SECTION A.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as; serious accidents, natural disasters, terrorist acts, war/combat, rape/sexual assault, historical trauma, or emotional abuse.
What Are The Theories Behind This Worksheet?
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a specific type of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that is effective in the treatment of PTSD.
In the CPT model, PTSD occurs when something gets in the way of natural recovery after a traumatic event.
CPT focuses on changing painful negative emotions (shame or guilt) and beliefs (I am a failure) caused by the trauma.
How Will This Worksheet Help You?
CPT is aimed at helping patients develop more helpful and balanced beliefs about the trauma.
This worksheet will also help patients learn new skills to evaluate their thinking of the trauma, oneself and the world.
How Should You Use This Worksheet?
This worksheet should be used to;
- Increase one’s understanding of PTSD
- Examine the impact of the trauma on one’s beliefs, thoughts, and feelings
- Reduce feelings of anxiety anger, guilt and shame.
SECTION B.
CPT FOR PTSD WORKSHEET
- In what ways do you find yourself relieving your traumatic experience?
Example: Nightmares
- What are some of the unhelpful beliefs and thoughts you have due to the traumatic experience?
| UNHELPFUL BELIEFS | UNHELPFUL THOUGHTS |
- What are some of the common changes in beliefs that have occurred due to the traumatic experience?
- What are some of the PTSD triggers you battle with?
- Identify ways you can challenge your unhelpful beliefs and thoughts.
| CHALLENGE UNHELPFUL BELIEFS | CHALLENGE UNHELPFUL THOUGHTS |
- Identify ways you can learn to find balance in the beliefs you may have had after the trauma.
- What helpful skills can you learn to evaluate your thinking?
- Identify ways you can reduce feelings of anxiety, anger, guilt and shame caused by the traumautic event.
- What skills/ techniques are learning to face and control your fears?
- Identify four things you are grateful for every day before you sleep.
- Daily journal.
Keep a daily journal of your beliefs, thoughts and emotions about the traumatic event.
This activity will help reduce stress and improve your health and emotional well-being.
REFERENCE:
American Psychiatric Association. (© 2022). What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Available at: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd. [Accessed November 28, 2022]
Centre for Clinical Psychology. (© 2022). What is Cognitive Processing Therapy? Available at: https://ccp.net.au/about-cpt-for-ptsd/. [Accessed November 28, 2022]
You can download this worksheet here.