Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy
An evidence-based trauma treatment that helps your brain stop reacting like the danger is still happening — so you can feel safe in your own body again.
Available virtually for adults in CA, TX, FL, SC, UT, ID, ME, and VT.
What PE Actually Is
Prolonged Exposure is a trauma therapy that helps your brain relearn safety after trauma.
When something terrifying or overwhelming happens, your nervous system doesn’t just remember it — it links certain sensations, places, feelings, sounds, or situations to danger.
Even long after the trauma is over, your body responds like the threat is still happening.
PE helps you:
safely revisit the trauma memory with support
retrain your nervous system
unlink fear from the memory
reduce avoidance
rebuild a sense of safety
regain freedom in your daily life
It is deeply effective, even for people who have been stuck for years.
Why Trauma Makes Life Feel Smaller
You’re not imagining it — trauma literally shrinks your life.
Your world gets divided into:
“safe things”
“danger things”
“things I know I should be able to do, but my body won’t let me”
Avoidance becomes a survival strategy.
Not because you're weak — but because your brain is trying to protect you.
Avoidance can look like:
not driving certain routes
not going certain places
avoiding conversations
steering away from emotions
shutting down or disconnecting
staying too busy to feel
avoiding sleep
avoiding intimacy
staying in hyper-control mode
PE is designed to help you face — with support, at your pace — the things you've been avoiding, so your nervous system can finally stop sounding the alarm.
How PE Works
PE has two parts — and both are powerful:
Imaginal Exposure
We revisit the trauma memory together, slowly and safely.
You’re not reliving it — you’re processing it, with me guiding you the entire time.
Your brain finally gets the message:
"This happened. I survived. I’m safe now."
The emotional charge decreases.
The memory becomes a memory — not a threat.
In-Vivo Exposure
This is where we gradually face the real-life situations you’ve been avoiding.
Again, not all at once.
Not recklessly.
Not without preparation.
You’ll build a list with my help — from “least stressful” to “most stressful” — and we tackle it in small, manageable pieces.
Each time your nervous system learns:
"This isn’t dangerous anymore."
Your world gets bigger.
Your fear gets smaller.
What PE Feels Like in Session
You are in control the entire time.
Nothing is forced.
Nothing is rushed.
In PE sessions, expect:
✔ a calm, structured, predictable process
✔ guided breathing and grounding from the start
✔ clear instructions at every step
✔ no surprises
✔ slowing things down so your body stays regulated
✔ talking through what your mind and body are doing
✔ understanding your triggers instead of fearing them
✔ building mastery, not reactivity
PE is intense — but not unsafe.
Most clients describe sessions as:
“challenging but relieving”
“the first time the memory didn’t destroy me”
“emotionally heavy but freeing”
“exhausting in a good way”
“like I finally got my power back”
Learn More
What PE Helps With
PE is highly effective for:
PTSD
single-incident trauma
combat trauma
sexual assault
childhood trauma
domestic violence
car accidents
medical trauma
first responder trauma
phobias connected to trauma
avoidance patterns
panic and fear responses
intrusive memories
distressing nightmares
feeling constantly unsafe
If you live with fear, avoidance, or overwhelm that controls your life, PE can help.
Why PE Works So Powerfully for Trauma
Trauma memories don’t fade on their own.
They stay:
vivid
loud
emotionally charged
easily triggered
Because your brain didn’t get the chance to fully process the experience.
PE gives you that chance.
Here’s what happens at the brain level:
the memory is revisited in a controlled, safe environment
your body learns it no longer needs to react
the fear response weakens
the emotional intensity drops
the memory moves from “present threat” to “past event”
This is real neurobiological rewiring.
You reclaim:
calm
clarity
safety
presence
your life
What to Expect During a Course of PE Treatment
Phase 1 — Stabilization & Education
We build safety skills first.
You learn how trauma affects the brain and body.
We prepare emotionally and mentally for the work ahead.
Phase 2 — Imaginal Exposure
You revisit the memory in a grounded, supported way.
Your brain gradually stops reacting with fear.
Phase 3 — In-Vivo Exposure
You practice facing avoided situations in small, manageable steps.
Your confidence grows.
Phase 4 — Integration & Future Skills
We reinforce everything you’ve learned.
We apply your new brain responses to daily life.
We ensure your nervous system stays regulated long-term.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sounds like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest.
PE vs EMDR (What’s the Difference?)
PE vs EMDR (What’s the Difference?)
Both PE and EMDR are top-tier trauma treatments.
PE rewires your fear response.
It reduces avoidance and hyperarousal.
EMDR rewires your emotional response.
It reduces the intensity of the memory.
Both are powerful.
We decide together what fits your trauma history, nervous system, and goals.
FAQs
Is PE too intense for most people?
No — PE is structured, paced, and safe.
People often find it easier than they expected.
Do I have to tell the whole trauma story?
You share what feels manageable.
You do not have to give graphic detail.
Does PE work for complex trauma?
Yes — especially when paired with grounding, stabilization, and DBT skills.
How long does PE take?
Standard PE is about 8–15 sessions.
Longer trauma histories may require more support.
Will I be re-traumatized?
No.
You’re not reliving the trauma — you’re processing it with professional guidance.
Is PE evidence-based?
Yes.
It’s recommended by the VA, APA, and the National Center for PTSD.
Is PE Right For You?
PE is a strong fit if you:
avoid things because they remind you of trauma
feel constantly on edge or unsafe
experience intrusive memories or panic
shut down emotionally when triggered
feel your world getting smaller
want to stop running from your past
want your body and brain to feel safe again
If fear has been running the show, PE helps you take your life back.
If you’re ready to feel safe again — not just think you should be — PE can help. And I am ready to help you do that.
Prolonged Exposure therapy for adults in:
California, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Utah, Maine, and Vermont.