Training workshops in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD
CPT is a cognitive-behavioral treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It was developed in the late 1980s and has been shown to be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms related to a variety of traumatic events including child abuse, combat, rape and natural disasters. CPT is endorsed by the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, as well as the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, as a best practice treatment for PTSD.
The CPT for PTSD website has more information by the authors of the therapy manual.
For more about CPT training available in Australia please contact the following agencies or individual trainers.
Dr Jon Finch, Clinical Psychologist
Prof. Reg Nixon, Clinical Psychologist
Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health
Dr Marja Elizabeth , Clinical Psychologist
After initial training clinicians can choose to further there skills by seeking CPT Provider Status and CPT quality rated provider status. The criteria for these are outlined below.
CPT Provider
- Professional registration as a mental health professional, with psychotherapy in scope of practice (psychologist with registration, social worker with a degree, appropriate experience and membership of the AASW, other qualifications will be considered on a case by case basis); and
- Completion of CPTweb
- Participation in a live CPT training (2-3 days) conducted by a treatment developer or an approved CPT Trainer
- Participation in 20 hours of sanctioned group CPT consultation (with discussion of own clients during the call) OR participation in individual CPT consultation/supervision for a minimum of 7.5 hours.
Consultation normally should be initiated within 3-months of attendance of an approved CPT training workshop; for those starting consultation 3-6months post-workshop, re-completion of the online CPTWeb 2.0 will be required as a refresher. If consultation cannot be initiated within these timeframes, you will be required to attend another workshop. Exceptions to the above will be made in the case of maternity leave or serious events that prevented the person from engaging in clinical work. - Initiation of at least 4 CPT individual cases or 2 CPT groups or some combination, and successful completion (completion could include early success per client outcomes) of 2 individual CPT treatment cases, 2 CPT groups or 1 CPT group and 1 individual case; and
- Use of at least one standardized instrument to assess weekly PTSD symptom progress with each of the above cases
- Submission of redacted case notes, scores on PCL, and sample worksheets or stuck point log, if requested, for evaluation.
Therapists will have CPT Provider status for 3-year increments. To maintain CPT Provider status, providers must document that they have met requirements #5-7 above within their 3-year period of status and submit two recordings (audio or video recording) of sessions for review.
Quality-Rated CPT Provider
In addition to the above requirements, to achieve Quality-Rated CPT Provider status, the provider must meet the following criteria:
Review ( by audio or video recording) of 2 randomly selected patient sessions of CPT for adherence and minimal competency for the given session and the provision of the standardized score measure used for that client.
Therapists will have Quality-Rated Provider in CPT status for 3-year increments.
Signed consent forms for each patient for release of patient objective data and session recordings should be secured prior to submitting forms to the CPT Program.