Prolonged Exposure Therapy For PTSD (Second Edition): Therapist Guide

Traumatic events occur frequently, with up to 60% of the US population exposed to at least one traumatic event in their lifetime (Kessler et al, 1995). The National Comorbidity Survey (2005) found lifetime rates of PTSD in the general US population of 3.6% for men and 9.7% for women. 

Prolonged Exposure (PE) emerged from the adaptation and extension of Emotional Processing Theory (EPT) to PTSD. The overall aim of the treatment is to help trauma survivors to emotionally process their traumatic experiences to diminish or eliminate PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms. PE has been tested in hundreds of efficacy studies which have demonstrated that PE is highly effective at ameliorating the symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, guilt, and suicidal behavior. 

Prolonged Exposure Therapy For PTSD is a comprehensive program to assist clinicians in delivering effective PE for PTSD. The program includes two books:

• Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Therapist Guide details the step-by-step

Each Treatments That Work® title is published as part of a pair:

• Clients use the Workbooks which contain elements of psychoeducation, skills development, self-assessment quizzes, homework exercises, and record forms.
• Therapists use the Therapist Guides which contain step-by-step instructions for teaching clients skills and overcoming common difficulties.

Although written for the client, the exercises in the workbook are intended to be carried out under the supervision of a mental health professional. The authors suggest that the most effective implementation of these exercises requires an understanding of the principles underlying the different procedures, and that mental health professionals should be familiar with both the Reclaiming Your Life From A Traumatic Experience: Workbook and this therapist guide. 

Therapists with an active subscription to a Psychology Tools ‘Complete’ plan are licensed to use Treatments That Work® titles, and to download and share chapters with their clients.

• Cusack, K., Jonas, D. E., Forneris, C. A., Wines, C., Sonis, J., Middleton, J. C., . . . Gaynes, B. N. (2016). Psychological treatments for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 43, 128–141.
• Kessler, R. C., Sonnega, A., Bromet, E., Hughes, M., & Nelson, C. B. (1995). Posttraumatic stress disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52, 1048–1060.
• Lee, D. J., Schnitzlein, C. W., Wolf, J. P., Vythilingam, M., Rasmusson, A. M., & Hoge, C. W. (2016). Psychotherapy versus pharmacotherapy for posttraumatuc stress disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis to determine first-line treatments. Depression and Anxiety, 33(9), 792– 806.
• Resick, P. A., Pallavi, N., Weaver, T. L., Astin, M. C., & Feuer, C. A. (2002). A comparison of cognitive-processing therapy with prolonged exposure and a waiting condition for the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in female rape victims. Journal of Consulting and Clinical