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For many people who have experienced trauma, the hardest part of seeking support is the prospect of talking about it. Of going back. Of recounting, in detail, experiences they have spent years trying not to think about.
TRE® (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) offers a different route.
It works at the level of the body, not the narrative. It doesn’t ask you to revisit memories, explain what happened, or find words for experiences that may not have any. It activates a natural physiological mechanism the body already possesses, and allows stored traumatic tension to discharge. Gently and at your own pace.
This guide explains what TRE® is, the science behind how it works, who it is most suited to, and how to access it online in the UK.
What Is TRE® Trauma Release?
TRE® stands for Tension, Stress and Trauma Releasing Exercises. Developed in the early 1990s by Dr David Berceli, a trauma specialist who worked extensively in conflict zones across the Middle East and Africa. TRE® is a series of seven gentle physical exercises that activate the body’s natural tremoring mechanism.
The exercises primarily target the legs, hips, and psoas muscle. They are simple and accessible for most body types and fitness levels. They do not require prior physical training or experience of body-based therapies.
Once the exercises have loaded the deep core muscles sufficiently, the body begins to tremor involuntarily. You lie on the floor, and allow the shaking to move through you. That is the practice.
What happens beneath the surface during those tremors is where the therapeutic value lies.
Why Trauma Lives in the Body
To understand TRE®, it helps to understand why trauma becomes physical in the first place.
When we experience threat, the body activates the sympathetic nervous system (the fight, flight, or freeze response). Stress hormones flood the system. Muscles contract and brace. The body mobilises to survive.
In many cases, particularly with trauma, that mobilisation never fully completes. The event ends, but the physiological activation doesn’t discharge. The nervous system remains partially primed. The muscles stay braced. Over time, especially when trauma is repeated, early, or severe, these layers of tension become embedded in the body. They are held below conscious awareness, influencing how we feel, how we respond, and how safe we are able to feel.
This is why talking alone often reaches its limits. Insight, understanding, even resolution of the narrative may not automatically release what the body is holding. The body needs its own route to resolution.
Watch an animal after a near-predator encounter: it trembles. The shaking discharges the adrenaline, completes the interrupted survival cycle, and resets the nervous system. Then it walks away. Humans have exactly the same capacity but we have learned to suppress it. TRE® gently reactivates it.
The Science of Neurogenic Tremors
The tremors in TRE® are called neurogenic. This means they originate in the nervous system, not in muscular fatigue.
Research has found neurogenic tremors to activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and restore branch)1. This may produce reductions in physiological stress markers. Studies have shown increases in heart rate variability1 and improvements in overall wellbeing2 with regular TRE® practice. Although research into cortisol reduction is ongoing, it shows promising early results.3
A case study published in the Journal of Military and Veterans Health documented meaningful improvements in PTSD symptoms.4 Research with East African refugees documented significant reductions in trauma symptoms.5 A US Veterans Administration controlled trial comparing TRE with yoga found both produced significant decreases in PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbance relative to a control group.6
The evidence base continues to develop, and larger controlled trials are needed. But the neurophysiological mechanism is well-grounded, and the clinical picture is consistent.
Who TRE® Is Most Suited To
At The Forbes Clinic, TRE® is offered specifically for adults who are carrying the physiological effects of trauma and are looking for a body-based approach. Often one that works without requiring them to revisit the past.
TRE® may be especially relevant for those with:
- Early childhood trauma — experiences held somatically before language was fully developed
- Birth trauma — physical and emotional experiences of difficult births
- Traumatic loss and grief — where the body holds shock and bereavement
- Traumatic events — serious accidents, injuries, medical trauma, or sudden life-altering events
- Sexual trauma — where body-based work that doesn’t require verbal recounting can feel safer
- Experiences of abuse — domestic violence, childhood abuse, or other sustained harmful experiences
If you have experienced trauma and have found talk therapy difficult, incomplete, or simply not the right fit — TRE® offers a different way in.
Ready to try a body-based approach to trauma? Book a TRE® session with Maria Trindade →
What Happens in a TRE® Session?
Sessions with Maria Trindade at The Forbes Clinic take place online via secure video call. They are available to adults across the UK.
Sessions run for 75 minutes, allowing time to explain the process, and work through the exercises at a pace that feels manageable.
Responses can vary. Some clients report immediate deep relaxation. Others feel a quiet emotional release. Some notice nothing striking in the session itself, and find the difference in the days that follow. In sleep, in the nervous system baseline, in the sense of ease in the body. All of these responses are normal.
