Imaginal Exposure Homework: Guidelines
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
- Instruct the patient to:
-
- Listen to the recording of the imaginal exposure once a day.
- Sit down with her eyes closed and visualize what she’s hearing.
- Practice imaginal exposure.
- Not practice just before bedtime.
- Not let anyone else listen to the recording.
Materials Downloads
PE for PTSD Online Training
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Transcript
Video 8: Homework.
Let’s talk about homework after session 3. You can refer to the handout, sessions 3 to 14, the homework form, and instruct the patient to listen to the recording of the imaginal exposure once a day. But they don’t have to do it the day they come in for a session.
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. Rothbaum, B. O., Foa, E., Hembree, E. A., & Rauch, S. (2019). Reclaiming your life from a traumatic experience: Client workbook (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Tell her that she should choose a time that she wouldn’t be interrupted and she should listen to the recording of the recounting from beginning to end, without turning it off. She should sit down and listen to the recording with her eyes closed and visualize what she’s hearing throughout the recording. I tell people I actually don’t want them listening to a recording. I want them practicing imaginal exposure, just like they did in the session with me.
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. Rothbaum, B. O., Foa, E., Hembree, E. A., & Rauch, S. (2019). Reclaiming your life from a traumatic experience: Client workbook (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.