Differences between traditional therapy and Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR)
There are many fantastic forms of therapy out there, providing excellent services – so the choice can feel overwhelming.
But when it comes to trauma, both the evidence and my own experience point strongly to TIR being more effective than traditional therapy, CBT or EMDR.
| Traditional Therapy and Counselling | Traumatic Incident Reduction |
| Months to years | Days to weeks |
| Potential risk of re-traumatisation due to unstructured exploration | Structured reactivation of trauma; safe protocol prevents re-traumatisation |
| Variable / limited evidence for trauma resolution | Multiple studies demonstrating trauma resolution |
| Provides insight and emotional processing, but does not resolve the trauma response | Directly resolves the trauma response: studies show significant reduction in PTSD, anxiety and depression |
| 50-60 minutes / session | 90-120+ minutes / session |
| Higher cumulative cost due to extended duration (no defined end point) | Lower cumulative cost as fewer sessions required (clear completion point) |
Q: Why haven’t I heard of Traumatic Incident Reduction before?
A: I hadn’t either – but now I think everyone deserves to know about it. TIR might seem like one of therapy’s best-kept secrets, but it’s actually used all over the world – from the United States and Europe to Africa, Asia and Australia. It’s trusted by emergency services, hospitals, and trauma services, and here in the UK for example, it’s been part of crisis response programmes for the Metropolitan Police and other organisations.
Q: How many sessions will I need?
A: Most clients see meaningful change in 6-10 sessions (the average being around 8), depending on the issues being addressed. Many people notice a real difference after just a few sessions, others may take longer – there is no set number.
Q: How long are the sessions?
A: Sessions (conducted over Zoom in the UK timezone) vary in length from around 90 minutes to two hours, but can sometimes run longer as we never want to interrupt the flow before reaching what’s known as an ‘end point’ where you cease to feel any charge around the trauma.
Q: How often are the sessions?
A: Multiple sessions a week have been found to be more effective, especially in the early stages of the process, although it is not essential.
Q: What are your fees?
A: Sessions are £100/hour, on a pro-rata basis to the nearest minute – so you only pay for the exact time that it takes, and no more.
Q: How does the cost compare to traditional therapy?
A: While each session is longer, the total number of hours are far fewer than traditional talk therapy which can take months or years, so overall will work out a lot cheaper in the long-run.
Q: What if I can’t fully remember the traumatic experience?
A: It is common for traumatic memories to be repressed, and you don’t need to remember everything for the process to work: it’s the release of the emotional charge, rather than the specific memory we are interested in.
Q: What if the idea of reliving a traumatic experience makes me feel anxious?
A: It’s understandable to feel anxious, feeling some emotional charge is a normal part of processing – but the safe and structured way we work together ensures it stays manageable. Your relationship to the memory will quickly start to change, allowing it to remain in the past, instead of affecting the present.
You are never left in a heightened state of anxiety just because the hour is up – sessions run as long as they naturally take and ensure you are left in a place of healing and safety. All of this happens at your pace, with guidance and support – you’re never pushed into anything you’re not ready for.
Q: I’m resisting taking the plunge…
A: I totally understand the barrier to starting a process like this – it’s very natural. But I’d like to reassure you that TIR is different: healing trauma doesn’t have to be a long and painful process. You’re not committing for months or years – it’s designed to work quickly and many experience the power of resolving long-carried trauma even in the very first session.