Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy — Facing Trauma, Finding Freedom, and Healing Through Courageous Confrontation of Memories and Triggers
Prolonged Exposure (PE) is one of the most researched and effective therapies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma-related conditions. Rather than avoiding painful memories, feelings, and situations, PE helps individuals gradually face them in a safe, structured way.
PE carefully guides people to revisit traumatic memories and re-engage with avoided places, people, and activities. Over time, the fear response weakens, distress decreases, and life begins to open up again.
Why Prolonged Exposure?
- Considered a gold standard treatment for PTSD
- Strong evidence base across populations (military, first responders, survivors of assault, accidents, disasters, and more)
- Reduces PTSD symptoms, avoidance, depression, and anxiety
- Improves functioning in daily life, relationships, and work
- Works by addressing both the memories themselves and the avoidance behaviors
How PE Works — The Core Components
PE combines two powerful processes:
- Imaginal Exposure
- Revisiting the traumatic memory in detail, in session, with the therapist’s guidance
- Talking through the memory aloud, repeatedly, until distress decreases and the memory becomes less overwhelming
- Processing the meaning of the event and reshaping its impact
- In Vivo Exposure
- Gradually confronting avoided situations, places, or activities in real life
- Creating a hierarchy of avoided triggers, then facing them step-by-step
- Rebuilding confidence, mastery, and trust in the world
Together, these exposures reduce fear, avoidance, and distress — allowing healing and new learning to take place.