A path toward recovery for survivors of sexual violence,
school violence, and other traumatic experiences
A scientifically supported psychological treatment program for
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The second edition of Prolonged Exposure Therapy, recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD
“Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is a highly effective treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Strongly supported by research and designed for practical use in clinical settings,
this treatment program provides meaningful therapeutic support not only for individuals with PTSD, but also for those with complex symptoms, multiple traumatic experiences, or
serious comorbid conditions such as substance use disorders.”
— Sonya Norman, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego
National Center for PTSD
Book Description
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is an effective, highly flexible, and well-researched treatment program designed to reduce symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) across a wide range of trauma survivors.
This Korean translated version fo the Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Emotional Processing of Traumatic Experiences, Second Edition is the companion Therapist Guide to Reclaiming Your Life from a Traumatic Experience: A Prolonged Exposure Treatment Program Workbook, Second Edition. It provides trained mental health professionals with the tools needed to implement PE with clients experiencing PTSD.
This treatment model is individualized to meet the needs of a wide range of trauma survivors. The authors—leaders in PTSD treatment, clinical training, and research—have extensively revised the Guide to reflect major advances in PTSD treatment research since the publication of the first edition
The revised edition includes important updates to the theory underlying Prolonged Exposure Therapy, as well as additional research support for modifications and individualized adaptations for clients with more complex clinical presentations and for military populations.
The Therapist Guide offers a concise but thorough description of the key components of the PE program, helping clinicians understand how to implement the treatment and when and how to adapt it to each client’s needs.
About the Authors
Edna B. Foa, PhD.
Edna B. Foa, PhD, is Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and former Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Dr. Foa has devoted her career to the study of the psychopathology and treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and is widely recognized as one of the leading experts in the field.
Dr. Foa has made major contributions to the theoretical understanding of the mechanisms underlying these disorders, the development of scientifically supported treatment methods, and the identification of the processes through which effective psychological treatment produces change.
The Prolonged Exposure Therapy program she developed for individuals with PTSD has received the highest level of scientific support for its efficacy and has been widely disseminated throughout the United States and around the world.
In recognition of her achievements, Dr. Foa has received numerous honors and awards and was named one of TIME magazine’s most influential people.
Selected Awards:
- Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology Award, American Psychological Association (APA)
- The Lifetime Achievement Award, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- The Lifetime Achievement Award, Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies
- The 2010 Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Trauma Psychology Award, American Psychological Association
- The Inaugural International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation Outstanding Career Achievement Award
Elizabeth A. Hembree, PhD.
Elizabeth A. Hembree, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hembree’s clinical work and research have focused on anxiety disorders, the psychological impact of trauma, the treatment of trauma-related disorders, and the dissemination of cognitive behavioral treatment for PTSD.
She has served for more than 20 years on the faculty of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA), where Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) was originally developed. From 1999 to 2009, Dr. Hembree served as Director of Clinical Training at CTSA. She has also directed treatment programs for survivors of sexual assault and crime victims, as well as professional training programs.
Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, PhD.
Barbara Olasov Rothbaum, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research. She is also Director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program and the Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program at Emory, and holds the Paul A. Janssen Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology.
Dr. Rothbaum specializes in research on the treatment of anxiety disorders, with a particular focus on clients experiencing mood-related symptoms associated with PTSD. She has contributed to more than 300 scientific articles and books and has authored or edited eight books on PTSD treatment and three books on anxiety disorders.
Dr. Rothbaum is board certified in Behavioral Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and has served as President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. She currently serves as a scientific advisor to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, the National Center for PTSD, and McLean Hospital. She is also a member of the executive committee of the Warrior Care Network and is recognized as a pioneer in the application of virtual reality technology to the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
She is a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, APA Division 56, Trauma Psychology, and the National Academy of Inventors. She has also served on Institute of Medicine studies evaluating sustained efforts in PTSD treatment and continues to train clinicians in evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
Selected Awards:
- Robert S. Laufer Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- 2010 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Practice of Trauma Psychology, American Psychological Association
Sheila A. M. Rauch, PhD.
Sheila A. M. Rauch, PhD, is Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. She also serves as Clinical Director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program and Director of Mental Health Research and Program Evaluation at the VA Atlanta Healthcare System.
Dr. Rauch received her doctoral degree from the University of North Dakota in 2000. For more than 20 years, she has devoted her work to the treatment and study of PTSD and anxiety disorders and is board certified in Behavioral Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.
Dr. Rauch’s research has focused not only on PTSD treatment, but also on the biological and psychological mechanisms through which trauma develops into PTSD, as well as on effective treatment interventions. Since 2000, she has trained clinicians in PTSD treatment. She has published numerous scientific articles and books on anxiety disorders and PTSD, including work on neurobiological factors involved in the onset, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders, psychosocial factors in medical settings, and the relationship between physical health and anxiety.
Dr. Rauch is a leading expert in the application of scientifically supported psychological treatments for anxiety disorders across diverse populations and treatment settings. She is a specialist in cognitive and behavioral psychology, a Fellow of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and has served as both a board member and scientific advisor for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
About the Translators
Yong Cho, PhD.
Yong Cho, PhD, is a psychologist licensed in New York State and the founder and president of The Tree Group and the DBT Institute of Korea. After graduating from the University of Utah, he earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research.
He began his clinical training at Beth Israel Medical Center in 1997. In 1998, he continued formal psychotherapy and DBT clinical training at Zucker Hillside Hospital / Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York. He completed an APA-accredited internship program at the same hospital. Beginning in the early 2000s, he became one of the first clinicians to apply DBT with Korean and Asian clients experiencing emotion dysregulation, borderline personality disorder, and Hwa-Byung symptoms.
He also established the Asian American Family Clinic within the hospital system, where he provided psychotherapy for clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. His work was featured in The New York Times and other media outlets.
In 2003, he founded The Tree Group in Korea, where he has provided evidence-based psychotherapy programs including DBT, Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), and behavior therapy. In 2007, through collaboration with Marsha M. Linehan and DBT specialists in Seattle, he established the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Center of Korea under The Tree Group. In 2008, he invited Dr. Linehan to Korea and organized a DBT professional workshop.
In 2023, he founded the DBT Institute of Korea, a professional training institute dedicated to the ethical dissemination and implementation of DBT. During 2023–2024, he collaborated with Behavioral Tech to organize the official DBT Intensive Training program in Korea. He currently provides DBT treatment and education for Korean- and English-speaking adults, adolescents, parents, and families as both a clinician and educator.
Songhee Chae, M.A.
Songhee Chae graduated from the Department of Psychology at Ewha Womans University and received her master’s degree in psychology from the same institution. She completed clinical training through a collaborative program between The Tree Group / DBT Center of Korea and Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle (EBTCS) in Seattle, United States. In 2008, she completed the official DBT Intensive Training program conducted by Behavioral Tech.
Since 2007, she has provided treatment based on the standard Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program. Her clinical work has focused on treatment and consultation for clients and families experiencing chronic and complex difficulties, including emotion dysregulation, self-destructive behaviors, emotional and behavioral problems, and autism spectrum disorder.
Drawing on this clinical experience, she has also continued to participate in the translation of books related to DBT and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). In 2008, she served as Operations Director for a workshop featuring Marsha M. Linehan. As Vice President of the DBT Institute of Korea, which was founded in accordance with Dr. Linehan’s educational philosophy of DBT, she has overseen the 2023–2024 DBT Intensive Training programs and various educational initiatives, dedicating her work to the dissemination of DBT education in Korea.
Introductions by the Authors and Translators
