Written Exposure Therapy

WET is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder, using structured expressive writing to help individuals process trauma-related memories. By engaging in repeated writing sessions over five treatment sessions, patients gradually reduce avoidance behaviors and experience PTSD symptom reduction, leading to clinically significant symptom change.

Yes, WET has been tested in multiple randomized clinical trials, including research conducted at the VA Boston Healthcare System and the National Center for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These studies have demonstrated WET’s effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms, with long-term treatment gains comparable to other trauma-focused treatments.

WET is a brief exposure-based treatment that differs from other trauma-focused treatments like prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy. Unlike these approaches, WET does not require between-session assignments or in-session verbal recounting of the trauma event, making it a more accessible option for many patients, including military service members and active duty service members.

Yes, WET has been found to be beneficial for individuals with acute stress disorder, especially when trauma occurs spontaneously in flashbacks or intrusive thoughts. By following a structured treatment protocol, WET helps individuals process their trauma in a controlled manner, leading to treatment gains and improvements in physical health and overall well-being.