Cathy Dodge Smith’s article, “Traumatic Incident Reduction: A Wonderful Way to Practice” was just published in Psychologica (Vol. 41, No. 2), the official journal of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Psychometrists (OACCPP). This publication goes out to all their members
You can view her article in the current edition. Here’s a brief excerpt:
Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) is a client-centered approach that I like because it is usually very effective in a short amount of time. It allows me to get out of the way so the client can find her own solutions — often ones I could not possibly have thought of. They work for the client because they are her own. TIR, when applied correctly, diminishes or eliminates the negative impact of traumatic events for most people, making it an excellent choice for treatment of trauma. It is a time-efficient, one-on-one method in which the client repeatedly recalls a traumatic memory under the guidance of a trained practitioner in a safe, secure situation with no distractions.
In my personal practice, I have used TIR with clients who have dyslexia, ADHD, and autism — clients who are not always good subjects for traditional, reflection-based therapies. TIR is solidly based on the foundational work of Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers.
Cathy Dodge Smith has 50 years of experience in special education and psychology. She is the owner and Director of ADD, Dyslexia & Autism Associates Inc. in Oakville, Ontario. During her career, Cathy has worked as a teacher at elementary school, community college, and university. She has a master’s degree in vocational guidance with a specialty in learning disabilities, and a doctorate in human development and applied psychology.