What is TRE?
TRE (Tension, Stress, and Trauma Releasing Exercises) is a simple yet innovative series of
exercises that assist the body in releasing deep muscular patterns of stress, tension and trauma. Created by Dr. David Berceli, PhD, TRE safely activates a natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating that releases muscular tension, calming down the nervous system. When this muscular shaking/vibrating mechanism is activated in a safe and controlled environment, the body is encouraged to return back to a state of balance.
What Makes TRE Unique?
The therapeutic muscle tremors evoked by the TRE exercise process is a natural, internal, neuro-physiological response of the body to reduce its own stress and restore a sense of well-being.
TRE is a body based (somatic) process which, when done properly, through a Certified TRE Provider can allow the individual to discharge tension from the body, which often does not require “revisiting the story”. (ie: verbally describing or talking about the traumatic experience)
TRE is designed to be a self-help tool that once learned, can be used as needed, throughout one’s life, thereby continuously supporting and promoting personal health and wholeness.
TRE can be taught as either a simple self-help, tension reduction technique in a physical exercise program OR it can be used as an effective complementary practice when integrated with other treatment modalities by those in the healing professions, including the treatment of PTSD and anxiety disorder recovery.
TRE can be taught in very large groups for communities that have experienced mass trauma.
TRE promotes cohesiveness and openness between participants and can be a helpful tool for dispute resolution. (ie: interpersonal, corporate and political communication)
TRE is based on the concept that in stressful or traumatic situations our body is genetically encoded to contract to protect itself. After the stressful situation is over, we are supposed to release such contractions and come back to an optimal state of balance and relaxation. However, the way that the body releases is through tremoring and shaking (similarly to what we feel building up in our body when we are nervous, afraid or excited) and, since we are conditioned to believe that shaking is a sign of weakness or disease, we tend to unconsciously inhibit this healing response. By doing TRE we reactivate this natural releasing mechanism with often immediate and profound results. People report sleeping better, getting rid of pain and aches, the healing of sciatica, a lessening of anxiety and depression, feeling calmer and less reactive, and a release of deep chronic tension.
The TRE exercises work the legs, tiring them and creating a trembling response, which begins in the legs and often spreads throughout the body. This gentle shaking is actually the nervous system’s way of discharging long-held tension or unconscious muscle contraction to restore the body to wholeness. The tremors release tension all over the body and in particular in the Psoas muscle, the main muscle of Fight or Flight. Since the Psoas contracts every time something scary or unpleasant happens, it tends to be tight in everybody. TRE is suitable for people of all ages and levels of fitness as the exercises can be modified to accommodate anybody’s needs.
Originally developed for sufferers of trauma, over the past few decades, TRE is becoming an increasingly popular way to also deal with the stressors of everyday life and is taught and practiced in over 35 countries worldwide.
This article was republished from the TRE California (http://trecalifornia.com/about-tre/) and TRE for All (https://traumaprevention.com/what-is-tre/) websites.
Pacific MFT Network offers TRE to our clients in groups and individually. For more information on TRE or to schedule a free consultation to discuss if TRE is a good fit for you, please contact Cibele Sousa at 424-247-6172 or email her here.
Cibele Sousa is a Registered MFT Intern under the supervision of Tracy Bevington. Cibele is a TRE certified provider and is Resilience Toolkit trained. Cibele’s eclectic and collaborative approach is one that envisions empowering, strengthening, and encouraging clients to find their own path of self-contentment and personal growth. With kindness, compassion, and mindfulness, she has the ability to create a safe and nurturing environment where clients feel heard and change is possible. Cibele is experienced in working with families, couples, individuals, children, and teens, that are undergoing a life crisis, experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or substance abuse. Cibele has an eclectic style that combines psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, CBT, solution focused, family systems, mindfulness based stress reduction, Reichian, Inner Alignment, and non-violent communication approaches. Cibele is bilingual, and can do therapy in both English and Portugese.
To learn more about Cibele or the other services we offer at Pacific MFT Network, please visit our website, www.pacificmft.com.
Pacific Marriage and Family Therapy Network provides children, teens, adults of all ages, couples, and families with quality psychotherapy that gets results. We have several therapists on staff that have several different modalities of work, specializations and expertise. We can help clients experiencing anxiety, depression, difficult life transitions, troubled relationships, addiction, eating disorders, stress, anger management, prenatal bonding, trauma, domestic violence, performance, whole life fitness, ADD/ADHD, autism, learning differences, religious crisis/struggles, LGBTQ issues, social skills, couples/marital, pre-marital, dating, break up recovery, parenting children, parenting teens, social anxiety, self esteem, substance use, panic, stress relief, cancer recovery, pre-surgical wellness, post-surgical wellness, disordered eating, postpartum depression, careers, grief & loss, divorce, co-parenting, childhood trauma, childhood behavior management, work & life balance, fatherhood, codependancy, or any other mental health issue. Pacific MFT Network is a professional network of highly skilled licensed Marriage & Family Therapists and Interns that are committed to empowering a sense of self in our clients and helping them live the life they want. We do so by creating a relationship that is based on genuine care and concern, non-judgment, and support. Our mission is to help you help yourself live a happier and more satisfying life.
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