There is a moment—sometimes in the crush of a Tokyo train, sometimes in the hush before sleep—when the past arrives like thunder. Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is the gentle, disciplined art of meeting that thunder with steadiness until it remembers it is only sound.

Across more than thirty years and many populations—civilians, first responders, veterans—the findings converge: symptoms ease, avoidance releases, life finds room again. Prolonged Exposure is recognised in international guidelines as a first-line, gold-standard therapy for PTSD. Plainly: it works—not by turning away, but by gently teaching the nervous system to tell yesterday from today.

With years at the heart of trauma work, I bring seasoned, evidence-based care. At BeyondBleu in Tokyo—and securely online—I keep a still, private room where fear unknots and the nervous system is coaxed back to safety: one slow breath, one tended memory, one exacting step.

What is Prolonged Exposure (PE) 

PE is not about forcing yourself through pain. It is practised courage—approaching what you’ve been avoiding, slowly enough to stay present and safely enough for your nervous system to discover: this happened, and I am alive now.

Two companion practices guide us:

• Imaginal exposure — In session, we tell the story of what occurred at a pace your body can bear. We record the work; you’ll relisten at home so the memory can settle into the past.

• In-vivo exposure — Between sessions, we re-enter everyday life in measured steps: the street you stopped walking, the café you avoided, the conversation you postponed. We build a ladder from “doable” to “brave,” and climb it together.

We notice the ebb and rise of feeling—what clinicians call distress ratings—without turning your heart into a checklist. The point is not perfection; the point is freedom.

How our time together feels

• Session One: Setting down the weight

  We map what hurts and what matters. We agree on signals, pauses, and how we’ll keep you safe. We choose a first step so small it invites success.

• Weekly rhythm (often 8–15 sessions):

  We check in. We practise (imaginal exposure or in-vivo planning). We steady the body with simple breath and grounding. You leave with clear, gentle home practice—a recording to revisit, a step to try, a promise to yourself.

• Between sessions:

  You are not alone. Your practice is specific, short, and kind. We adjust as we learn what helps you stay present.

We go only as fast as the slowest part of you can trust.

Who PE can help

• Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) after assault, accidents, medical or workplace events

• Aftershocks that look like panic, avoidance, numbness, or relentless vigilance

• People who want a structured, evidence-based path that honours their limits and their longing for relief.

What begins to change

• The memory becomes a page in the book, not the whole book.

• Rooms feel larger. Streets feel possible. Mornings arrive with fewer negotiations.

• You recover hours you didn’t know you were spending on fear.

This is not a promise of easy. It is a promise of companionship and method.

FAQs

Will PE re-traumatise me?

No. We move in measured steps with grounding. You set the pace; I keep the edges safe.

Do I have to talk about everything?

No. We choose what serves healing. Depth, not drama.

How long does it take?

Many find momentum in 8–15 sessions. Complex histories may need longer. We will know as we go.

Formats & access

• In-suite (Ginza) — discreet, comfortable setting
• Online worldwide — secure, encrypted video
• Evening & weekend options (subject to availability)