Dr. Cooper specializes in a cognitive-behavioral treatment for PTSD called Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). Extensive research has demonstrated that PE is a highly effective treatments for PTSD. PE is a short-term therapy that often leads to significant improvements in symptoms by the end of the traditional eight to fifteen sessions of the treatment. PE helps diminish your fear, anxiety, and distress related to the traumatic events by facing trauma-related content previously avoided due to distress in a safe and empowering process.

Many initial responses to a traumatic event, such as having upsetting memories, having difficulty sleeping, and having difficulty engaging in daily tasks, are completely normal and common for many people. Over time, many people notice feeling less distress by the trauma. However, some people notice distressing thoughts and feelings about traumatic events that continue cause significant distress and impact their life. PE includes education about what keeps many people with PTSD “stuck” from recovery and then targets these elements in treatment. Namely, PE includes discussing scary thoughts, breathing retraining, facing feared situations, and revisiting memories of the traumatic events.

Dr. Cooper has worked with may veterans and civilians who have suffered with PTSD for years. Many people who engage in PE by repeatedly confronting thoughts, images and situations related to the trauma with my support and guidance find that their distress reduced over time, they gained a new perspective, and they found significant relief and improvements in their lives from this brief treatment.