in the United Kingdom

What is Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR)? 

Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR), in its basic form, is a mindfulness-based exposure method for enabling clients to assimilate and accommodate their past traumatic experiences. This is learnt through the practice of repetitive exercises that train the client to better focus his/her attention on mental pictures and other mental phenomena.

The broader subject of TIR-LSR (Life Stress Reduction) can be described as a systematic approach for enabling detached, non-judgmental (mindful) observation of almost any inner or outer world event, whether cognitive, emotive, physiological, behavioural or other. Tools are highly varied and adjustable in order to: maintain congruence with the client’s own experience, to maximise client engagement with the therapeutic process, and to be appropriate to the client’s mental resources. The approach also consists of various effective strategies for unblocking barriers to awareness the client was previously unable to access.

These tools are all applied within a methodology for enhancing the client's mental (or attentional) focus with in a one-to-one counselling setting. This attentional training enables the client to achieve greater equanimity* with respect to his/her mental environment.

Controlled comparative studies with other methods for resolving PTSD have demonstrated TIR and its related techniques to be consistently effective at resolving PTSD symptomatology and other effects of traumatic stress.

TIR UK is the UK's foremost training organisation for Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) and Life Stress Reduction (TIR-LSR) counselling training, running regular workshops and supervision groups for all levels of TIR training. TIR UK also provides counselling organisations with in-house training, consulting and supervision for setting up TIR counselling projects or incorporating TIR/TIR-LSR into existing counselling projects. Such counselling projects are often (but not limited to) PTSD/Trauma counselling projects.