ANNA BRANDON, PHD, ABPP

COGNITIVE PROCESSING THERAPY (CPT)

Cognitive Processing Therapy is designed to specifically address a traumatic event that continues to bring fear and anxiety into your daily life.  This was originally developed for use in the military and with victims of rape or sexual abuse.  Dr. Brandon has adapted it for use with women who have had traumatic childbirths or perinatal losses and continue to struggle with intrusive memories and flashbacks of this painful event.  Through themes of safety, trust, power  (or control), esteem, and intimacy, the aim is to help you incorporate this memory into your life story without being constantly overwhelmed or “flooded” with sadness and anxiety.  Although this treatment is customized to you, a typical course of CPT is approximately 8-12 fifty-minute sessions.

Although CPT for women suffering from traumatic childbirth is not identical to that offered to victims of other traumas, here is a brief description of this intervention: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_processing_therapy