Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
A brief, structured writing-based trauma protocol, typically five sessions, delivered by trained clinicians.
Written Exposure Therapy (WET), developed by Denise Sloan and Brian Marx, is a brief, structured PTSD treatment in which you write about your traumatic experience during sessions, guided by specific, structured prompts, rather than discussing it verbally. Each session (typically five total) involves a defined period of writing, followed by a brief check-in with the clinician. Its brevity and structure make it a lower-intensity, shorter-commitment option compared to longer trauma protocols like Prolonged Exposure or CPT, while still drawing on similar underlying exposure principles.
A brief, structured trauma treatment built around guided writing, not talking.
What to expect: WET is brief by design, typically five sessions total, each centered around a defined period of guided writing about the traumatic experience using structured prompts, followed by a short conversation with your clinician. There's minimal homework compared to other trauma protocols, most of the work happens within the sessions themselves. This makes it a lighter-touch option for people who want structured trauma treatment without a long-term commitment.
Good fit for: You want a brief, defined trauma treatment rather than an open-ended commitment, You find writing more accessible than speaking about difficult material, You're looking for something lower-intensity than Prolonged Exposure or CPT
Explore for: Wanting a brief, low-commitment structured trauma treatment, A preference for processing trauma-related material through writing rather than speaking aloud, Interest in exposure-based treatment without the longer time commitment of PE or CPT, Difficulty verbally discussing traumatic material but comfort with writing about it
Not the right fit if: Your situation involves complex, layered trauma that may need more extensive treatment, You strongly prefer verbal processing over writing
How to choose a practitioner: Ask about their specific training in WET, a distinct, manualized protocol from PE or CPT Confirm the expected number of sessions and structure upfront Ask what support is available if more extensive treatment turns out to be needed afterward
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