that the majority of people who complete CPT no longer meet criteria for PTSD.

At Aspire Counseling, we track progress using validated measures. Our clients with PTSD symptoms show significant improvement—with an effect size of 0.93 on the PCL-5, the gold standard PTSD assessment. That's not a vague "I feel a little better." That's measurable change.

CPT follows a clear structure. Here's what to expect:

Sessions 1-2: You'll learn about PTSD and how trauma affects the brain. Your therapist will help you identify the stuck points keeping you trapped.

Sessions 3-4: You'll write about your trauma—not to relive it, but to understand the meaning you made of it. The focus is on the beliefs that formed, not every painful detail.

Sessions 5-11: This is where the real work happens. Using specific worksheets, you'll examine your stuck points from multiple angles. Is this thought actually true? What's the evidence? Is there a more balanced way to see this?

Session 12: You'll look at how far you've come and build a plan for moving forward.

Between sessions, you'll have homework. Worksheets to complete. Thoughts to track. This isn't busy work—it's how change happens. The clients who engage with the homework are the ones who see the biggest results.

This is the fear that keeps a lot of people from starting trauma therapy. And honestly, there are some very effective trauma therapies that do this. However, CPT is not one of those.

So let's be direct: No, you don't have to describe every detail of what happened.

In CPT, you do write about your trauma. But the focus is on meaning, not minutiae. What did you conclude about yourself? About others? About the world? That's what we're working with.

You're not being asked to relive the worst moments of your life over and over. You're being asked to look at how those moments changed your thinking—and to decide whether those changes are still serving you.

Your therapist will guide you through this at a pace you can handle. The goal is processing, not re-traumatizing.

CPT works well for people who:

• Have a specific trauma (or traumas) that still affects daily life

• Are stuck in patterns of self-blame, guilt, or shame

• Want a structured approach with a clear timeline

• Are ready to do work between sessions

• Have tried "just talking" and found it wasn't enough

CPT might not be the right starting point if you're in active crisis, struggling with severe dissociation, or need help stabilizing before processing trauma. A good therapist will help you figure out where to begin.

Here's something important: CPT isn't the end of the road. It's often the beginning.

CPT gives you a foundation. Relief from the intrusive thoughts, the nightmares, the constant hypervigilance. It teaches you skills for examining your own thinking that you'll use for the rest of your life.

And once that foundation is in place? You can go deeper if you want to. Explore patterns from childhood. Work on relationships. Address the parts of yourself that have been in survival mode for years.

At Aspire Counseling, we see CPT as a powerful first step—one that clears away the acute symptoms so you can do the longer-term work of building the life you actually want.

Both are evidence-based treatments for PTSD, but they work differently. CPT focuses on the thoughts and beliefs that keep you stuck—you'll do a lot of examining and challenging those beliefs through discussion and written exercises. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (like eye movements) to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories with less talking and writing. Some people prefer one approach, some prefer the other, and some benefit from both at different stages. We offer both at Aspire Counseling and can help you figure out which fits best.

Yes. The length of time you've had pain doesn't determine whether therapy can help. In fact, long-term pain often indicates a significant neuroplastic component—your nervous system has learned these pain patterns over time, which means it can also learn new patterns. Change is possible even if you've been hurting for years or decades.