TIST: Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment

(Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)

Understanding TIST

Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) is a therapeutic approach designed to support individuals who have experienced chronic trauma, dissociation, or overwhelming emotional states. Developed by Janina Fisher, TIST is grounded in compassion and neuroscience. It helps people understand the survival-based patterns that developed in response to trauma—and gently guides them toward stability, safety, and self-connection.

TIST recognizes that symptoms are not failures or flaws, but adaptive responses that once protected a person in the face of threat. These patterns may feel confusing or disruptive today, but they were born from resilience and the instinct to survive.

What Makes TIST different?

TIST helps clients create space between their present-day self and the trauma-driven parts of themselves that carry pain, fear, or shame. Rather than viewing these parts as problems, TIST encourages a relationship of curiosity, compassion, and cooperation.

Some core aspects of TIST include:

  • Understanding Parts
    Trauma often creates “parts” or states that hold different emotional experiences. TIST helps identify these parts without judgment.

  • Stabilization First
    Safety and grounding are prioritized before processing traumatic memories. Clients learn how to stay anchored in the present.

  • Mind-Body Awareness
    Trauma lives in the body. TIST integrates somatic principles to help regulate the nervous system.

  • De-pathologizing Symptoms
    Symptoms are reframed as survival strategies rather than dysfunction.

  • Strengthening the Self
    Clients learn to connect with their resilient, capable adult self who can care for and guide vulnerable parts.

Who Can Benefit from TIST?

TIST is designed for individuals who struggle with:

  • Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)

  • Dissociation or parts-based experiences

  • Chronic shame, self-criticism, or emotional dysregulation

  • Trauma-related symptoms (flashbacks, hypervigilance, numbing)

  • Self-destructive or compulsive behaviours

  • Difficulties with boundaries or relationships

TIST can be especially helpful for those who have felt overwhelmed by traditional approaches or who need a steadier, safer way to build internal stability.

How It Works in Counselling

TIST sessions are collaborative and paced according to each person’s comfort and readiness. A session may include:

  • Grounding and orienting exercises

  • Identifying different emotional states or parts

  • Dialogue with parts from a place of compassion

  • Somatic awareness and nervous system regulation

  • Practising skills for emotional stabilization

  • Reframing symptoms through a trauma-informed lens

Therapists help clients stay in a grounded, present-centered state while exploring difficult internal experiences. The emphasis is on safety, not re-traumatization.

Core Principles of TIST

  1. Safety Above All
    Deep work happens only when a sense of safety is established.

  2. Stabilization Before Processing
    Clients learn tools to stay regulated before exploring trauma history.

  3. Compassion as a Pathway to Change
    Healing happens when all parts feel seen, understood, and supported.

  4. Present-Centered Awareness
    Anchoring into the here-and-now reduces overwhelm and promotes choice.

  5. Empowerment
    Clients reconnect with the capacity, strength, and agency they may have lost touch with.

What Healing Can Look Like with TIST

With time and practice, individuals often experience:

  • Increased emotional regulation

  • Reduced dissociation and internal conflict

  • A stronger sense of self and identity

  • More compassion toward themselves

  • Improved relationships and boundaries

  • Less reactivity to triggers

  • Greater resilience and grounding

  • A clearer understanding of their trauma responses

Healing is not about erasing the past; it’s about building stability and connection in the present.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to revisit traumatic memories in detail?

No. TIST prioritizes stabilization and grounding before exploring any trauma history. You do not need to discuss painful memories unless you feel ready. The emphasis is always on safety, not re-traumatization.

What does a typical TIST session look like?

A session may include grounding exercises, identifying parts, practising somatic awareness, and building emotional stabilization skills. Your therapist works with you in a present-centered, collaborative way, ensuring the pace feels manageable and supportive.

Why does TIST focus so much on safety?

Healing from trauma requires a sense of internal and external safety. TIST helps you stay grounded and connected so that deeper work can happen without overwhelm. Safety isn’t a step—it’s the foundation.

How does TIST work with the body?

Because trauma often lives in the body, TIST includes somatic awareness and nervous system regulation. These practices help you notice physical cues, stay grounded, and build resilience.

How long does TIST take?

The timeline is flexible. Some people feel more stable after several months, while others benefit from longer-term support. TIST moves at the pace of your comfort and nervous system readiness.

Is TIST something I can combine with other therapies?

Yes. TIST pairs well with approaches like DBT, EMDR, somatic therapy, and CBT. It can be your primary therapeutic approach or part of a broader healing plan.

Ready To Take The Next Step?

TIST offers a deeply respectful, trauma-informed space where all parts of you are welcome. Our TIST-trained counsellor, Jason Chang, RCC, supports clients in building safety, strengthening internal resources, and creating a relationship with themselves that is grounded, compassionate, and empowered.

If you’d like to learn more about TIST, or explore whether it’s right for you, please reach out:

Phone: (778)715-0112

Email: info@willowbarkwellness.com

Or book a complimentary 15 minute consultation with Jason Chang to see if he’s the right fit for you.

Jason Chang's Availability