The CPT Coach mobile application is for people participating in cognitive processing therapy (CPT), an evidence-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For patients, this app is designed to improve engagement and participation in CPT and enhance treatment outcomes. It is also intended to help CPT providers better adhere to the treatment protocol.

Key features of the app include:

• An assessment tool for tracking symptoms and progress
• CPT practice assignments and worksheets for each session
• Reminders for therapy sessions
• Educational materials about CPT and its components

CPT Coach was developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, the VA Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 21 MIRECC) and the Defense Centers of Excellence National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2), with subject matter expertise from the originators of CPT.

FAQ

What is CPT?
CPT stands for cognitive processing therapy, and has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments in reducing PTSD symptoms related to a variety of traumatic events (including child abuse, combat, rape and natural disasters).

Trauma survivors with PTSD often have problematic ways of thinking about the world, themselves and other people that maintain their PTSD and disrupt their quality of life. To reduce PTSD and improve functioning, survivors learn to challenge problematic thinking and develop healthier, more realistic thoughts. By doing so, they are able to process painful feelings about their trauma and recover. CPT Coach facilitates this process by making it easier for patients to complete the required practice assignments and gain convenient access to educational material, support and reminders.

Where does the info in CPT Coach come from?
CPT Coach is based on the therapy manual Cognitive Processing Therapy Veteran/Military Version prepared by Drs. Patricia Resick, Candice Monson, and Kathleen Chard. For more information, visit their website at http://cptforptsd.com/.

CPT Coach is designed for people who are in CPT and want to use an app with their therapy. This app is not intended to be used alone as a self-help tool for patients with PTSD; it is designed to be used by the patient as an adjunct to CPT. Similarly, completion of formal training in CPT is a prerequisite for successful use of this app by health care providers with their patients. This app does not provide training in CPT and will not serve as a substitute for such training.