What is Trauma Focused Cognitive Processing Therapy?

Trauma Focused Cognitive Processing Therapy (TF-CPT) is a therapuetic model primarily designed for working with trauma. It is a more cognitive approach than EMDR. While EMDR has a cognitive (thought, written) component to it there isn’t a lot of homework and certainly less writing and talking involved in the process.

TF-CPT might be a great fit for you if you enjoy writing and homework and have free time to really dive into the therapuetic process. It involves keeping a journal and logging much of what you notice in between sessions. It also involves weekly assessments in between sessions that you will then turn into the therapist. If you are “data minded” and want to see the numbers in front of you whether or not it’s working this may also be a good fit.

Disclaimer: one thing I continuously track with TF-CPT and EMDR (but moreso TF-CPT) is intellectualization as a form of dissociation. If one is writing and doesn’t remember what they wrote or doesn’t have a full mind/body integration of the thought and written process it might be necessary to do some further work to get back into your body prior to engaging with TF-CPT. It’s one thing to “talk” about your feelings and a whole other thing to actually create an embodied approach to change with your therapist.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to callie with questions about TF-CPT and to see if it might be a good fit for you! Contact me here.