5 Year old crying at night

My sister seems to be a little old for night terrors and I'd like to get someone advice on it. She wakes up screaming and crying during the middle of the night. She'll talk, but it doesn't make sense what she says. Sometimes she'll scream for our dad- i think these times are when she has to go the bathroom. The night terrors have been going on for too long and I'm wondering what we can do to put an end to them. What usually ends up happening is when my dad hears her, he'll go in the room and comfort her. I've read that for babies, you can get them to stop crying by letting them cry it out themselves instead of spoiling them by coming to them when they cry. Even though she is 5 years old, I was curious if this would help. If maybe eventually she can learn that no one would come running to her when she cries.
So what would any of you suggest?
should she continue being comforted when she cries
or try letting her cry it out until it eventually stops (pretty brutal)

Any opinions would help :)