Sacred Journey

Sacred Journey is an adaptation of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for American Indian and Alaskan Native populations designed to treat adults who are experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or trauma symptoms. The program has a pre-session orientation on trauma and its effects on behavior followed by 12 sessions with homework assignments between sessions. During the first two sessions, the therapist helps the individual identify a primary traumatic event and process its meaning. In sessions 3–6, the therapist educates the individual on the relationship between events, thoughts, and feelings. Therapists also teach skills for challenging patterns of problematic thinking. In sessions 7–9, therapists focus on helping the individual increase feelings of safety, trust, power, and control. In sessions 10–12, the therapist addresses issues of respect, healthy sexual relationships, substance use, intimacy, and preparing for the end of treatment. Key adaptations from CPT include (a) adding content on relationships, safer sex, and substance abuse, (b) incorporating indigenous beliefs and values on spirituality, death, family, tribal-specific historical trauma, and the role of elders, and (c) altering skill-building activities to local indigenous images and protocols (e.g., smudging, seasonal ceremonies, memorials).

Sacred Journey does not currently meet criteria to receive a rating because no studies of the program achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution.

Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed: May 2022

Sources

The program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information were informed by the following sources: the program or service manual, and the program or service developer’s website.

This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, visit the download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 1.0