CPT Giving Compliments Worksheet: Strengthening Social Connections

The CPT Giving Compliments Worksheet operationalizes the act of prosocial engagement. In the context of trauma recovery, the act of giving a compliment requires a client to observe others, identify a positive attribute, and communicate it—all of which require a degree of presence and vulnerability that trauma often inhibits. This worksheet tracks the recipient, the specific praise given, and the client’s internal experience during the interaction.

Recording the “Describe this experience” column is critical for clinical processing. It allows the therapist and client to examine the “stuck points” that may arise during the exercise, such as fears of rejection, feelings of inauthenticity, or anxiety regarding social visibility. By systematically documenting these experiences, the client gathers evidence of their own agency and ability to foster positive connections.

How This Worksheet Can Be Used

During sessions:
Clinicians use the worksheet to review the client’s social engagement levels. Discussing the “experience” column helps identify cognitive barriers to social interaction and allows the therapist to reinforce the client’s efforts to rebuild their social identity and interpersonal power.

Between sessions:
Clients use the worksheet as a behavioral homework assignment to increase social “micro-engagements.” It serves as a tool to interrupt patterns of isolation and provides a daily goal that supports emotional regulation and self-esteem.

As part of treatment planning:
This worksheet is highly effective during the CPT modules focused on Power, Control, and Esteem. It functions as a behavioral experiment to test beliefs about social safety and the client’s impact on others, providing concrete data for cognitive restructuring.

Benefits of the CPT Giving Compliments Worksheet

• Empowers clients to regain a sense of personal agency and social influence.
• Combats social withdrawal and emotional numbing by encouraging prosocial behavior.
• Reduces depressive symptoms through structured behavioral activation and social reward.
• Helps clients shift their focus outward, interrupting ruminative cycles of negative self-thought.
• Provides a record of positive social contributions that supports the rebuilding of self-esteem.
• Supports the “Trust” and “Esteem” components of the CPT clinical framework.

Integrating This Tool into Clinical Work

Clinicians should introduce the CPT Giving Compliments Worksheet by framing it as an exercise in “taking back territory” from trauma. For many survivors, trauma makes the world feel like an unsafe place where one must remain small or hidden. Giving a compliment is a manageable way to practice being “seen” and having an impact on another person. It is important to emphasize that the focus is on the client’s willingness to give, rather than the recipient’s reaction, which helps maintain a sense of internal control.

As the client becomes more comfortable, clinicians can guide them to move from superficial compliments to more meaningful ones. Reviewing these entries in session helps the client see that they possess the power to influence their social environment for the better. This realization is foundational to moving through the “integration” phase of trauma recovery, where the survivor begins to view themselves as a capable and connected individual.

References

• Resick, P. A., Monson, C. M., & Chard, K. M. (2016). Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: A Comprehensive Manual. Guilford Press.
• Monson, C. M., & Shnaider, P. (2014). Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD. (Principles of power and interpersonal engagement).
• American Psychological Association (APA). (2017). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Adults.
• Chard, K. M., et al. (2012). Cognitive Processing Therapy: Veteran/Military Version. Department of Veterans Affairs.