Written Exposure Therapy: The Case for Latinos

Despite the substantial impact of trauma and subsequent posttraumatic stress in the Latino population, Latinos often underutilize services to address symptoms. Furthermore, research is still lacking regarding the effectiveness of evidence-based treatments, specifically for Latinos. We review the case of a 29-year-old Latina diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who presented with intrusive memories, nightmares, and negative affect. The client’s progress in treatment was hindered by extreme emotion dysregulation when asked to engage in imaginal exposure, leading her to contemplate premature termination of therapy. Thus, prolonged exposure therapy (PET) was modified based on written exposure therapy to successfully treat the client. Treatment success was reflected in both the client’s self-report and PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) (PCL-5) scores at pre- and posttreatment. From this case study, we can conclude that (a) PET can be effectively modified during treatment to include written exposures if the client cannot participate in imaginal exposure; (b) such treatment may be effective for Latinos experiencing posttraumatic stress; and (c) cultural and logistical factors affecting client participation and utilization of services should be addressed in treatment