How Trauma Changes Meaning & How Cognitive Processing Therapy Helps

Content note: This episode discusses trauma and PTSD. Listener discretion advised.

For many people, trauma isn’t about remembering too much. It’s about believing the wrong things about themselves for too long.

In this episode of And How Does That Make You Feel?, I sit down with Dr. Patricia Resick, the psychologist who created Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): One of the most effective, evidence-based treatments for PTSD used across the globe today. In this conversation, we explore:

* How CPT was developed and why it was needed

* Why trauma isn’t just about fear but often about meaning, responsibility, and self-judgment

* The difference between thoughts, feelings, and facts (and why that distinction matters)

* How CPT helps people heal without reliving the event

* Why trauma recovery is possible even years or decades later

Chapters:

00:00 Why Therapy Doesn’t Have to Mean Retelling Trauma Forever

02:55 Introducing Dr. Patricia Resick & Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

05:11 From Clinician to Researcher: Dr. Resick’s Path Into Trauma Psychology

11:00 How Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Was Born

15:25 Why PTSD Isn’t Just Fear: Shame, Guilt & Self-Blame

17:51 Flashbacks, “Why Me?”, and the Just World Belief

21:25 Erroneous Guilt: When Trauma Blames The Wrong Person

23:27 Trauma Responses People Mistake as Personal Failure

24:52 The Biggest Problem With PTSD

26:03 What CPT Actually Looks Like in Practice 27:45 Thoughts vs Feelings vs Facts (and Why It Changes Everything)

31:35 How CPT Changes the Brain & Nervous System

34:03 Why CPT Leads to Long-Term Relief (Not Just Coping)

38:10 Self-Help, Short-Term Therapy & Accessibility

39:36 How CPT Compares to Other Trauma Therapies

42:02 CPT as a Lifelong Tool, Not Just a Treatment

45:32 Who CPT Is (and Isn’t) For

48:59 CPT, Systemic Trauma & Oppression

52:30 Common Myths About PTSD & Trauma Recovery

58:59 Final Message: You Can Get Better

1:01:15 Closing Reflection & Listener Question

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As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting the show!

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▶ Cognitive Processing Therapy Resources

CPT Website | https://cptforptsd.com/

CPT Self-Help Book | Getting Unstuck from PTSD: https://amzn.to/49OeUDN

CPT Therapist Manual | Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (Second Edition): https://amzn.to/4khxXKb

CPT Books (Package Deal) | https://www.guilford.com/view-cart

CPT Book | Cognitive Processing Therapy for Rape Victims: https://bit.ly/4qMiILA

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Remember To Be Kind To Yourself