Understanding the Living Legacy of Trauma

This website is devoted to the understanding and treatment of the legacy of trauma: attachment failure, neglect, physical or sexual abuse in childhood, war exposure, sexual assault, medical trauma, and domestic or community violence.

Psychotherapist, Consultant, Trainer

Janina Fisher, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and a former instructor, Harvard Medical School. An international expert on the treatment of trauma, she is an Executive Board member of the Trauma Research Foundation and a Patron of the John Bowlby Centre. Dr. Fisher is the author of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Self-Alienation (2017), Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma: a Workbook for Survivors and Therapists (2021), and The Living Legacy Instructional Flip Chart (2022). She is best known for her work on integrating mindfulness-based and somatic interventions into trauma treatment. Her treatment model, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), is now being taught around the world.

TIST Training

Trauma-informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) is a trauma-informed parts approach to therapy. In TIST, we work with the ‘living legacy of trauma:’ the emotional and somatic memories held by young parts of the self and experienced as here-and-now reality by our clients. Using the Structural Dissociation model as a map, we ask clients to use the prefrontal cortex or observing brain to notice distressing emotions or negative thoughts as communications from parts and. They are taught to observe rather than suppress or react to these communications and to be interested in the parts rather than rejecting of them. As they learn to relate to their fears or shame or anger or suicidality as the feelings of young traumatized children, there is a shift in their relationship to themselves. Issues such as self-destructive behavior, addictions, and eating disorders can be addressed much more successfully using TIST, and the therapeutic relationship is rarely an issue when therapist and client work collaboratively to understand the parts and offer them compassion. TIST is an integrative method drawing on ideas and techniques drawn from Internal Family Systems, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, clinical hypnosis, and mindfulness-based psychotherapy.

The online TIST training includes three levels:

TIST 1

Foundational

TIST 2

Advanced

TIST 3

Certification Program

After three years, we now have over 200 certified TIST therapists from around the world!

Come join us! It’s not too late to register for this year’s training because all modules are recorded for later viewing.

Books

Dr. Janina Fisher is an  author of three highly acclaimed books. Her publications provide insightful and practical guidance for therapists, trauma survivors, and anyone interested in understanding the impact of trauma on the mind and body

Workshops

Join Dr. Janina Fisher for practical workshops that integrate mindfulness-based interventions into trauma therapy, and explore the impact of trauma on the body and mind to promote healing and recovery

Upcoming Workshops

March 4, 2025

TIST Level 1 (Italiano)

March 20, 2025

2025 Psychotherapy Networker Symposium

Free Downloadable eBooks

Available for instant download

When enough webs of the spider join, they can trap a lion.
Ethiopian Proverb

Free Webinar

Undoing the Damage: Healing from the Shame of Trauma

This workshop will introduce participants to understanding shame from a trauma perspective — as a survival strategy rather than a response to degradation. Janina will show you how to help clients relate to their symptoms with curiosity and interest rather than with automatic acceptance.

Janina will share her vast experience working with shame and trauma. And there will be ample time for Q&A!