Written Exposure Therapy for Ptsd: A Brief Treatment Approach for Mental Health Professionals

This second edition provides readers with valuable tools and strategies to use in their clinical practice with trauma survivors with PTSD.

Written exposure therapy (WET) is an effective, evidence-based treatment for PTSD that is easy to implement, affordable, and has lower dropout rates than other trauma interventions. In Denise Sloan and Brian Marx’s unique approach, the client writes about a single traumatic event, and the therapist focuses on the client’s experiences while writing about the trauma, rather than the event itself. This comprehensive manual provides step-by-step instructions for conducting WET with clients who suffer from PTSD. It contains a scripted protocol for WET, along with detailed guidance for conducting each session.

Since publication of the first edition, the authors have modified several important aspects of their protocol based on updated research and evidence. In this edition, the authors describe how to deliver WET over telehealth, in a group format, in primary care settings that typically only permit 30-minute sessions, and when using a language translator. New content shows how providers can manage difficult situations that sometimes arise when delivering WET, with valuable case examples that demonstrate key principles and potential outcomes of the WET protocol. This is an essential resource for trauma care providers, as well as graduate students in clinical psychology, counseling, and social work.

Denise M. Sloan, PhD, is associate director in the Behavioral Science Division at the National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System and professor of psychiatry at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Her research expertise is in psychosocial treatments for PTSD and emotion in psychopathology.

Dr. Sloan currently serves as editor for Journal of Traumatic Stress, is past editor of the journal Behavior Therapy, and she is a consulting editor for several scientific journals. She received the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies: Distinguished Mentor Award in 2015, and the Society of Clinical Psychology: Toy Caldwell-Colbert Award for Distinguished Educator in Clinical Psychology in 2017, and the Florence Halpern Award for Distinguished Contributions to Clinical Psychology in 2024.

Denise lives in Sharon, MA. Visit Dr. Sloan’s Boston University profile and her PTSD: National Center for PTSD profile.

Brian P. Marx, PhD, is deputy director of the Behavioral Science Division, National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System and professor of psychiatry at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. His research interests include the assessment and treatment of PTSD, identifying risk factors for posttraumatic difficulties, and suicide risk detection and prevention among veterans.

He serves on the editorial board of several scientific journals. Brian received the APA Division 56 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Science of Trauma Psychology in 2017 and the Robert S. Laufer Memorial Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement in the Field of Traumatic Stress in 2022. He is a coauthor of Making Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Work, Third Edition, published by Guilford Press.

Brian lives in Sharon, MA. Visit Dr. Marx’s Boston University profile and his PTSD: National Center for PTSD profile.