Cognitive behavioural interventions for persons living with post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of specific clinical interventions that can be used by cognitive behavioral therapists working with clients who are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related disorder that may occur following exposure to a traumatic event. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured psychotherapeutic approach built on a collaborative relationship between the client and the psychotherapist. One of the most effective PTSD management involves the use CBT techniques aimed at correcting the victims’ erroneous cognitions and to engender emotional processing of the trauma. The paper reviews the literature on psychotherapy in PTSD and provides some practical ways for therapists to use when they are faced with patients having past-traumatic disorders.