If you’re curious about how the body releases trauma, or looking for somatic tools to support emotional well-being, this blog and video offer practical insights and profound wisdom on the subject.
What Is TRE®?
TRE®, short for Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises, is a set of simple, body-based techniques designed to help the nervous system release deep muscular tension, stress, and trauma. It works by provoking natural tremors (neurogenic tremors) in the body—these tremors help the body release suppressed muscular tension and restore equilibrium.
Dr. Berceli developed TRE® after decades of working in conflict zones, disaster recovery, and stress settings, observing that many traditional talk therapies did not fully address how trauma remains held in the body.
Key Themes from the Interview
1. Origins of TRE®
Dr. Berceli shares how his work with war zones, displaced communities, and trauma survivors led him to notice a pattern: many trauma survivors carry tension in their bodies—tension that talk therapy alone could not reach. This inspired him to explore how the human body naturally “shakes off” stress, and to systematize that process.
2. Science + Somatic Experience
While TRE® has a strong experiential basis, Dr. Berceli also emphasizes that it has roots in neurobiology, physiology, and nervous system regulation. The tremoring reflex is a built-in mechanism. When safely facilitated, it allows the body to discharge excess muscular tension accumulated over time.
3. How TRE® Helps
TRE® may support:
- Emotional regulation
- Reduced anxiety and hypervigilance
- Relief from chronic muscular tension
- Enhanced mind–body connection
- Post-trauma recovery
Dr. Berceli discusses how people using TRE® to shift from chronic tension and overwhelm toward more grounded presence.
4. Precautions, Guidance & Professional Support
Not everyone is ready to self-induce tremors. He stresses that working with a certified TRE® provider is often important, especially for people with deep or complex trauma. Safe container, pacing, and integration support are essential.
5. Personal Stories & Transformative Effects
Throughout the interview, Nissa and Dr. Berceli exchange stories of personal transformation—how clients, witnesses of trauma, or even first responders experienced breakthroughs, shifts in their body sensations, and emotional relief through regular TRE® practice.
Why this Matters
- If you are a healing practitioner, therapist, or bodyworker, this interview offers an insider’s look at somatic approaches to trauma
- If you are someone carrying unresolved stress, trauma, or physical tension, you may find TRE® a gentle, body-based complementary tool
- If you’re curious about how mind and body integrate in healing, Dr. Berceli’s reflections bridge neuroscience, somatic practice, and lived experience
In the illuminating interview “The Story Behind TRE® and How it Helps”, Nissa talks with Dr. David Berceli, the originator of TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises), to explore how this method was born, its scientific foundations, and how it can support healing from stress, trauma, and chronic tension.
Final Thoughts
The conversation between Nissa and Dr. David Berceli reminds us that healing is not just about the mind — it’s a full-body experience. TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) opens a safe, natural way for the body to unwind stored stress, restore balance, and reconnect with ease.
If you’re feeling called to explore this work, you don’t have to do it alone. Nissa, an Integrated Wellness Coach, combines somatic practices, breathwork, and trauma-informed approaches to help you align your mind, body, and spirit. Through guided TRE® sessions, she creates a safe and grounded space for your body to release tension and return to calm.
✨ Ready to begin your journey?
Book a 1:1 session with Nissa to experience the power of integrated wellness and TRE® in your own body.
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