YOU’VE BEEN HOLDING IT TOGETHER. YOU DESERVE TO HEAL.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
You’ve been trying to move on, but the trauma still feels close
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) can be a good fit if you’re tired of trauma shaping your day-to-day life. You might find yourself avoiding reminders, feeling on edge, or pulling away from things that used to matter to you. Avoidance can bring relief in the moment, but it can also keep you feeling stuck.
We work together step by step, helping you approach memories and safe situations you’ve been avoiding. The goal is to give those experiences less power over your present, so you have more room to live the life you want.
PE can help you work through trauma and take your life back
PE is a structured, evidence-based therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After trauma, memories and reminders can feel threatening even when you’re safe now. Trying to avoid them is understandable, but it can keep the alarm feeling switched on.
In PE, we work together to gradually approach trauma memories in session and safe situations you’ve been avoiding in everyday life. You’ll learn to tell the difference between a reminder of danger and danger happening now, while making space for the feelings that come up.
It’s a practical approach that takes practice, both in and between sessions. The goal is to reduce the hold that PTSD has on your life and help you return to the relationships, routines, and experiences that matter to you.
PE is one of the most researched treatments for PTSD. We’ll start by understanding what you’ve been through, how it’s affecting you now, and what you want to change. Together, we’ll identify the memories and safe situations you’ve been avoiding and build a plan for approaching them with support.
In sessions, you’ll revisit a trauma memory by talking through it with me. Between sessions, you’ll practise approaching safe reminders rather than avoiding them. These experiences can help your brain learn that remembering what happened is different from it happening again.
This work can bring up difficult feelings, and you won’t have to figure it out alone. My goal is to help you feel less restricted by trauma and more able to make choices based on what matters to you. We’ll work collaboratively, check in on your progress, and keep the focus on meaningful change in your life.
WHAT TO EXPECT
How PE works
With PE, you can expect a structured approach that helps you gradually work through trauma-related avoidance. In the beginning, we’ll talk about your symptoms, goals, and whether PE is a good fit for you. From there, we’ll build a plan for approaching trauma memories and safe reminders, with practice in and between sessions.
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We’ll begin by talking about what brings you to therapy, how trauma is affecting your life, and what you’d like to change. We’ll assess your PTSD symptoms and discuss whether PE fits your needs, so you can make an informed choice about treatment.
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We’ll talk about common reactions to trauma and how avoidance can keep PTSD going. Together, we’ll identify safe situations you’ve been avoiding and organise them into a gradual practice plan, starting with steps that feel challenging but achievable.
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In sessions, you’ll revisit a trauma memory by talking through it with me in a structured way. We’ll make space to discuss what came up and what you’re learning. The aim is to help you process the memory so it feels less overwhelming in the present.
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Between appointments, you’ll practise approaching safe situations from your plan and listen to recordings of the trauma-memory work. We’ll choose tasks together and review them in session, so the work stays connected to your goals and everyday life.
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We’ll continue the memory work and gradually take on more situations you’ve been avoiding. Repeated practice helps you learn that you can experience difficult feelings without having to organise your life around them. We’ll track progress and talk through challenges along the way.
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As treatment comes to a close, we’ll review what’s changed and the skills you want to keep using. We’ll make a plan for handling future reminders or setbacks and discuss when additional support might be helpful, so you can keep building on your progress.
FAQS
Common questions about PE
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PE is usually a time-limited treatment, but the number of sessions and the pace of change vary. Some people notice changes during treatment, while others need more time. We’ll discuss a plan that fits your needs and check in regularly on your symptoms, goals, and progress.
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PE sessions are typically held weekly. Regular sessions and practice between appointments help you build on what you’re learning, rather than starting over each time. We’ll discuss scheduling and session length together so you know what to expect before we begin.
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Yes. Practice between sessions is an important part of PE. This usually includes approaching safe situations you’ve been avoiding and listening to a recording of the trauma-memory work from your session. We’ll agree on specific tasks together, review how they went, and work through anything that gets in the way.
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No therapy can guarantee a particular result. PE has strong research support for treating PTSD, and many people experience meaningful improvement, but everyone’s experience is different. We’ll keep checking whether the work is helping you move toward your goals.
If PE doesn’t feel like the right fit, we can talk about other approaches to trauma treatment. You’ll have space to ask questions and make an informed choice about your care.
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