Client-directed Cognitive Processing Therapy

The purpose of this research study is to examine the effectiveness of a client-directed
version of a well-supported psychological therapy, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), for
the treatment of psychological effects of traumatic experiences. Participants in this study
are expected to be women who have experienced one or more interpersonal violence experiences
(i.e. physical or sexual assault).

During the first assessment, participants will be interviewed by a qualified
investigator/interviewer. The investigator/interviewer will ask participants about life
experiences and reactions, including traumatic experiences and symptoms participants might be
experiencing. This portion of the study will take approximately 2-3 hours. If participant's
assessment reveals that participant is eligible for the study participant will begin the
treatment portion of the study. If eligible, participant will also be given a packet of
questionnaires to complete before participant's first treatment session. If participant is
not eligible for the study, investigator/interviewer will provide participant with a list of
referrals from which participant could seek treatment with other agencies.

If participant begins the treatment portion of the study, participant will participate in a
client-directed version of cognitive processing therapy (CPT). CPT is a treatment designed to
help participant understand the ways participant's traumatic experience has affected various
aspects of participant's life (feelings, beliefs, behaviors, etc.). The treatment will
consist of four main components: education about trauma responses, experiencing emotions
related to the assault, development of skills for examining the truth of thoughts, and
examination of beliefs in areas commonly influenced by traumatic experiences. During this
treatment, participant will be exploring the ways in which the assault has affected
participant's beliefs, such as participant's beliefs about participant's own safety, trust,
and ability to have relationships. In the sessions, participant will explore these areas to
discover and change the ways participant believes, since the assault has led to feelings of
distress, fear, anxiety, and depression. Participant will be asked to do activities in
between sessions each week, which will ask participant to think and write about participant's
traumatic experiences. The treatment includes 12 sessions, each for one hour. Sessions will
be held once or twice a week. The current version of CPT will include all the components of
the regular CPT treatment, but may vary in order of sessions. The regular treatment protocol
provides sessions in a set order, but the current study will allow participant some choices
in when participant complete certain activities.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Female, 18 years of age or over, experienced one or more interpersonal violence
events, traumatic event happened over a month ago, no traumatic events in the last 3
months, must be proficient in English

Exclusion Criteria:

- Current psychosis, mania, active suicidal ideation; Substance use disorder in the last
6 months; in a relationship with perpetrator of violence