Prolonged Exposure for PTSD Innovations to Improve Access, Engagement, and Outcomes

Dr. Carmen P. McLean is a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher with the Dissemination and Training Division of the National Center for PTSD at the Palo Alto VA Health Care System and a Clinical Professor (Affiliate) at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. Her research examines ways to increase the reach of exposure therapy for PTSD by addressing implementation barriers and testing digital exposure-based interventions, with the goal of helping more individuals with PTSD benefit from effective treatment. Dr. McLean is currently leading three clinical trials testing written exposure therapy for PTSD with firefighters and military personnel using novel treatment formats and delivery strategies. Dr. McLean was the 2018 recipient of the Anne Marie Albano Early Career Award for Excellence in the Integration of Science and Practice from the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies and the 2023 recipient of the APA Division 56 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Practice of Trauma Psychology. She co-authored the book Retraining the Brain: Applied Neuroscience in Exposure Therapy for PTSD with Dr. Sheila Rauch. Dr. McLean is currently serving on the APA Clinical Practice Guideline Panel for the Treatment of PTSD and is the Editor-in-Chief for the journal Cognitive and Behavioral Practice.

Dr. Elizabeth M. Goetter is a licensed clinical psychologist, Associate Professor, and Director of the Psychology Doctoral Program at La Salle University. She serves as a clinical consultant at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) where she previously served as Senior Clinical Director at MGH Home Base and was the co-clinical director of psychology.  Dr. Goetter’s clinical and research interests include the efficacy, dissemination, and utilization of empirically supported treatments for traumatic stress disorders, particularly among military and veteran populations. She has served as a study therapist and assessor on multiple externally-funded studies and co-authored manuscripts and book chapters on issues pertaining to posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, grief, veteran mental health, technology and telehealth approaches to treatment, barriers to treatment, and treatment utilization and dropout. She is an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Mental Health and also serves as an editorial board member for Cognitive and Behavioral Practice and the European Journal of Psychotraumatology.