CPT for trauma-related thoughts that keep circling
If you keep getting pulled into the same painful thoughts about what happened, CPT may be part of our work together. I use it to help you look at the meaning you made from the experience and how it affects you now.
How I use it
With CPT, I pay attention to the thoughts and meanings that keep the trauma alive in the present. We talk through them in plain language and look at how they shape the way you see yourself, other people, and the world around you. For one person, that may mean working with self-blame; for another, it may mean untangling fear, mistrust, or shame. The work stays grounded in your day-to-day experience rather than in abstract ideas.
I help you slow down the story you keep telling yourself about what happened.
Who it tends to suit
People often come in feeling stuck in blame, shame, anger, or confusion after something hard. They may know the event is over but still find themselves replaying what they should have done differently. Sometimes the hardest part is not just the memory itself, but the meaning they keep carrying from it. This can show up in relationships, sleep, concentration, or the way they see themselves.
- I keep blaming myself for what happened.
- I cannot stop replaying it in my head.
- I feel ashamed, even when I know I did my best.
- I keep wondering what it says about me.
What the first sessions look like
Early sessions focus on what happened, what keeps coming up in your thoughts, and what feels most distressing about it now. I will explain the CPT process and we will decide together how to approach the work. You do not need to arrive with the right words or a finished account.
What I use it for
- Individual CounselingTeens and adults wanting one-to-one mental health support
- Divorce RecoveryPeople adjusting to the end of a marriage
- Domestic ViolencePeople living with fear, control, or abuse in a relationship
- Teen Dating ViolenceTeens facing fear, control, or harm in dating relationships
- Teen CounselingTeens needing a steady place to talk and sort things out
- Self esteemPeople worn down by self-doubt and harsh self-talk
Questions people ask
What is CPT used for in counseling?
I use it when the thoughts around a trauma keep looping and shaping how you feel about yourself. The work centers on those beliefs and how they affect daily life.
Do I have to write everything out for CPT?
Not necessarily. We would talk about how CPT is used here and what parts of the process fit your needs and comfort level.
Can CPT help with guilt after trauma?
Guilt is a common place to begin in this work. We would look at the thoughts underneath it and how they keep showing up in the present.
Is CPT only about the trauma itself?
No, it is also about the meaning you are carrying now. That includes the way the experience has changed how you see yourself and others.
About Trilogy Counseling
I work with women and teens age 14 and older for individual counseling. My areas of focus include anxiety, trauma, attachment, life transitions, self esteem, divorce recovery, domestic violence, teen dating violence, and relationship concerns.
Talk it through with Samantha
Tell us what has been going on and we will take it from there.