Customer Reviews

Reclaiming Your Life from a Traumatic Experience: A Prolonged Exposure Treatment Program Workbook (Treatments That Work)

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As a Northern Ireland cognitive behaviour psychotherapist who deals with the effects of trauma weekly I, and those patients who have shared the manual have found it very beneficial. The manual is ideal as a stand alone treatment manual if fear is the primary emotion - however if guilt, shame or disgust are present then additional interventions are required.

As a lecturer in CBT I have also found it an excellent training manual.

This book is most commonly used within a therapeutic setting and I don't recommend severely traumatized individuals attempting to work through these exercises alone. It might even be too much for some patients to read through the last few chapters on their own - it all depends on the patient. When used as an exercise book and a guideline for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, this book is very helpful in providing structure and "previews" of what to expect in future sessions. It gives both an overview of the therapy and the rationales for undertaking this treatment.

Therapy of this type can seem open-ended to a patient whose only experience has been with non-defined talk therapy. The program as described in the book can give a patient hope that their treatment need not last forever or even very long. The exercises are specific and the momentum is always forward. There may be a lot of repetition but it's all for a purpose. The program outlined is about re-learning through exposures both in real life and in "imaginary" exposures in session with your therapist. It is sensible and grounded in decades of solid peer reviewed science.

Highly recommend for both patients and therapists. if you are a patient considering CBT, you might wish to order this and bring it to your first session. Chances are, your therapist will be familiar with the program if not the book. Sections of this book can also be read out loud to family members to help "clue them in" to what the patient is experiencing during therapy and why Cognitive therapy is necessary. The rationales in each chapter are especially good for that purpose.

If you are working with clients with PTSD, this is a must-have book.
I found this book to be excellent -- it gives clear explanations of how to use the worksheets, and in conjunction with the therapist's guide, is an excellent resource

This book is filled with therapy tips to enable PTSD patients to slow the PTSD train down. It helps smooth the edges. I thought this book in conjuction with professional therapy offers a possibility of moderate relief for PTSD symptoms. I'm glad I made this purchase.