Prolonged Exposure (PE)

Standard Treatment Length: Nine to twelve 90 minute sessions

PE focuses on helping you gradually confront trauma-related memories and situations that you have been avoiding, both consciously and unconsciously. While avoidance can be reduce anxiety/fear in the short term, in the long term it can contribute isolation, loneliness, and unhealthy coping strategies. The method used in this therapy is called exposure. 

Repeatedly revisiting the memory of the trauma through exposure helps you differentiate between relieving the trauma and  remembering it as well as reduces the trauma's impact on your present life. In addition, it facilitates processing of the emotions associated with the trauma to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed when reminded of the event. This also facilitates the development of a more balanced view of the trauma and why it occurred.

Repeatedly revisiting situations, places, or people that symbolize or relate to the trauma helps reduce the fear and anxiety associated with them which increases your ability to engage with others and the world.