SIRPA - Stress Illness Recovery Practitioners’ Association
We don’t endorse any of the resources here, but only share what exists. Please do your own research. The information within our resources is from secondary sources, and is not intended to replace medical advice from a healthcare provider. Whilst we aim to provide as much information as we can for free, some of these resources will cost you money if you take them up. If there are scholarships or funding that we can find, we cite them in the resource.
-
Founded by physiotherapist Georgie Oldfield, SIRPA is based on the work of Dr John Sarno and focuses on helping people overcome persistent pain and chronic symptoms by addressing underlying stress and emotional factors. It combines education, self-reflection, and therapeutic tools to help people break the cycle of pain and illness.
-
Offers self-guided products such as workbooks, audio courses, and webinars.
Provides access to a network of SIRPA-trained practitioners offering one-to-one support.
Core approach includes recognising pain or symptoms as linked to stress and repressed emotions, then using practical tools to shift patterns.
Emphasises empowerment through education, reducing fear around symptoms, and encouraging safe movement.
-
SIRPA is widely recognised in the TMS/mindbody recovery community.
Has an extensive library of recovery stories for inspiration.
Products range from introductory self-help tools to professional training courses.
Particularly noted as relevant for Long Covid recovery alongside other conditions.
-
The educational framing of symptoms as stress-related reduced fear and gave participants a new perspective on recovery (sirpa.org).
Self-guided resources like workbooks and audio classes provided practical steps for day-to-day progress (sirpa.org).
Many found reading recovery stories motivating and reassuring, especially for conditions often described as hopeless (sirpa.org).
Practitioner support was valued for personalised guidance and accountability (reddit.com/r/tms).
-
Workbooks & audio downloads: £15–£40
Online courses: £95–£195
Practitioner coaching/therapy: varies by provider (commonly £60–£120 per session)
Professional training courses: £1,000+
-
No regular public discounts are listed.
Free resources include case studies and introductory blog posts.
Some practitioners may offer sliding scale pricing.
-
Main site: sirpa.org
Products: sirpa.org/products
Recovery stories: sirpa.org/recovery-stories
