Trauma Therapy with IRRT: What to Expect and How It Helps

Finding the right trauma therapist can feel overwhelming. If you’ve been searching for effective trauma therapy or PTSD treatment in Coffs Harbour, you may have come across IRRT — Imagery Rescripting and Reprocessing Therapy.

As a clinical psychologist focusing on trauma therapy for adults, I use IRRT in my practice to support clients in their recovery from traumatic experiences.

In this post, I’ll explain what IRRT is, how it works, and what you can expect before, during, and after a session.

What is IRRT (Imagery Rescripting and Reprocessing Therapy)?

IRRT is a form of trauma therapy that helps you process and heal from traumatic memories using imagery. During a session, you’ll be invited to visualise a distressing memory in detail. This isn’t about rationally analysing the event — because often, you already know what happened. The focus is on connecting with the emotional side of your experience, where the real healing can begin.

Unlike talk therapy or cognitive approaches, IRRT works by engaging your emotions, senses, and imagination — bypassing the analytical mind to reach the parts of you that still carry the emotional impact of what happened.

Who can benefit from IRRT?

IRRT is an effective therapy for adults experiencing:

·        Single-incident trauma (e.g. car accidents, assaults)

·        Complex trauma or childhood developmental trauma (e.g. neglect, abuse)

·        Emotional trauma from bullying, abandonment, or relationships

·        PTSD or complex PTSD

·        Flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, guilt, shame, worthlessness, self-criticism

Even if you’ve already tried other types of therapy, IRRT may provide emotional relief by reaching the core of unresolved trauma.

How is IRRT different from EMDR or CBT?

While EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) uses eye movements to process traumatic memories, IRRT uses your imagination to ‘rescript’ those memories in a new and empowering way.

Unlike EMDR or cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), which often focus on desensitising or habituation, IRRT allows for an emotional re-experiencing and reprocessing of the event. It helps you step back into the memory and respond in a new way — offering emotional repair, rather than insight or rational understanding.

While many approaches can be very helpful, IRRT reaches emotional depths that talking alone often can’t.

‘But I’m got good at visualising…’ - That’s okay

You don’t need to be a highly visual person to benefit from IRRT. Clients experience imagery in many different ways:

·        As emotions or physical sensations

·        As symbolic or abstract images

·        As a felt sense, rather than clear pictures

There’s no right or wrong way to experience IRRT. Your process will be uniquely your own, and I’ll support you through it at your pace.

What happens in an IRRT session?

IRRT sessions follow a structured and supportive process. Here's what to expect:

·        You’ll be guided to close your eyes and revisit a difficult memory, as if it were unfolding in the present.

·        You’ll describe what you see, feel, or sense out loud while I guide and support you through the process.

·        We’ll engage in a kind of dialogue as you move through the memory — helping your emotional system respond in a new way.

Sessions often end with a sense of relief, calm, or emotional clarity.

After the session: What to expect

Many clients report feeling:

·        Emotionally lighter and more empowered

·        Less burdened by past memories

·        More connected to their inner strength

·        Clearer and more grounded

You might also feel emotionally tired or drained — which is normal. It’s important to give yourself time to rest afterward.

If you’ve given permission to record the session, listening back can help deepen your understanding and strengthen the therapeutic impact. Many clients find this to be a core part of their healing journey.

Is it safe to revisit traumatic memories?

Yes, when done in a safe, supportive therapeutic environment. I believe that each person holds the inner resources they need to heal. My role is to help you access those strengths and guide you through the process.

While it can feel intense to revisit painful memories, it’s also where meaningful healing begins. IRRT helps you find your inner peace again.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions varies depending on:

·        The complexity of your trauma history

·        Whether other conditions are involved (such as anxiety or depression)

·        Your personal goals for therapy

Some clients experience a major shift after just one IRRT session, while others need to explore several memories.

IRRT is embedded within a structured therapeutic process:

1.     Initial assessment: We get to know each other and explore your history.

2.     Preparation: We identify a memory and prepare for the imagery session.

3.     IRRT session: You process the memory using imagery.

4.     Integration: We debrief and explore what the session meant for you, and plan your next steps.

Trauma Therapy with IRRT in Coffs Harbour or Online

If you’re looking for effective trauma therapy in Coffs Harbour or want to connect online via telehealth in NSW, Australia, I offer IRRT sessions for adults experiencing PTSD, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms. In this blog post you can learn more about inner child work based on IRRT.

Feel free to contact me for a consultation, ask any questions, or discuss whether IRRT might be the right fit.