In recent decades, trauma therapy has undergone a transformation, with a new generation of therapists moving beyond traditional talk therapy. Clinicians are increasingly embracing body-based and integrative approaches to help clients address the complex effects of traumatic experiences.
Dr. Janina Fisher stands at the forefront of this movement.
Dr. Fisher is a clinical psychologist, early adopter, and contributor to the growth of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Her development of the Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) training methodology, which includes sensorimotor techniques, as well as “parts work” similar to that used in Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness, has shaped the practices of many trauma-informed therapists worldwide.
A Brief History of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Body-oriented psychotherapy traces its origins to Wilhelm Reich, who in the 1930s explored how emotional trauma could manifest as chronic muscular tension, or “armoring,” in the body. Alexander Lowen expanded on these ideas, developing Bioenergetic Analysis in the 1950s, emphasizing movement, posture, and breath in treating psychological distress. Later, Ron Kurtz (Hakomi Method) and Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) highlighted the body’s role in healing trauma.
In the 1980s, Dr. Pat Ogden, who began her career as a bodyworker and later trained in psychology, developed Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She studied and taught at the Hakomi Institute, worked closely with Ron Kurtz, and conducted clinical work with trauma survivors. Drawing on her background in somatic therapies, attachment theory, and neuroscience, Dr. Ogden created Sensorimotor Psychotherapy as a holistic framework for trauma treatment. She is recognized for her innovative integration of body-based and psychological approaches and has published foundational texts and taught clinicians internationally.
Dr. Fisher, a long-time collaborator with Dr. Ogden, co-authored Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Attachment and Trauma (2015, W. W. Norton & Company), a foundational text. Dr. Fisher serves as faculty and Assistant Educational Director of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, internationally recognized for its clinician training.
Janina Fisher´s Early Career and Influences
Janina Fisher grew up in New York and trained as a clinical psychologist. Early in her career, she worked at The Trauma Center, founded by Bessel van der Kolk, where she encountered the challenges of treating complex trauma and dissociation.
Major influences on her work include body psychotherapy, neuroscience, and collaboration with Pat Ogden. As Fisher stated in Psychology Today:
“I believe that the body is the substrate of all experience, and that in order to truly heal from trauma, we must work with the body, not just the mind.”
This philosophy has guided her clinical practice, research, and teaching for over four decades.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and TIST: Principles and Practice
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy stands out for integrating body-based, cognitive, and emotional interventions. Rather than focusing solely on thoughts or feelings, as in talk-based therapies like CBT, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy addresses trauma and attachment at the somatic level, helping clients recognize patterns of movement, posture, and sensation that reflect their survival history.
Central to Fisher’s contribution is her work on “fragmented selves,” exploring how trauma survivors experience dissociation and internal conflict. Her approach emphasizes self-compassion, stabilization, and developing adaptive responses for a more balanced life.
In Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, therapists help clients notice emotions and memories in the body, encouraging present-moment awareness of sensations and movement. By gently experimenting with these experiences, clients can develop new ways to feel safer and more resilient.
Fisher’s TIST methodology works similarly, encouraging clients to notice how troubling emotions and memories manifest in thoughts and bodily sensations. TIST places particular emphasis on recognizing and working with different “parts” of the self that develop in response to trauma, supporting internal safety, self-compassion, and resilience.
TIST History, Philosophy, and Public Reception
In the mid-2010s, Dr. Fisher formalized her Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment approach, building on decades of clinical experience and her foundational work in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.
As Fisher recounts,
“The development of TIST grew out of my frustration that trauma survivors with severe dissociation were often misunderstood or seen as ‘too complex’ for traditional approaches.”
She sought to create a model that offered “hope, structure, and practical direction for both therapists and clients.” TIST combines somatic principles, parts work, and a focus on stabilization, guiding clients to recognize and compassionately engage with dissociated parts. “TIST is not just a collection of techniques; it’s a way of seeing our clients that honors their resourcefulness and protects them from further overwhelm.”
Today, Dr. Fisher trains and certifies thousands of psychotherapists each year, offering Trauma Therapy Certification in TIST exclusively through Academy of Therapy Wisdom, a company specializing in trainings for therapists that provide a high level of access to experts. The TIST trainings incorporate Sensorimotor Psychotherapy concepts throughout, ensuring clinicians are equipped with both body-based and parts-based interventions.
The model has received enthusiastic endorsements from clinicians. One practitioner notes, “TIST has transformed how I approach clients with complex trauma. The tools are practical, evidence-informed, and deeply respectful of clients’ experiences.” Another calls the certification “the most comprehensive and empowering training I’ve ever taken.”
Senior TIST facilitator Deb Dana, LCSW, highlights:
“Dr. Fisher’s work has created a community of trauma therapists who are better equipped to support their clients in finding safety, hope, and integration. The TIST model respects the complexity of trauma while providing a clear path forward for healing.”
Research and Evidence Base for Sensorimotor and Body-Based Therapies
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and related somatic approaches are increasingly supported by empirical research. Peer-reviewed studies indicate body-oriented therapies show promise for reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, dissociation, and emotional dysregulation. Fisher has published articles in academic journals and contributed frameworks for integrating somatic interventions into evidence-based practice.
However, some clinicians and researchers note that TIST, while drawing on many evidence-based techniques, has not yet been validated by large-scale, independent, peer-reviewed studies. There is consensus that more rigorous research is needed before TIST can be formally classified as evidence-based. Nonetheless, many therapists value its integrative approach and report positive outcomes in practice.
Fisher’s Leadership in Teaching and International Clinical Training
Dr. Fisher’s influence extends far beyond her clinical work. She serves on the advisory board of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, is a board member of the Trauma Research Foundation, and a patron of the Bowlby Centre in London. She is a faculty member at Academy of Therapy Wisdom, a past president of the New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, and an EMDR International Association credit provider.
Dr. Fisher has also served as an instructor at Harvard Medical School, the Cape Cod Institute, the EMDR International Association Annual Conference, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Westminster in London, the Psychotraumatology Institute of Europe, and the Esalen Institute. She is widely recognized for her accessible, evidence-informed, and skills-based training, which has reached thousands of clinicians internationally.
Publications, Recognition, and Educational Impact
Dr. Fisher has published influential works, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Attachment and Trauma (with Pat Ogden), Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors, and Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma. She has published numerous articles in academic and clinical journals, as well as training resources adopted globally.
In 2024, Fisher was honored with the Psychotherapy Networker Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her decades of groundbreaking work in trauma therapy and clinician education.
One of Fisher’s most cited reflections:
“Trauma is not just an event that took place in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, body, and brain. This imprint has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present.”
The Future of Sensorimotor and Body-Based Trauma Therapies
As Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, TIST, and related somatically-informed modalities become more integrated into mainstream care, trauma therapy continues to evolve. In a world where traumatic circumstances are increasingly common, ongoing research, innovation, and collaboration are expanding the possibilities for healing.
Janina Fisher’s vision—centered on “healing fragmented selves” and integrating body, mind, and relationship in therapy—remains a guiding influence for clinicians. With a legacy of leadership, innovation, and commitment to training the next generation of trauma therapists, Janina Fisher stands at the forefront of a movement reshaping mental health care for the 21st century.
