DBT Center of Wisconsin LLC

DBT Prolonged Exposure Trauma Treatment: What to Expect

Stage One: Stabilization and Preparation Using Standard DBT

➢ Learn and practice DBT skills to manage emotions and behaviors you want to change
➢ Learn common reactions to trauma and other psychoeducation about trauma and its effects
➢ Learn what keeps trauma symptoms going and how DBT PE works to reduce them
➢ Identify behavior you may have urges to engage in while doing intensive trauma therapy
➢ Identify and practice skills to refrain from acting on these urges
➢ Demonstrate a willingness to experience intense emotions without escaping
➢ Demonstrate readiness for trauma therapy as outlined in the criteria to begin DBT PE per protocol

Stage Two: DBT Prolonged Exposure Trauma Therapy

➢ Continue practicing skills to manage emotions and behaviors you want to change
➢ Complete a trauma assessment to identify and prioritize treatment targets (i.e., past traumatic events)
➢ Discuss and record trauma narratives during imaginal (i.e., past traumatic events) exposure sessions
➢ Listen to recordings between sessions and process your experiences in session
➢ Complete 12-15 imaginal exposure sessions, sometimes more depending on your therapy needs
➢ Complete exposure tasks related to people, places, objects, or activities you are currently avoiding and         would like to have in your life that feel dangerous or unsafe but are not objectively harmful
➢ Feel empowered that you have faced your fears and reduced your trauma symptoms

Stage Three: Standard DBT and Relapse Prevention

➢ Address any remaining problems in living, improve relationships, increase productive activities
➢ Learn how to live an approach lifestyle and develop a relapse prevention plan to manage triggers
➢ Be confident knowing you have the skills and experience to cope effectively and reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of trauma symptoms

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