How Written Exposure Therapy Can Help Treat PTSD

If you’ve experienced death, threats of death, serious physical injury, or sexual violence, you may be struggling to cope with the impact of these events. You might experience nightmares or intrusive memories related to the trauma or find yourself avoiding reminders of what happened. It’s possible you’ve had difficulty connecting with others or struggled to understand what happened. You may have noticed heightened irritability, emotional numbness, or feeling on edge. If any of this resonates with you, these could be signs of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Do I Need Trauma-Focused Treatment?

Symptoms of PTSD can affect many aspects of a person’s life and cause significant distress. Those with PTSD often struggle with social interactions, staying productive at work or school, and managing daily activities both at home and out in the world. Many of my clients with PTSD have been told by well-meaning loved ones to “move on and put it behind you.” When trauma continues to impact them so deeply, many of my clients wonder if they are “broken” or if these changes are permanent. If you can relate to this, the good news is that you are not broken, and recovery is possible!

Your system just needs some help processing what happened and learning a new way to live with your trauma history.

There are several evidence-based talk therapies, such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy, that can effectively help you update your system. This article highlights a newer, shorter treatment option called Written Exposure Therapy.

What is Written Exposure Therapy?

Written Exposure Therapy is a type of talk therapy that was developed by psychologists, Drs. Denise M. Sloan and Brian P. Marx based on Pennebaker and Beall’s (1986) work with expressive writing. Written Exposure Therapy is evidence-based, meaning years of scientific research have supported its effectiveness in reducing trauma symptoms.

People with PTSD often avoid reminders of the traumatic event as a way to temporarily help manage distressing thoughts, feelings, and images. While this may offer short term relief, it ultimately doesn’t address the root of the trauma and can make things worse in the long run, preventing true healing and recovery. Using Written Exposure Therapy, a therapist can help you learn to face these experiences gradually in a safe and controlled environment.

What you can expect in a session using Written Exposure Therapy

Your therapist will guide you through a process of writing about the details of your traumatic experience and its impact on your life. By doing so, you can begin to decrease PTSD symptoms and gain more control of your emotions and your life as you move forward.

Written Exposure Therapy is a brief therapy that typically takes 5 weekly sessions to complete. There are no homework assignments in-between sessions other than allowing yourself to experience whatever images, thoughts, and feelings arise over the course of the week. Written Exposure Therapy can be utilized if your trauma occurred months or years ago, and it can work for single or multiple trauma histories. Written Exposure Therapy can be used for both military and civilian traumas experienced in adulthood.

How Can Written Exposure Therapy Change My Life?

Over the course of the writing sessions, you can learn how to tolerate reminders of the trauma, and begin to correct unhelpful, inaccurate thoughts related to what happened. With this progression, it is common to experience significant improvement in avoidance behaviors, irritability, emotional detachment, and feeling on edge. Those who receive Written Exposure Therapy typically notice a positive change in their mood and feel a greater sense of emotional stability.

What if Written Exposure Therapy Sounds Too Scary for Me?

Maybe you can relate to the descriptions in this article but feel anxious just thinking about starting therapy. If so, that’s totally normal and can be worked through. Following a traumatic event, your body can react like an overprotective guard dog. As therapy progresses, your inner guard dog will learn that it’s safe, and your anxiety will lessen. A trauma-based therapy like Written Exposure Therapy can help, and a San Diego Psychologist at Therapy Changes can help you figure out where to start.

I love helping clients with PTSD work through their trauma with specialized therapeutic approaches. For many years, I’ve had the honor of helping people move from feeling broken and overwhelmed to feeling empowered and strong. Consider Written Exposure Therapy as an effective and empowering approach to healing, offering long-term relief from PTSD symptoms. By engaging in this evidence-based treatment, you can take an active role in your recovery to reclaim control over your life and your emotions. Contact Us today to meet with a talented member of our team and start your journey toward lasting relief and a renewed sense of peace and strength.

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