AUTHOR=Neill Erin , Zarling Amie , Weems Carl F. 

TITLE=A qualitative study of therapists’ use of empirically supported techniques for PTSD

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1542478

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1542478

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=IntroductionUnderstanding how practicing therapists implement and perceive exposure techniques, as well as other empirically supported treatment components for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as those found in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), is essential for improving the delivery of effective interventions. This study aims to contribute to that effort by exploring the experiences and attitudes of therapists who treat PTSD in clinical practice.MethodsAs part of a broader mixed-methods inquiry, in-depth interviews were conducted.ResultsFindings aligned with several a priori themes, while additional themes also emerged from the data. The findings suggest that therapists often employ a client-centered integration of CBT and EMDR techniques. There was also a noted reluctance to use exposure sessions in CBT for PTSD, particularly when therapists interpreted exposure primarily as in vivo exposure. While many interviewees equated exposure techniques with in vivo sessions, some viewed EMDR as a form of imaginal exposure.DiscussionThese findings contribute to the growing body of qualitative research on therapist-related factors that influence the implementation of effective PTSD interventions. Additional themes are discussed, along with implications for improving intervention delivery and directions for future research.