Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in Toronto
Helping you make sense of trauma, reclaim your story, and move forward with strength.
Experiencing trauma can shake the foundation of how you see yourself, others, and the world around you. You may find yourself stuck in a loop of self-blame, avoidance, hypervigilance, or emotional numbing — even long after the danger has passed.
At Feel Your Way Therapy, we offer Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to help you begin making sense of your trauma, process painful beliefs, and reconnect with your life. CPT is a structured, evidence-based treatment specifically designed for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms. It’s not about re-living the trauma — it’s about reshaping how the trauma lives inside of you.
What Is Cognitive Processing Therapy?
Cognitive Processing Therapy is a structured, short-term therapy originally developed for survivors of trauma, particularly those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
It is based on the idea that trauma can lead to “stuck points” — unhelpful beliefs or narratives that keep you trapped in patterns of fear, shame, guilt, anger, or mistrust.
CPT helps you:
Understand how trauma has impacted your thoughts and beliefs
Identify unhelpful thinking patterns
Challenge and modify those beliefs
Reduce distress and regain control over your life
CPT draws on principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), but is uniquely focused on trauma recovery. The goal is not to forget the trauma — it’s to change how it affects you today.
How Does CPT Work?
CPT typically involves 12–16 structured sessions and can be done individually or in a group. It includes:
1. Psychoeducation
You’ll learn how trauma can affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. Understanding this normalizes your experiences and lays the groundwork for change.
2. Identifying Stuck Points
These are rigid, often distorted beliefs that have taken root after trauma (e.g., “It was my fault,” “I can’t trust anyone,” “I’m not safe,” “I’m weak”). Stuck points often center around five themes: safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy.
3. Cognitive Restructuring
You’ll learn to evaluate and challenge stuck points by using structured worksheets and exercises. This includes:
Looking for evidence for and against a belief
Exploring alternative perspectives
Practicing more balanced thinking
4. Practice and Reflection
You’ll be guided through exercises between sessions that reinforce these new ways of thinking. Over time, your emotional responses begin to shift as your beliefs become more adaptive.
5. Closure and Planning
You’ll finish therapy with a stronger understanding of yourself, greater emotional regulation, and tools you can use beyond therapy to maintain growth.
What Does a Typical CPT Session Look Like?
While every client’s experience is unique, a CPT session generally involves:
Reviewing your experiences since the last session
Working through worksheets that target specific stuck points
Practicing skills like identifying thought patterns, writing impact statements, and restructuring beliefs
Tracking progress toward symptom reduction
Your therapist will serve as a warm, collaborative guide — never pushing you to talk about details before you’re ready, but always helping you move toward freedom from trauma’s grip.
What Issues Can CPT Help With?
CPT was originally developed for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but it can also help with a range of trauma-related symptoms and diagnoses, including:
Childhood trauma
Sexual assault or abuse
Combat trauma and military PTSD
First responder trauma (police, firefighters, EMS)
Domestic violence
Medical trauma or near-death experiences
Traumatic grief and loss
Moral injury (e.g., in healthcare or military settings)
It’s also helpful when trauma has contributed to:
Depression
Anxiety and hypervigilance
Guilt, shame, and self-blame
Emotional numbing or dissociation
Relationship and trust issues
If you feel stuck in your healing journey — like your past still controls your present — CPT may help you reclaim your story and your sense of self.
Evidence Behind Cognitive Processing Therapy
CPT is one of the most researched and effective therapies for PTSD and is endorsed by organizations like:
The American Psychological Association (APA)
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The World Health Organization (WHO)
Studies have shown that CPT:
Significantly reduces PTSD symptoms
Decreases depression and anxiety
Improves quality of life
Helps maintain long-term recover
It has been successfully used with diverse populations, including military veterans, survivors of sexual assault, refugees, and trauma survivors from all walks of life.
Is Cognitive Processing Therapy Right for You?
CPT may be a good fit if:
You’ve experienced trauma and feel stuck in painful thoughts or beliefs
You struggle with shame, guilt, anger, or fear long after the event
You avoid memories, people, or situations that remind you of the trauma
You want to change the way trauma affects your daily life — without needing to retell every detail
You don’t have to have a formal PTSD diagnosis to benefit.
If trauma has shaped your worldview in ways that feel limiting or painful, CPT can help you begin to heal.
Finding Cognitive Processing Therapy in Toronto: Book with Our Specialized Therapists
Looking for Cognitive Processing Therapy in Toronto? Feel Your Way Therapy offers specialized Cognitive Processing Therapy to help Toronto individuals heal from trauma, reframe distressing thoughts, and regain a sense of safety and control. Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of a single traumatic event or long-standing PTSD, our trained therapists can support you on your journey to recovery.
Our therapists are extensively trained in evidence-based Cognitive Processing Therapy techniques, ensuring you receive targeted, personalized support. When you choose us, you’ll benefit from:
• Expertise: Our therapists are formally trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy and bring extensive experience working with trauma, PTSD, moral injury, and complex emotional wounds.
• Convenient Location: Our Toronto office is easily accessible at 455 Spadina Ave., Unit #202, and we offer both in-person and online appointments, helping you fit therapy into your busy schedule.
• Transparent Fees: We provide clear session rates and can guide you on insurance coverage, making it simpler to plan for your mental health investment.
• Flexible Availability: We strive to accommodate your schedule, keeping wait times to a minimum so you can begin therapy when you’re ready.
Take the next step in your healing journey by booking a session with one of our specialized Cognitive Processing therapists. We look forward to supporting you every step of the way. Contact us today to begin your path toward lasting well-being.
