Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged Exposure (PE) is an effective treatment for teens (about 14 and older) and adults with trauma- related symptoms and/or trauma-related disorders. Prolonged Exposure focuses on the idea that PTSD and other trauma related symptoms are caused by avoidance of thoughts, emotions, memories, and reminders of your trauma. Avoiding these reminders keeps the fear, sadness, anger, etc. away in the short-term. Unfortunately, this strategy can cause and maintain PTSD in the long run. PE (as it is implied in the title) exposes you to your memories in a safe and prolonged fashion in order to decrease reactivity and teach your brain the memory is safe. In addition, you will be exposed to objectively safe reminders of trauma and work through trauma related cognitions.