Cognitive Processing Intensive – Free Training with Kathleen Chard to Treat PTSD and Related Conditions

Evidence-based trauma care saves lives. This free professional training offers a clear, structured way to help clients move from stuck patterns into real progress — directly from one of CPT’s co-developers.

Across two days, you’ll walk through the 12-session Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) protocol step by step, with chances to practice, ask questions, and get feedback. You’ll leave with scripts, worksheets, and a grounded plan for using CPT immediately.

Because CPT is backed by strong research and endorsed by leading institutions, it gives clients a practical pathway to reduce trauma-related distress, address avoidance, and improve daily functioning — so that healing becomes more predictable and sustainable.

Join a community of clinicians committed to ethical, effective trauma treatment… and train with a trusted expert at no cost.

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Why Attend “Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Intensive Training”

CPT is one of the most researched and widely implemented treatments for PTSD, which means you’re learning a method with reliable outcomes and a well-defined structure. When clients understand why they feel stuck — and have a roadmap to challenge unhelpful beliefs — momentum returns and daily life improves.

Training with a co-developer gives you nuance you won’t get from a manual alone. You’ll see how to balance fidelity with clinical judgment, so that structure supports your case conceptualization rather than constraining it — and then adapt skillfully to diverse presentations.

From assessment (PCL-5, PHQ-9) to impact statements, challenging questions, and the five core themes (safety, trust, power/control, esteem, intimacy), you’ll practice the full arc of care. So you can bring CPT to veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilians with clarity and confidence.

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What You’ll Learn

Let’s start practically, so you feel equipped to use CPT with real clients right away. You’ll get scripts, worksheets, and a clear sequence — which means you can focus on therapeutic presence while the structure holds the process.

We’ll walk through each session of the 12-session model, so you know how to introduce concepts, track “stuck points,” and guide cognitive restructuring that actually lands with clients — and then flex appropriately when cases are complex.

You’ll refine core competencies and decision points, so that assessment, homework, and mid-treatment reviews work together to build change — which makes your work more effective and sustainable across settings.

Here’s just a little bit of what you’ll learn:

• How to explain PTSD symptom clusters in client-friendly language
• Ways to identify, map, and work with “stuck points” across themes
• Using the ABC model to differentiate thoughts, feelings, and facts
• Challenging assimilated and overaccommodated beliefs with precision
• When and how to use the Challenging Questions and Beliefs worksheets
• Balancing protocol fidelity with case conceptualization and flexibility
• Conducting midpoint assessments and troubleshooting minimal progress
• Addressing safety, trust, and power/control before esteem and intimacy
• Strategies for group CPT and adapting for diverse populations
• Ethical use of measures (PCL-5, PHQ-9) to guide treatment planning

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Who This Is For

This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health clinicians seeking a proven, structured approach to treating PTSD and related conditions. If you value evidence-based care and practical tools, you’ll feel at home.

It’s also a strong fit for clinicians working in VA, DoD, community mental health, private practice, and integrated care settings — so that you can deliver consistent, high-quality treatment across diverse contexts.

• Psychologists, counselors, social workers, marriage & family therapists
• Addictions professionals, psychotherapists, case managers
• Physicians and other mental health professionals
• Clinicians supporting veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilians
• Providers seeking CE credit and ready-to-use clinical materials

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About Kathleen M. Chard, PhD

Kathleen M. Chard, PhD, is a co-developer of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and director of the Trauma Recovery Center at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. As VA CPT Implementation Director, she oversees nationwide dissemination of CPT to mental health clinicians.

Dr. Chard has personally trained over 5,000 clinicians across the United States and supervises trainers who have guided tens of thousands more. Her work spans veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilians, bringing rigor and compassion to trauma treatment.

She is co-author of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: A Comprehensive Model (The Guilford Press, 2017) and author of the CPT for Sexual Abuse Treatment Manual (2012). A sought-after speaker and educator, she brings deep clinical clarity to every training.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where does the event take place?

