Written Exposure Therapy (WET)

A Fresh New Path Through Trauma

Written Exposure Therapy (WET), ZOOM workshop
15 May
9am - 3.00pm

Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is a brief, structured, trauma-focused psychotherapy for PTSD that uses written exposure to the participant’s index trauma.

It is designed for non-psychologists.

It begins with psychoeducation and a treatment rationale, then proceeds to scripted, protocolized written exposure. Typical delivery consists of five ~45-minute sessions: 30 minutes of writing, 10 minutes of debriefing, and a 5-minute feedback slot before the final session, with the first session being longer to provide psychoeducation.

Early sessions focus on detailed trauma description; later sessions address the trauma’s impact on the individual’s life.

After each writing period, the therapist briefly discusses the experience but does not engage in cognitive processing or additional exposure, and there is no between-session homework.

The participants are advised not to avoid uncomfortable emotions after each therapy and to avoid using substances as part of that avoidance. There are more than eight randomised trials attesting to its effectiveness, whether the trauma be related to motor vehicle injury, personal or sexual violence, and war or disaster scenarios.

Learning Outcomes - What it provides for clients

It is a protocol-driven intervention designed to be used by clinicians who do not have clinical psychology training but do work with mental and distress health. The intervention includes five sessions of 30 minutes of writing in detail about what happened and what were the emotional reactions to the trauma(s). The client does not need to disclose the traumatic event verbally, but part of the intervention is that the therapist has to read what has been written before the next session. This is to ensure the client is writing in specific detail. While clients feel more stressed at the end of the first visit, this is expected and means they are dealing with the most bothersome trauma. By the third or fourth session, the client is finding they are viewing their trauma differently and have a new perspective on it and how it has affected their lives.

Who Should Attend

This 6 hour workshop is specifically designed for therapists from diverse professional backgrounds, including those outside of psychology.

Bruce Arroll will facilitate this workshop using ZOOM. Participants will be able to do exercises in separate (virtual) break out rooms.

All you need is a computer with internet connection. You will be sent the details to access ZOOM, 1 week prior to the start of the workshop.

The WET workshop is worth 20 points/6 hours CPD

This workshop has also been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and has been approved for up to 5.25 CME credits for the General Practice Educational Programme (GPEP) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Book Now 15 May

Testimonials - what people are saying about Bruce Arroll's workshops:

"Thank you for today’s course it was super helpful, my head is full!"
Online participant

“I had an appointment today with a lady wanting to stop smoking. I used "the work, love, play worksheet" on her and it was a complete success. Through this worksheet I discovered that her issue wasn’t with the behaviour of smoking, but with all other aspects of her life. She marked low on all aspects and she opened up A LOT! By the end of it she set some tasks for herself and we will review this next week. What took her back was the fact that I was a Stop Smoking coach, but providing “counselling” for her, which she found extremely helpful. Although that wasn’t my intention it was her first time opening up to someone about it.“
Christchurch Attendee

“The FACT workshop was excellent. Presented in an informative way which allowed time for participant interaction and role plays. I particularly liked the work/love/play worksheet and killer narratives. So many new skills learned that I could take away and work with, which is rare for just a one day workshop. Bruce Arroll is an excellent presenter who kept everyone engaged all day. I would highly recommend attending his course and look forward to more of his workshops in the future.”
Jane, Auckland PHO

"Bruce is passionate about what he does and very inspiring and this makes the study day particularly enjoyable. There were a few GPs but mostly Clinical Psychologists and counsellors at the study day I attended. I was able to start using the skills I learnt the next day at my practice and have been using them ever since with good feedback from patients. I highly recommend the study day and would like to do another one!"
Dr Rose Dodd, GP, Wellington

About the presenter:

Visit Bruce Arroll's website

Bruce Arroll

Bruce is a Professor of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland New Zealand and was a practising GP in Manurewa in South Auckland for 32 years . He now does regular general practice at the Auckland City Mission (Calder Clinic) and also does special consultations using Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) for people who are feeling stuck in their lives by stress, pain or low energy. He does this work with his own patients and those referred from his clinic colleagues as well as for people outside of the clinic.

Date & Location:

ZOOM Workshop

Date: Friday 15 May

This workshop is offered via ZOOM and has been designed for everyone to be on their own device so we can use break out rooms (two devices in the same room causes feedback unfortunately).

All you need is a computer with internet connection. You will be sent the details to access ZOOM, 1 week prior to the workshop.

Book Now 15 May

Price & Registration Information

Price: $295 per person including GST

Payment online is by Debit or Credit Card: VISA, Mastercard or American Express only and there are 3 easy steps to complete the online booking process.

Upon hitting the blue "Complete Booking" button, you will receive an automated email confirming your registration and you will also be a sent in a separate email a Tax Invoice showing your booking as being paid in full by Credit Card.
This will appear on your statement as from LIL REGIE LTD WELLINGTON, our NZ based booking agent.

If you have any issues or questions about your booking, please contact Nathalie van Dort: nathalie@grow.co.nz or ph: 021 066 9811

Can't pay online and require an invoice?

We work hard to ensure that all workshops are cost effective by automating our systems. If your organisation requires an invoice (rather than paying by debit or credit card) there will be a $25.00 inc GST surcharge for this, and you will need to supply:

The full name and postal address required to appear on the invoice.
The contact name and email of the person(s) responsible for authorising this expense and approving payment.
Any purchase order references required on vendor invoices.

Please email nathalie@grow.co.nz if you would like to reserve a place, as our workshops fill quickly.

What happens if you have to cancel?

We know that sometimes your plans can change for many different reasons. Should you be unable to attend, a substitute delegate is welcome to attend at no extra cost. If a substitute delegate is not available and you need to cancel your registration, please be aware of the following:

Up to 7 days prior to the event you will be provided a refund of your registration cost, less a $20.00 inc GST per attendee service charge.

If you cancel within 7 days of the event, you are not eligible to receive a refund. Please note: should your registration not be paid by the time of the event, you are still liable to make the payment. Unpaid accounts may be passed over to our debt collection agency and additional costs may be incurred.

All cancellations must be received in writing via email.

Training is cancellable by GROW with 7 days’ notice if a minimum number of attendees is not met and full refunds will be provided.

Please note: GROW Ltd reserves the right to make any amendments that we may deem to be in the best interest of the workshop – it is however very unlikely and we will notify you as soon as possible should this occur.

For more information see our full Terms of Trade.

Further Details

Pre-Event Reference Material

In line with our sustainability objectives, you will be emailed the workshop materials in advance. You may wish to print these for your own convenience.