“Facing Fear: Prolonged Exposure Therapy”
For many individuals who have experienced trauma, avoidance can feel like the only way to cope. Avoidance of thoughts, memories, places, or even people connected to the traumatic event can feel like self-protection—but in truth, it often keeps people stuck in fear and suffering. One evidence-based treatment that directly addresses this pattern is Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy.
What Is Prolonged Exposure Therapy?
Prolonged Exposure Therapy is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) designed specifically to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions. It was developed by Dr. Edna Foa and has been extensively studied for its effectiveness.
PE is grounded in the idea that avoiding reminders of trauma maintains PTSD symptoms. It helps clients gradually and safely confront their trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations rather than avoiding them. By doing so, clients can begin to regain control over their lives.
How Does PE Work?
Prolonged Exposure Therapy typically involves the following core components:
Psychoeducation – Clients learn about common trauma responses, how avoidance maintains PTSD, and the rationale for exposure.
Breathing retraining – Clients are taught simple techniques to manage anxiety and physical arousal.
In vivo exposure – Clients gradually confront safe, but feared, real-life situations they have been avoiding due to trauma-related fear.
Imaginal exposure – Clients revisit the traumatic memory itself by recounting it aloud in detail during sessions. This process is repeated and recorded so they can listen to it between sessions.
This is not about re-traumatizing or forcing someone to relive their trauma. It’s about processing the memory in a safe, supportive environment to reduce its power and emotional intensity over time.
Why Choose Prolonged Exposure?
For individuals struggling with the ongoing impact of trauma, PE can offer meaningful relief. The process is challenging—there’s no sugar-coating that. It involves facing what’s most feared, which requires courage and commitment. But for many, the outcome is greater freedom, reduced symptoms, and improved quality of life.
Research consistently supports PE’s effectiveness. It’s recommended by organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a first-line treatment for PTSD.
What Makes PE Effective?
It breaks the cycle of avoidance. Avoidance gives temporary relief but reinforces the belief that one cannot handle the trauma or related reminders. PE proves otherwise.
It rewrites the trauma narrative. Telling the story repeatedly allows the brain to reorganize and process the memory in a healthier way.
It empowers. Clients gradually reclaim spaces, experiences, and parts of themselves that trauma once stole.
Is PE Right for Everyone?
PE is a powerful tool, but it’s not always the starting point. For some clients, especially those with complex trauma or dissociation, it may need to be integrated into a broader treatment plan with careful pacing. A skilled therapist will assess readiness and tailor the approach accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Healing from trauma is not about forgetting—it’s about facing, processing, and reclaiming. Prolonged Exposure Therapy doesn’t promise an easy path, but it offers a real path—one grounded in clinical evidence and human resilience.
If you or someone you know is navigating the aftermath of trauma, consider reaching out to a therapist trained in PE. Facing fear may feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone—and on the other side of fear is freedom.
At Safe Passage Psychology, Pragya Varma, Registered Provisional Psychologist, offers Prolonged Exposure Therapy as part of her trauma-informed practice. Pragya is dedicated to helping individuals move through the pain of trauma with compassion, professionalism, and evidence-based care.
She brings warmth, clinical expertise, and a deep respect for the courage it takes to begin healing. Pragya works collaboratively with clients to ensure they feel safe, prepared, and supported throughout the process. Her approach is paced and personalized—because healing is not one-size-fits-all.
Whether you're dealing with traumatic grief, a past assault, or the lasting effects of childhood trauma, Pragya can help guide you through the journey of recovery using PE. To find out more about Pragya and her services, click here: https://www.safepassagepsychology.com/pragya