This free live online training takes place on Monday and Tuesday, March 9–10, 2026, from 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time (PT). The host also lists hours in Central Time (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM CT). After you register, you’ll receive access details and a link to the recording if you can’t attend live.

Who is the trainer?

Kathleen M. Chard, PhD — co-developer of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Director of the Trauma Recovery Center at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, and VA CPT Implementation Director.

What is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)?

CPT is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD and related conditions. It helps clients understand how trauma affects beliefs and daily life, and then systematically challenges unhelpful cognitions to reduce distress and avoidance.

What will I learn during this training?

Session-by-session guidance for the 12-session CPT model; how to identify and work with “stuck points”; when to use the ABC model, Challenging Questions, and Challenging Beliefs worksheets; and how to address the core themes of safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy.

How is the 12-session CPT protocol covered?

You’ll move through each session in order — from orientation and impact statements, through processing and self-challenge, to theme-focused work and aftercare — with opportunities to practice, ask questions, and receive feedback.

Is this training really free?

Yes. Registration for the live two-day training is free. Optional paid upgrades are available if you wish to earn CE credit and extend access to recordings.

Who is hosting the event?

This event is presented by PESI, a provider of continuing education for mental health professionals.

How do I get CE credit?

After registering, select the “Add CE” option in your portal, enter payment, and complete the upgrade. Follow the attendance and evaluation steps to claim CE. Details and credit hours are displayed in the upgrade options.

What if I can’t attend live?

Register free and receive 14 days of access to the event recording. You can also purchase the self-study upgrade for up to 6 months of access.

Can I interact with the trainer and ask questions?

Yes. You’ll have opportunities to ask questions and interact with Dr. Chard during the live training to deepen understanding and application.

Is there any obligation after registering?

No. There’s no obligation or commitment after you register for the free training.

Who is this training right for?

Mental health professionals seeking an evidence-based approach to PTSD and related conditions, including those working with veterans, active-duty personnel, and civilians.

Will I receive materials like worksheets and scripts?

Yes. The training provides session-by-session instructions, scripts, worksheets, and handouts so you can implement CPT right away.

What are the live training hours and breaks?

Each day follows this approximate U.S. Central schedule: 8:00–9:45 am Opening & Morning Session; 9:45–10:00 am Break; 10:00–11:50 am Morning Session (cont.); 11:50 am–1:00 pm Lunch; 1:00–2:15 pm Afternoon Session; 2:15–2:30 pm Break; 2:30–4:00 pm Afternoon Session (cont.) & Closing.

Is there an upgrade available, and what does it include?

Yes. Live Upgrade: up to 12.5 live CE hours, up to 6.25 self-study CE hours, 14-day recording access, and a 1-year digital Psychotherapy Networker subscription. Self-Study Upgrade: up to 18.75 self-study CE hours, 6 months of recording access, and the 1-year subscription. Bonus: “CPT for Groups.”

What is the bonus “CPT for Groups” workshop?

A 1-day intensive with Dr. Chard on implementing CPT in group formats (outpatient and residential), including recruitment, formatting, retention, complementary treatments, and administrative processes.

Will this prepare me to use CPT immediately?

That’s the goal. The combination of protocol walkthroughs, practice opportunities, and take-home materials is designed to help you start using CPT with clients right away.

Are there prerequisites or prior experience required?

No. Familiarity with CBT concepts can help, but the training is structured to support clinicians who are new to CPT as well as those seeking a refresher.

Is CPT appropriate for different populations and traumas?

Yes. The training addresses adaptations and considerations for varied traumas and populations, including work with veterans, sexual abuse survivors, complex presentations, and co-occurring conditions.

Is there a self-study option and how long is access?

Yes. The self-study upgrade provides up to 18.75 CE hours and 6 months of access to the program recording so you can complete it at your convenience.

How do I register?

Use the registration buttons on this page to secure your free spot. After registering, you’ll receive confirmation and access details via email.

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