Pioneering PTSD Therapist Edna Foa Dies at 88

Foa's exposure therapy approach revolutionized treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:42pm

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An extreme close-up, translucent X-ray image of a human brain, with glowing, ghostly lines revealing the intricate neural structures, conceptually representing the process of confronting and overcoming trauma.Foa's pioneering exposure therapy approach aimed to directly confront the inner workings of the traumatized mind, revolutionizing PTSD treatment.Philadelphia Today

Edna Foa, an Israeli American psychologist who pioneered the use of exposure therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), died on March 24 at the age of 88. Foa's approach, which involved having patients directly confront their fears, became a widely adopted first-line treatment for PTSD, especially among veterans returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Why it matters

Foa's work fundamentally changed the way PTSD is treated, moving the field away from gradual desensitization and toward more direct confrontation of traumatic memories. Her approach, known as prolonged exposure therapy, has been shown to be highly effective, and has been widely adopted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other mental health providers.

The details

In the 1980s, Foa developed prolonged exposure therapy, a structured protocol of 8-12 sessions in which patients recount a traumatic event in detail and then confront the source of their fear in real life. While initially uncomfortable, this process served to ease the patient's sensitivity and correct flawed thinking. Foa's approach was a departure from the more cautious, gradual methods that were common at the time.

  • Foa completed her training in the late 1960s.
  • In the 1980s, Foa developed prolonged exposure therapy.
  • In 2007, the VA adopted Foa's approach as a first-line treatment for PTSD.
  • By 2010, over 1,000 VA therapists nationwide had been trained in Foa's technique.
  • Foa stopped working full-time in 2023, but remained active as a lecturer.

The players

Edna Foa

An Israeli American psychologist who pioneered the use of exposure therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Patricia Resick

A professor emeritus of psychiatry at Duke University who developed cognitive processing therapy, another commonly used treatment for PTSD.

Barbara O. Rothbaum

The director of the Emory Healthcare Veterans Program, who collaborated with Foa on testing prolonged exposure therapy as a treatment for rape survivors.

Joseph Wolpe

One of the pioneers of behavior therapy, who aimed to steer psychotherapy toward empirical science and with whom Foa worked early in her career.

Victor Meyer

A British psychologist who observed what he called 'fear extinguishment' in animals forced into contact with something they feared, which influenced Foa's work.

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What they’re saying

“She said it's better to just start at the worst and go through the whole thing.”

— Patricia Resick, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, Duke University

“She was highly competitive. And I think she had to be, because she had to force her way into a world that wasn't going to accept her. She did it. She's a giant.”

— Patricia Resick, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, Duke University

“It's kind of like the person who invented cake mixes. They didn't invent baking; they didn't invent the cake. But they made it more accessible and replicable.”

— Barbara O. Rothbaum, Director, Emory Healthcare Veterans Program

What’s next

Foa's pioneering work on exposure therapy has had a lasting impact on the treatment of PTSD, and her approach continues to be widely used by mental health professionals. As the field of PTSD treatment continues to evolve, researchers and clinicians will likely build upon Foa's foundational contributions.

The takeaway

Edna Foa's willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and push patients to directly confront their fears revolutionized the treatment of PTSD. Her work has helped countless individuals overcome trauma and reclaim their lives, and her legacy will continue to shape the field of mental health for years to come.