Prolonged Exposure Therapy - Appropriate for CPTSD?

[exception]

So my therapist wants to go through PE. She's not familiar with CPTSD vs PTSD and I'm wondering if you have had experience with it. I'm worried that I have too many symptoms in various contexts to process much of it before our sessions end.

What do you think?

[radical]

Controlled exposure is essential, imo.
It's a tough one because part of cptsd is about avoiding triggers and the feelings that go with exposure, and that has to be worked on.  But I feel that the kind of exposure used with specific phobias, for example, can be very dangerous because cptsd not a discrete anxiety disorder, and there is a danger of becoming overwhelmed, making things worse, and feeling a failure.

But that is just my opinion.  I know people have benefited from this approach.

[Danaus plexippus]

Do you have control over how long it goes on or are you at the mercy of your T? I hope some of our members can fill in the blanks for you. I know nothing of this PE of which you speak.

[exception]

Hi, we have a limited time, so I was worried it might not be enough time - but I think that may also be my anxiety and uncertainty.

I also had a therapist in the past who was anything but trauma-informed so trust is difficult. I suspect it will be okay. My therapist has been nothing but helpful over our time working.

Danaus, Prolonged Exposure involves client-led immersion in a triggering situation both with the imagination and in real life, and that's a very simple description.

radical, I think I agree with you that because in my case multiple interrelated traumas kind of make isolating an event for exposure difficult. I have written a long list of potential triggers so I think that's helpful. You're supposed to rate the triggers in terms of intensity and work through them gradually, which I think reduces the risk of overwhelm.