Brian Marx & Denise Sloan – Written Exposure Therapy for Trauma

Description of Written Exposure Therapy for Trauma

Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is an evidence-based brief PTSD treatment approach that produces clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms in as few as five treatment sessions by having clients write about the trauma. It’s efficient, effective, associated with low treatment dropout rates, and has been found to be equally effective as more time intensive therapies – all without requiring clients to verbalize the details of their traumas again and again.

Written Exposure Therapy allows you to quickly, efficiently and consistently reduce trauma symptomology in as few as 5 sessions – all without requiring clients to verbalize the details of their traumas. Evidence-based and strongly recommended in the VA/DoD Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Reaction Clinical Practice Guideline – this proven approach is based on research and results!

In this online course, you’ll learn how to use this proven manualized approach to achieve clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms in as few as five treatment sessions — all by having clients write about the trauma.

Bring the evidence-based power of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) into your practice and achieve clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms in as few as five treatment sessions!

You’ll learn how to successfully utilize this must-have clinical tool from the people who literally wrote the book on WET Therapy! Dr. Denise Sloan and Dr. Brian Marx are directors at the National Center for PTSD, developers of the Written Exposure Therapy protocol, and co-authors of Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD: A Brief Treatment Approach for Mental Health Professionals published by the American Psychological Association.

Full of scripts to ensure easy and proper implementation, example narratives, practice pointers on providing client feedback, and solutions for common treatment challenges, this course will help you put your PTSD treatment on the fast track!

P.S. — WET is strongly recommended in the VA/DoD Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Reaction Clinical Practice Guideline — so you can feel confident this approach is based on research and results!

What you will learn in Written Exposure Therapy for Trauma

Objectives

• Investigate the clinical implications of barriers to employing first-line PTSD treatment approaches.
• Assess clients to identify traumatic events and current PTSD symptom severity.
• Assess clients for the appropriateness of using written exposure therapy for PTSD treatment.
• Evaluate the research, efficacy data and research limitations for written exposure therapy.
• Analyze how WET compares to other evidence-based practices for PTSD treatment.
• Determine when modifications to the scripted approach of WET are needed.

Outline

• Written Exposure Therapy: Development and Empirical Support
  • Necessary and sufficient components for PTSD treatment
  • How WET was developed
  • Examination of the treatment dose needed for successful PTSD treatment outcome
  • Research – efficacy and effectiveness data supporting WET
  • Research limitations
  • Who are good candidates for WET and who are not
• PTSD Assessment
  • Review of PTSD diagnostic criteria, including definition of trauma event
  • Description of prevalence of PTSD
  • Deciding on measures to assess for PTSD
  • Monitor symptom severity during course of treatment
• The Delivery of WET: Session-by-Session Instructions and Scripts
  • Session 1
    • Psychoeducation
    • Treatment rationale
    • Instructions on how to conduct the first writing exercise
    • Check-in and concluding the session
  • Session 2-5
    • Feedback on previous sessions writings
    • Instructions for current session
    • Check-in
    • Conclusion
    • When modifications are needed
• The Trauma Narrative: Examples and How to Provide Client Feedback on Narratives
  • How to provide feedback when clients do not include emotions in their narrative
  • What to do when clients avoid writing about the most distressing part of the event
  • How to provide positive and constructive feedback to move the client forward
• How to Deliver WET via Telehealth
  • The use of videoconferencing
  • Getting materials to and from clients when using telehealth
  • Solutions to common issues that arise
• How to Handle Common Challenges: Clinical Insights, Tips and Role Play Exercises to Help You Implement WET
  • How to manage when clients do not follow writing instructions
  • What to do when clients have an increase in PTSD symptoms
  • Managing situations in which clients stop writing or refuse to start writing
  • Managing comorbid issues, such as substance abuse and suicidal ideation
  • Assessing whether additional treatment is needed

About Brian Marx & Denise Sloan

Denise Sloan

Denise Sloan, Ph.D., 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’ experience treating individuals with PTSD, and she has extensive experience training mental health providers in the delivery of trauma-focused treatments. Dr. Sloan obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from Case Western Reserve University in 1998.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Dr. Denise Sloan has employment relationships with Boston University School of Medicine and the National Center for PTSD. She is a published author and receives royalties. Dr. Sloan receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Dr. Denise Sloan is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, and the International Society for Trauma and Stress Studies. She serves on research committees for the VA Boston Healthcare System and the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Brian Marx

Brian Marx, Ph.D., is deputy director, Behavioral Science Division, National Center for PTSD and a professor of psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine. He is an expert in the assessment and treatment of PTSD. With Dr. Denise Sloan, he is the co-developer of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) and has spent the last 20 years conducting a systematic line of research which supports the development and efficacy of this treatment.

Dr. Marx has published over 200 scientific articles and has received external funding for his work from numerous organizations including the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, United States Department of Defense, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Marx is on the editorial board of several professional journals.

He is a previous winner of the Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Science of Trauma Psychology from Division 56 of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Marx obtained his doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Mississippi.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: He has employment relationships with Boston University and the National Center for PTSD. He receives royalties as a published author. Brian Marx receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: He is a member of the American Psychological Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.

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