When someone experiences trauma, it can leave behind more than just memories... it can create ongoing symptoms that affect daily life. Nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and intrusive thoughts are common. But beyond symptoms, trauma often reshapes the way we think about ourselves, others, and the world.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a structured, evidence-based approach designed specifically to help people recover from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related challenges. It focuses on identifying and reshaping “stuck points” which are unhelpful beliefs that keep you feeling trapped in the aftermath of trauma.
At Tiny Therapy Collective, we provide online CPT across Ontario, making this gold-standard PTSD treatment accessible wherever you are.
Who is CPT For?
CPT is particularly effective for people who have experienced:
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Trauma from abuse, violence, or neglect
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Military, first responder, or medical trauma
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Accidents or natural disasters
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Grief or loss connected to traumatic events
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Childhood trauma with lasting impact
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PTSD symptoms like flashbacks, avoidance, guilt, or hyper-alertness
If trauma is interfering with your ability to live fully, CPT can provide a structured path toward recovery.
How CPT Works
CPT typically involves 12–16 sessions with a trained therapist. Here’s what the process looks like:
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Education – You’ll learn about PTSD and how trauma affects thoughts and beliefs.
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Identifying stuck points – Together with your therapist, you’ll recognize unhelpful beliefs that are keeping you stuck (e.g., “I should have done more,” or “I can’t trust anyone”).
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Challenging unhelpful thoughts – Using worksheets and guided exercises, you’ll test whether these beliefs are accurate or helpful.
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Reframing – You’ll practice developing more balanced, realistic beliefs that support healing.
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Integration – Applying new ways of thinking to everyday life, relationships, and future challenges.
CPT is structured and skills-based, which means you’ll gain tools you can use long after therapy ends.
What Are Stuck Points?
“Stuck points” are beliefs that develop after trauma and prevent recovery. For example:
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Blame: “It was my fault.”
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Distrust: “I can’t rely on anyone.”
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Safety: “The world is completely dangerous.”
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Self-worth: “I’m broken because of what happened.”
CPT helps you examine these beliefs and reframe them into healthier, more accurate perspectives. Over time, this reduces PTSD symptoms and restores a sense of control and safety.
Benefits of CPT
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Proven effectiveness: Research shows CPT is one of the most effective therapies for PTSD.
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Symptom reduction: Decreases flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.
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Restores trust and safety: Helps rebuild relationships and a sense of stability.
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Structured and time-limited: Many clients see significant progress within 12–16 sessions.
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Practical tools: Skills that can be applied long after therapy ends.
Why CPT Works Well Online
Because CPT uses structured exercises, worksheets, and guided practice, it adapts seamlessly to online therapy. Secure video sessions allow you to work through CPT at your own pace, while practicing skills in your home environment.
Advantages of online CPT include:
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Access to trauma-trained therapists across Ontario
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Flexibility to attend from a safe, comfortable space
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Elimination of travel, which can reduce stress around appointments
Everyday Examples of CPT in Action
Imagine someone who survived a car accident and believes: “I’ll never be safe on the road again.”
In CPT, they would:
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Recognize this as a “stuck point.”
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Explore evidence for and against the belief.
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Reframe it into something more balanced, such as: “The accident was frightening, but I can take steps to protect myself, and I have driven safely many times.”
This shift reduces avoidance and fear, allowing them to return to driving without overwhelming anxiety.
CPT vs. Other Trauma Therapies
While therapies like Somatic Therapy focus on the body and DBT emphasizes emotional regulation, CPT targets the belief systems shaped by trauma. Many clients find it especially effective when guilt, shame, or self-blame are dominant symptoms.
At Tiny Therapy Collective, CPT can also be combined with other approaches (like mindfulness or somatic practices) to create a more holistic plan.
Benefits of CPT at a Glance
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Designed specifically for trauma and PTSD
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Focuses on reshaping unhelpful beliefs
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Structured, time-limited, and goal-focused
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Supported by decades of research
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Effective in online therapy across Ontario
Getting Started with CPT in Ontario
If trauma has left you feeling stuck, hopeless, or unsafe, Cognitive Processing Therapy can provide a clear path forward.
At Tiny Therapy Collective, our therapists offer trauma-informed, compassionate CPT therapy tailored to your unique experiences. Together, we’ll work to reduce symptoms, reshape beliefs, and restore a sense of safety and control.
Ready to begin your healing journey? Book a free 15-minute consultation with a member of our team who offers CPT to explore whether CPT is right for you.
