Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD
Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD
Available en Español
The treatments that work best for PTSD are trauma-focused talk therapies. Trauma-focused therapy helps you work through the trauma and what it means to you. Learn about Prolonged Exposure (PE), which teaches you how to gain control by facing your fears and talking through the trauma.
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What type of treatment is this?
Prolonged Exposure (PE) is an individual therapy for PTSD in which you will gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations that you have been avoiding since your trauma.
How does it work?
People with PTSD often try to avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma. This can help you feel better in the moment, but not in the long term. Avoiding these feelings and situations actually keeps you from recovering from PTSD. PE works by helping you face your fears. By talking about the details of the trauma and by confronting safe situations that you have been avoiding, you can decrease your PTSD symptoms and regain more control of your life.
Video
How PE works.
Hear providers explain how PE may help you approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations.
What can I expect?
Your provider will start by giving you an overview of treatment and getting to know more about your past experiences. You will also learn a breathing technique to help you manage anxiety. Around your second session, you will work with your provider to make a list of people, places, or activities that you have stayed away from since your trauma. Over the course of therapy, you will work through your list step-by-step, gradually confronting these situations. With time, you will find that you can feel comfortable in these situations--and you will not need to avoid them anymore. After a few sessions, you will begin to talk through the details of your trauma with your provider. Talking about the trauma can help with emotions like fear, anger, and sadness. Between sessions, you will listen to recordings of yourself talking through the trauma. By confronting the details of the trauma in therapy, you will find that you have fewer unwanted memories at other times.
Video
What to Expect
Learn what you'll be doing in PE sessions.
Is it effective?
Yes, PE is one of the most effective types of treatment for PTSD.
Video
Prolonged Exposure: Is it effective?
Hear providers describe how PE helps patients.
How long does treatment last?
PE usually takes 8-15 weekly sessions, so treatment lasts about 3 months. Sessions are 60-90 minutes each. You may start to feel better after a few sessions. And the benefits of PE often last long after your final session with your provider.
What are the risks?
The risks of doing PE are mild to moderate discomfort when engaging in new activities and when talking about trauma-related memories. These feelings are usually brief and people tend to feel better as they keep doing PE. There is also a slight risk that someone could listen to a therapy session without your permission if the recording was not secure. You and your provider can discuss ways to secure your personal information related to this program. Most people who complete PE find that the benefits outweigh any initial discomfort.
Group or individual?
PE is an individual therapy. You will meet 1-to-1 with your provider for each session.
Will I talk about my trauma?
Yes, around your 3rd session, you will start talking in detail about your trauma each session. Your provider will guide you through it, keep track of your anxiety level as you talk, and make sure you take things at your own pace. You will listen to a recording of this part of your session at home between sessions.
Video
Will I need to talk about my trauma?
Hear more about the focus of your PE therapy sessions.
Will I have homework?
Yes, you will practice doing some of the things you have avoided since your trauma. You will start with activities that are manageable for you, and you will work up to activities that are more challenging. You also will listen to a recording of your therapy sessions in which you talk about your trauma. Practicing these skills between sessions helps you get the most out of PE.
How available is this in VA?
Very. Almost all VA medical centers offer PE in their specialized PTSD programs. Smaller VA facilities that do not offer PE may be able to use videoconferencing to have you receive PE from a provider at another location.
Does VA have an app for that?
Yes, PE Coach is a mobile app that you can use while you are doing PE with a provider. PE Coach can help you to learn more about PE and PTSD symptoms and helps you stay organized as you complete PE. It’s a free download on most mobile devices. After your initial download, you will not be required to use your personal minutes or data. This app does not share any information with the VA, so it is up to you if you want to show your provider your information.
How do you choose the best treatment?
Are you trying to figure out which PTSD treatment is best for you? The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is an online tool with more videos and information about Prolonged Exposure and other treatments that work. You can use the decision aid to compare treatment options and make a summary of your treatment goals and preferences to share with your provider. Together, you can work to choose the treatment option that is best for you.
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