Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged exposure therapy is an approach to treatment that focuses on reducing symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related disorders. Based on cognitive-behavioral therapy, this approach uses psychoeducation, breathing retraining, imaginal exposure, in vivo exposure, and talk therapy to decrease a wide range of symptoms that may result from a traumatic situation. Therapy is generally 90 minutes long and usually takes between 8 and 15 sessions. This approach to PTSD has been shown to be efficacious when working with a wide range of clients who have experienced trauma related to rape, military combat, car accidents, disasters, abuse, and more. It has been successfully used by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with military personnel and by clinicians in general.