My Modalities

Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR)

I am a Certified TIR Facilitator. At the time of this writing, I am one of three people who are not just trained, but fully Certified as a TIR Facilitator in the State of Virginia.

TIR is a SAHMSA-approved, evidence-based treatment for PTSD. See this page for more information on the importance of evidence-based treatment.

This is a structured method for treating the symptoms of PTSD. I will guide you to safely revisit the incident (or series of incidents) that are troubling you, in structured way, being present with you every step of the way. The goal is to reprocess how you experience the incident(s), so that you feel lighter and less affected by it.

A TIR session has no set end time. Rather, when you are stabilized and reach an “end point”, that is when we are done. Most TIR sessions can be done in 90 minutes, but this can vary. We will usually plan a TIR session ahead of time. The number of PTSD treatment sessions is determined by your level of relief from PTSD symptoms, as well as what might be attached to it. For example, a single car accident may take 2 to 4 sessions, while years of bullying or witnessing traumatic events repeatedly may have more issues or “charge” attached, so more work might be needed. That’s ok. There is no “right” number of sessions that it takes; the goal is to relieve your symptoms.

LSR (Life Stress Reduction)

I use LSR (Life Stress Reduction), a related but slightly less structured technique, to address the issues of life stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and overwhelm that are bringing you to therapy. LSR allows you to view the issues that are causing you distress. We create a space for you to unlayer the parts of your issue until you get relief and resolution from that issue.

The more you are able to view the issues that are charged, the more you will unlayer and reduce that charge. Think of your emotional and mental “charge” like a lava flow: If you try to push it down, it builds pressure. You spend mental, emotional, and physical energy trying to keep it “pushed down”. Over time, this saps your ability to live in the present.

But if you open up the lava flow in a structured, guided way, you can release the pressure, and “see” the different parts of the lava. Just as a lava flow cools when released, your mental and emotional charge get released and reduced. The result is more calm and clarity about the issues that have been so distressing.

Somatic Experiencing

Trauma is not just an upsetting memory, but an experience in your body. With Somatic Experiencing, we track the sensations in your body as you recount an experiencing that was upsetting to you. You develop deeper awareness of your body, becoming able to identify areas where tension clusters, and increase your skill in regulating your body responses to trauma and distress.

Other Approaches

Occasionally I will give consultation. This may involve information on resources for ADHD or current life stressors. Or I may give guidance in the form of strategies for parenting or tackling executive functioning deficits, or calming your anxiety and overwhelm between sessions, if that is what you need.