Cognitive Processing Therapy for Neurodivergent Women in Portland, Oregon
Finding Trauma Healing That Actually Makes Sense for Your Autistic Brain
If you're a late-diagnosed or self-identified autistic woman navigating the aftermath of trauma, you've probably discovered that traditional therapy approaches don't always land quite right. Maybe you've sat through sessions where well-meaning therapists encouraged you to "trust your gut" or "feel your feelings" while your brain was desperately seeking concrete strategies and clear frameworks. I get it – because I've been there too, both as a neurodivergent person and as a therapist who specializes in helping autistic women process trauma in ways that actually work for how our minds operate.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) offers something different: a structured, evidence-based approach to trauma healing that speaks directly to the analytical, pattern-seeking aspects of the autistic brain while honoring the very real impact trauma has had on your life.
What Makes Cognitive Processing Therapy Different for Autistic Women
CPT isn't about endlessly rehashing traumatic memories or trying to force yourself to "just let go." Instead, it's a systematic approach that helps you understand how trauma has shaped your thinking patterns – something that can be particularly complex when you're also navigating late autism discovery, decades of masking, and the unique ways neurodivergent people experience and process trauma.
For my clients – primarily autistic women in their 30s to 50s who are past the crisis stage and ready for deeper integration work – CPT offers a framework that makes sense. You're not being asked to navigate vague concepts or trust mysterious therapeutic processes. Instead, we're working with clear, logical structures that help you identify and shift the "stuck points" keeping you trapped in trauma responses.
Many of my clients come to me after realizing their autism following their child's diagnosis, or during perimenopause when executive function challenges and identity questions become impossible to ignore. They're high-achieving professionals, parents, partners – people who've built successful lives through masking and adapting, often at tremendous personal cost. The trauma they carry isn't just from singular events; it's often complex, layered with years of being misunderstood, forcing themselves into neurotypical molds, and the exhaustion of constant performance.
Understanding How Trauma Affects the Neurodivergent Mind
When you're autistic, trauma doesn't just impact you the same way it might affect neurotypical people. Your nervous system, already working overtime to process sensory information and social demands, becomes even more dysregulated. The cognitive load of masking compounds with trauma responses, creating a perfect storm of exhaustion, hypervigilance, and disconnection from your authentic self.
CPT addresses this by focusing on the thoughts and beliefs that keep trauma activated in your daily life. We're not trying to change who you are or make you process emotions in neurotypical ways. Instead, we're identifying the specific thought patterns that emerged from traumatic experiences and examining whether they're still serving you – or keeping you stuck.
This approach particularly resonates with autistic thinkers because it's:
Logical and systematic rather than abstract
Based on clear cause-and-effect relationships
Structured with predictable sessions and homework
Focused on patterns and connections you can analyze
Respectful of your need for concrete information and understanding
The Structure of CPT: A Roadmap for Healing
One of the most relieving aspects of CPT for my neurodivergent clients is its clear structure. This isn't open-ended talk therapy where you wonder what you're supposed to be doing or if you're "doing it right." CPT typically follows a 12-session protocol, though I adapt the pace to match your processing needs and life circumstances.
The journey begins with psychoeducation – understanding what trauma is, how it affects your brain and body, and why certain symptoms persist. For autistic women who've spent years researching and trying to understand themselves, this educational component feels validating rather than patronizing. We're building a shared language and framework for the work ahead.
Next, we explore the impact of trauma on your life. This isn't about dramatic retellings but rather a structured examination of how traumatic experiences have shaped your beliefs about yourself, others, and the world. For someone who's been masking since childhood, this often reveals profound insights about how trauma and autism have intertwined in complex ways.
The core of CPT involves writing and processing. Yes, writing – a modality that many autistic people find more accessible than verbal processing alone. You'll write about your traumatic experiences, but more importantly, you'll examine the thoughts and stuck points that emerged from them. In our sessions, we'll work through these systematically, using worksheets and structured exercises that appeal to the pattern-recognition strengths of the autistic mind.
Why CPT Works for Late-Diagnosed Autistic Women
The intersection of late autism discovery and trauma is unique territory. You're not just processing traumatic events; you're often recontextualizing your entire life through the lens of neurodivergence. That "difficult" childhood? Those failed friendships? The burnout you called depression? Suddenly, everything needs reexamination.
CPT provides a framework for this re-examination without overwhelming your already taxed executive function. We're not trying to process everything at once. Instead, we're focusing on specific stuck points – those thoughts that keep you cycling through shame, self-blame, and disconnection.
Common stuck points I see in my practice include:
"This is all my fault"
"If I was just normal, this wouldn’t have happened to me"
"My needs are too much for others"
"I can't trust my own perceptions"
"I have to earn my right to exist"
These beliefs didn't emerge in a vacuum. They're often protective responses to real experiences of being misunderstood, rejected, or harmed. CPT helps us honor the protective intent while examining whether these beliefs are still accurate or helpful in your current life.
Integrating CPT with Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy
My approach to CPT isn't one-size-fits-all. While the core structure remains evidence-based and systematic, I adapt every aspect to work with rather than against your autistic neurology. This might mean:
Providing session agendas in advance so you know what to expect
Using visual aids and written summaries to support processing
Allowing extra time for transitions between topics
Respecting your need for specific environmental accommodations during online sessions
Adapting homework to work with your executive function capabilities
Incorporating your special interests as strengths and resources
This is trauma therapy that doesn't require you to pretend to be neurotypical. You don't have to maintain eye contact, sit still, or process emotions in conventional ways. We work with your authentic neurodivergent self, not the masked version you've presented to survive in neurotypical spaces.
Moving from Survival to Authentic Living
The goal of CPT isn't just symptom reduction – though that certainly happens. For my clients, it's about reclaiming energy previously spent on trauma responses and redirecting it toward authentic self-expression. When you're no longer consumed by stuck points and trauma-driven beliefs, you have capacity for the identity development and integration work that brought you to therapy in the first place.
Many clients find that as trauma resolves, they can finally access the relief and self-acceptance that should have come with autism discovery. Instead of being overshadowed by shame and "what-ifs," your neurodivergent identity becomes a source of understanding and even celebration.
Starting Your CPT Journey
Beginning trauma therapy as a neurodivergent person requires courage, especially when past therapeutic experiences may have been invalidating or harmful. During our free 15-minute consultation, we'll discuss your specific needs and goals, and I'll be transparent about how CPT might support your healing journey.
Our intake session provides a comprehensive assessment of your history and current challenges, always through a neurodivergent-affirming lens. We'll establish clear goals and I'll explain exactly how CPT works, leaving plenty of space for your questions. There's no pressure to commit to the full protocol immediately – we move at a pace that feels sustainable for your nervous system and life circumstances.
For established clients, I prioritize consistency and predictability in scheduling, with recurring appointments when possible. Changes can be managed via email when needed, respecting that phone calls might not be your preferred communication method.
Trauma Healing Designed for Your Neurodivergent Mind
If you're ready to address trauma in a way that actually makes sense for your autistic brain – with structure, logic, and respect for your authentic self – Cognitive Processing Therapy might be the framework you've been searching for. This isn't about fixing you or making you neurotypical. It's about healing trauma so you can fully embrace and express your neurodivergent self.
You've likely spent years, even decades, adapting to others' expectations and approaches. It's time for trauma therapy that adapts to you. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation and discover how CPT can support your journey from surviving to thriving as your authentic, neurodivergent self.