Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Adolescents (PE-A)

Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Adolescents (PE-A) is a therapeutic treatment where adolescents with chronic PTSD and related symptoms ages 12 – 18 are encouraged to repeatedly approach situations or activities they are avoiding because they remind them of their trauma (in vivo exposure), as well as to revisit the traumatic memory several times through retelling it (imaginal exposure). PE-A is based on basic cognitive-behavioral principals, is a flexible therapy that can be modified to fit the needs of individual clients, is designed to help clients process traumatic events and reduce trauma-induced psychological disturbances.

PE-A sessions are 60-90 minutes in length, once or twice weekly. The recommended duration of treatment is 8 to 15 sessions, or 2 to 4 months. PE-A is typically conducted in an outpatient clinic or community-based agency. PE-A has materials available in English, Spanish, and Japanese.