Prolonged Exposure Consultation & Certification
Develop competence and confidence in delivering one of the most effective treatments for PTSD.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is a structured, evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Developed by the late Edna Foa, PhD, PE helps individuals gradually approach trauma-related memories, emotions, and situations that have been avoided following trauma.
In addition to being a certified PE clinician, Lauren Bonavitacola, PsyD, is a Certified Prolonged Exposure Consultant and provides consultation to mental health professionals seeking to develop competency in PE and pursue certification as PE therapists.
Becoming a Certified PE Therapist
For clinicians who want to develop competency and pursue formal certification in PE, the certification process includes three primary steps:
1. Complete an Approved PE Intensive Workshop
Clinicians first complete the 4-day Intensive Workshop in Prolonged Exposure Therapy conducted by an approved PE trainer.
2. Complete PE Consultation
Following the workshop, clinicians complete at least two full PE cases under the guidance of a Certified PE Consultant.
3. Recommendation for Certification
After successful completion of the required PE cases and demonstration of competency in delivering the treatment, the Certified PE Consultant may recommend the clinician for certification as a Certified PE Therapist.
PE Consultation with Dr. Bonavitacola
Dr. Bonavitacola provides individual PE consultation for clinicians who have completed the required PE intensive training. The gold standard training is conducted by the CTSA at UPenn.
Consultation may include review of session recordings, discussion of treatment planning and case conceptualization, assessment of adherence and competency, troubleshooting challenges that arise during treatment, and guidance in delivering PE with fidelity.
The goal of consultation extends beyond completing certification requirements. Clinicians should leave consultation feeling competent, confident, and prepared to deliver PE independently.
Training & Experience in Prolonged Exposure
Dr. Bonavitacola's training in PE began when she completed a year-long externship at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA) at the University of Pennsylvania.
There, she trained in exposure-based treatments under the direction of Edna Foa, PhD, the developer of Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and received intensive training in the treatment of PTSD and anxiety disorders. At the CTSA, she was supervised by Steven Tsao, PhD, a Certified PE Consultant and expert in evidence-based treatments for anxiety and related disorders.
Dr. Bonavitacola subsequently developed extensive experience providing, supervising, and teaching evidence-based treatments for PTSD. She served as Director of the Trauma Program at Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants of Westchester and Manhattan (CBC), where she supervised doctoral externs and postdoctoral fellows in the assessment and treatment of trauma and PTSD. In this role, she also developed and conducted professional trainings on trauma, PTSD assessment, case conceptualization, and evidence-based treatments for PTSD, including Prolonged Exposure Therapy.
Building upon her years of clinical, supervisory, and training experience, Dr. Bonavitacola completed the Prolonged Exposure Consultant Training Program through Emory University School of Medicine, an intensive program focused on developing competency in providing high-quality consultation to clinicians learning and implementing PE.
Clinicians Certified Through Consultation with Dr. Bonavitacola
The following clinicians have successfully completed PE consultation with Dr. Lauren Bonavitacola and demonstrated competency in the delivery of Prolonged Exposure Therapy.
William Buerger, PsyD
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, NY
Website →
Suzanne Davino, PhD
White Cedar Cognitive and Behavioral Health
Ridgefield, CT
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Leigh Kwasny, PsyD
Private practice
Rye, NY
Erin Sparapani, PhD
Private practice
Rye, NY
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Inclusion in this directory does not indicate current availability, and clinicians practice independently of BonaVita Psychology unless otherwise noted.
Interested in finding additional PE therapists?
Click here for the CTSA's list of certified clinicians.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're interested in PE consultation with Dr. Bonavitacola, complete an inquiry below