Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. 1. Please switch auto forms mode to off. 2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). 3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.

PTSD: National Center for PTSD

Menu
Menu
Quick Links
Veterans Crisis Line Badge
My healthevet badge
 

Delivering Prolonged Exposure for PTSD in 60-Minute Sessions

   

Continuing Education

This section brings together free in-depth Continuing Education resources for the Professional community concerned with trauma.

Delivering Prolonged Exposure for PTSD in 60-Minute Sessions

  • Date Created: 02/19/2026
  • Time to Complete: 1 hour
  • Credits: ACCME, ANCC, APA, ASWB, NBCC, Other Orgs.
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Course Series: PTSD 101, PTSD Consultation Lecture Series

Start Learning

Credit

VA Only: Go to TMSright arrow icon

Take the Coursedown arrow icon

Go to TRAIN websiteLink will take you outside the VA website. VA is not responsible for the content of the linked site.

Earn CE/CME Credits

See How to Get Credits.

Delivering Prolonged Exposure for PTSD in 60-Minute Sessions Author(s):

Sheila A. M. Rauch, PhD, ABPP

Description

Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy is a manualized, effective, time-limited treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinical practice guidelines (CPG) consistently support PE as a first-line treatment, including the 2023 CPG produced by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. PE typically includes 8 to 15, 90-minute sessions. This longer session length can create a barrier to use in clinical settings where the standard is a 60-minute session.

This online course reviews research supporting PE as delivered effectively in 60-minute sessions and without reducing the impact on PTSD and depression. The author describes the research on 60-minute PE sessions and offers guidance to mental health providers on how to implement PE in 60-minute sessions in clinical practice.

Goals and Objectives

  • Describe obstacles and impact of 90-minute Prolonged Exposure (PE) sessions on implementation of this effective PTSD treatment
  • Evaluate the research comparing PE provided in 60-minute versus 90-minute sessions
  • Discuss practical session-by-session strategies and issues to consider in using PE in 60-minute sessions

PTSD Information Voice Mail: (802) 296-6300
Email: ncptsd@va.gov
Also see: VA Mental Health

Site Map

return to top go