Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and debilitating disorder. Although effective treatments for PTSD have been identified, there are barriers to both delivering and receiving these treatments. From the patient perspective, the treatments are time consuming (e.g., number of sessions and between session assignments), which leads to nearly one third of patients dropping out of treatment prematurely.  Written Exposure Therapy (WET; Sloan & Marx, 2019) represents an alternative, evidence-based PTSD treatment approach that is efficient, effective, associated with low treatment dropout rates (e.g., less than 10%), and works for a variety of individuals with PTSD. This workshop provides training in how to deliver Written Exposure Therapy. Attendees will learn about how WET was developed, understand the data supporting the effectiveness data for the treatment, and be provided with step-by-step instructions for how to use the treatment in practice. Information will also be provided regarding how to deliver the treatment via telehealth. Throughout the workshop, strategies for conceptualizing and dealing with psychiatric co-morbidity, managing avoidance, and keeping patients optimally engaged are provided. 

CE Learning Objectives

Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

1.      Explain barriers to implementing first-line PTSD treatment approaches.

2.      Identify critical elements of written exposure therapy.

3.      Describe the efficacy data for written exposure therapy.

4.      Describe situations when it is appropriate to use written exposure therapy.

5.      Identify three methods for knowing when modifications to the scripted approach are needed.

6.      Utilize evidence-based assessments for identifying traumatic events and assessing current PTSD symptom severity.

About Presenter

Denise M. Sloan, Ph.D. obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from Case Western Reserve University in 1998. She currently serves as the Associate Director, Behavioral Science Division, National Center for PTSD and a Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine. She is an expert on psychosocial interventions for traumatic stress disorders and has a specific interest in efficient treatment approaches for PTSD.  Dr. Sloan conducted a series of studies that lead to the development of Written Exposure Therapy and has conducted multiple large-scale treatment studies examining the effectiveness of this treatment. She has published over 100 scientific articles and has received funding for her work from several organizations, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institute for Mental Health, Department of Defense. Dr. Sloan is Editor of Behavior Therapy and Editor-Elect of Journal of Traumatic Stress and a consulting editor for six scientific journals. Dr. Sloan has over 25 years of experience treating individuals with PTSD, and she has extensive experience training mental health providers in the delivery of trauma-focused treatments.

Target Audience

This presentation is intended for licensed mental health professionals and advanced graduate student trainees seeking licensure and with some clinical experience. The instructional level of this presentation is beginner.

Continuing Education

• Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists*. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
• This program provides six (6) hours of CE credits.
• PBTA is also an authorized provider of CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
• Full attendance with video display is required to obtain CE credit for this program. APA guidelines do not permit PBTA to issue partial CE credits. No refunds are provided for CE programs. No exceptions allowed.
• * PBTA does not currently offer CE to practitioners licensed in the state of New York.