TRE® Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises

TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) is a gentle and effective way to release physical tension and stress, and reconnect with your body. It was created by Dr David Berceli, based on his humanitarian work with first responders around the world.

TRE® is a safe and simple movement routine that stimulates the body’s natural ‘tremoring’ response. This releases deep-held muscular and fascial tensions, restoring calm and adaptability to the nervous system. TRE is easy to learn in one session (and can then be practised safely by yourself at home), but some clients will benefit from having a number of sessions in order to feel safe to go more deeply into their experience.

A number of studies have shown that a regular practice of TRE may be helpful in resolving both the immediate and chronic effects of stress and tension, both from traumatic events and everyday life.  Recognising that, as in the words of Bessel van der Kolk, the ‘body keeps the score’, TRE focuses on addressing trauma and tension as it has been experienced by the body, and the client is directed to make contact with bodily sensation rather than ‘story’. TRE is not a substitute for psychotherapy, but it may be very helpful in conjunction with psychotherapy (I often work with clients who are in a process of trauma-informed therapy).

I also sometimes introduce TRE where it can enhance a Rolfing Ten Series or ‘unstick’ an area of the body that is not yet ready to receive direct Rolfing work. It can also be included in an Embodiment Coaching process.

One of my clients, Judy, describes how we integrated TRE into her Rolfing process when it became helpful to do so: ‘Sometimes between or during [Rolfing] sessions, deep emotional issues and fear came up which [Naomi] calmly dealt with by teaching me Trauma Release Exercises. This really was a breakthrough and I do these exercises regularly now’.

You can also read more about my personal experience of TRE.

More information on how to book here.