Imaginal Exposure for PTSD: Emotional Engagement and Processing Hot Spots
Associate Vice-Chair of Clinical Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
Director, Emory Healthcare Veterans Program
Director, Emory Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program
Paul A. Janssen Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology
Key Points
- Introduce hot spots in about session 5 and continue with exposure to hot spots for the rest of treatment.
- Patients need to emotionally engage to get the full benefits of treatment.
- Avoidance of emotional engagement can be worked on during the processing.
Materials Downloads
PE for PTSD Online Training
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Transcript
Video 2: Intermediate Sessions, Imaginal Exposure.
After reviewing the homework and setting the agenda for the session, as usual, this is when we conduct imaginal exposure. And you can present it to the patient by saying, “Today, we’ll again spend some time revisiting the memory of your…” and whatever they call the traumatic event.
Foa, E., Hembree, E. A., Rothbaum, B. O., & Rauch, S. (2019). Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD: Emotional processing of traumatic experiences - Therapist guide (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
I’d like to ask you to slow down during the recounting of your trauma memory today and focus in more detail on what you’re seeing, hearing, and feeling. I’ll ask you to give me your SUDS ratings of your distress here in the room right now with me about every five minutes. Just call out your rating as quickly as possible and don’t leave the image.
Foa, E., Hembree, E. A., Rothbaum, B. O., & Rauch, S. (2019). Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD: Emotional processing of traumatic experiences - Therapist guide (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.