Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach designed to help individuals who have experienced trauma, particularly those with PTSD.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy is grounded in several fundamental principles that we believe can be valuable for you:

  • Exposure to Traumatic Memories: PE involves gradually and systematically exposing you to distressing memories and situations related to your trauma. This exposure is done in a safe and controlled therapeutic environment.

  • Emotional Processing: By revisiting and confronting traumatic memories and situations, PE aims to help you process and make sense of the associated emotions and distress. Over time, this can lead to a reduction in the emotional intensity of these memories.

  • Reducing Avoidance: PTSD often involves avoidance behaviors, where individuals try to avoid reminders of their trauma. PE encourages you to face and confront these triggers, reducing avoidance and its negative impact on your life.

  • Emotional Engagement: During therapy sessions, you will work on engaging with your emotions related to the trauma. This can be challenging but is an essential part of the healing process.

  • Breathing and Relaxation: PE typically includes teaching relaxation techniques and controlled breathing exercises to help manage anxiety and distress during exposure exercises.

  • Reclaiming Control: PE empowers you to regain control over your reactions to traumatic memories and situations. It is about helping you regain mastery over your life.

PE is not about retraumatizing you but rather about helping you confront and process the trauma so that it no longer has a paralyzing effect on your life. It can be a challenging therapy, but it is highly effective in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving overall well-being.

Our PE-trained therapists are here to provide a safe and supportive environment for you to work through your trauma and find healing. We look forward to assisting you on your journey toward post-traumatic growth and recovery through Prolonged Exposure Therapy.