Sacred Journey: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for American Indian and Alaska Native Populations

Sacred Journey is a culturally adapted mental health intervention designed specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. The project aimed to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance misuse, and HIV sexual risk behaviors using Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)—a gold-standard, trauma-focused treatment—modified through extensive community input and Indigenous cultural frameworks. This three-year pilot study conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with AI/AN women to test the feasibility and efficacy of the adapted CPT model. The results demonstrated significant reductions in trauma symptoms, substance misuse, and risky sexual behavior. 

Recognized by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse of the Administration for Children and Families (HHS), Sacred Journey stands as a vetted and evidence-supported intervention that responds to the unique cultural needs and lived realities of Native women affected by trauma and its intergenerational impact.