WET is the short course. You write about your trauma for 30 minutes per session, following specific prompts, over five sessions. No homework. For people who won't commit to 12 or more sessions, it may be the most realistic door in.
Trials, including with service members, found WET about as effective as CPT with far fewer people dropping out. The VA/DoD guideline recommends it.
| Session | Writing focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Learn how WET works, then write the facts of the event in detail, with your thoughts and feelings then. |
| 2–3 | Write it again, going deeper into the worst moments. |
| 4–5 | Shift to meaning: how it changed you, what you believe now, how you see the future. |
Each session: 30 minutes writing, then a short talk with your therapist. You don't read it aloud unless you want to.
Expressive writing on your own (Chapter 15) is a different, lighter practice. WET's structure and therapist check-ins are part of why it's safe and effective.
| ✕ | Fault: Writing around the worst partCorrection: The prompts ask for the hardest moments for a reason. That's where the change is. |
WET is newer, so fewer therapists offer it. Ask the VA or a trauma clinic directly; it's quick for trained clinicians to learn.