Sessions are available online across the UK. Book a free call with Maria Trinaded to get started →
Can TRE® Be Done Online?
Yes, and effectively so.
TRE® requires only a clear floor space and a mat or carpet. Maria guides the session via video call while you work in your own home. For many people, particularly those with a trauma history, this can feel safer and more containing than a clinical in-person setting.
Is TRE® Right for You? Suitability and Contraindications
TRE® is not suitable if you:
- Have epilepsy or a seizure disorder
- Are currently pregnant
- Have recently undergone major surgery— allow full recovery before beginning
Please speak with your GP before beginning TRE® if you have:
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia or psychosis
- Suicidal ideation or a history of self-harm
- A diagnosed personality disorder
As with all services at The Forbes Clinic, TRE® is complementary to — not a replacement for — conventional medical or mental health care. We may ask you to share confirmation from your primary care provider that our services are suitable.
Book a TRE® session with Maria Trindade →
TRE® Within a Broader Integrative Approach
TRE® is a distinct and complete practice in its own right. It is also one part of our broader mind-body medicine toolkit including somatic therapies like EFT Tapping and the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model.
Explore our broader Mind-Body Medicine approach →
At The Forbes Clinic, we work with clients who often carry multiple, interconnected layers of difficulty. Trauma held in the body alongside nervous system dysregulation, chronic physical symptoms, hormonal disruption, and emotional patterns that have developed in response to years of being unwell or unsupported.
Depending on your picture, TRE® might sit alongside other solutions like Functional Nutrition to address the gut-brain-axis, functional testing for hormonal balance & cortisol function, or an Integrative Health Assessment that looks at the full context of your physical and emotional health.
If you are not sure where to start, a conversation with one of our team is the simplest first step.
Not sure which service is right for you? Start here →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TRE® stand for?
TRE® stands for Tension, Stress and Trauma Releasing Exercises. It is sometimes called Trauma Release Exercises in older literature. The full name reflects its breadth — though at The Forbes Clinic, TRE® is offered specifically as a trauma-focused, body-based practice.
Do I have to talk about what happened to me?
No. This is one of TRE®’s defining qualities. The practice works at a physiological level — through the body’s own tremoring mechanism — without requiring you to revisit, recount, or process your experiences verbally. The body does the work, not the narrative.
Is TRE® somatic therapy?
Yes, TRE® is a form of somatic therapy. Somatic therapy is a broader category of body-based therapeutic practice. TRE® is a specific method within that space, distinguished by its structured exercise sequence and the activation of neurogenic tremors.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies considerably depending on your history and how your body responds. Some people notice a meaningful shift within two or three sessions. Others benefit from a longer, more gradual process. Maria will discuss what makes sense for your situation.
Can I do TRE® at home between sessions?
Once you have learned the exercises and understand how your body responds, TRE® can be practised independently at home. Most practitioners recommend several guided sessions first, so that you are confident in regulating intensity and recognising your body’s signals before working alone.
Is TRE® available on the NHS?
Not currently. TRE® is available at The Forbes Clinic online across the UK, with sessions offered by Maria Trindade.
How is TRE® different from yoga or exercise?
The tremoring in TRE® is an involuntary neurological response — not something you consciously produce or control. This distinguishes it from yoga, stretching, or exercise, where all movements are deliberate. TRE®’s value lies precisely in working with the body’s automatic regulatory mechanisms, not the conscious mind.
The Forbes Clinic is a virtual-first integrative health clinic. TRE® Trauma Release sessions are offered online by Maria Trindade and are available to adults across the UK. All mind-body services are complementary to conventional medical and mental health care.
1 HRV study: Torres de Almeida, J., & Oberto Rodrigues, G. (2021). Tension Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) regulates the autonomic nervous system, increases heart rate variability and improves psychophysiological stress in university students. TRE Global Research Repository. https://treglobal.org/research/
2 Wellbeing/quality of life study: Berceli, D., Salmon, M., Bonifas, R., & Ndefo, N. (2014). Effects of self-induced unclassified therapeutic tremors on quality of life among non-professional caregivers: A pilot study. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 3(5), 45–48. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4268601/
3 Cortisol study protocol: Mao, Z. X., et al. (2024). Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a mother-child intervention model of neurogenic tremor as an add-on to treatment for emotional disorders in adolescents. PMC — National Institutes of Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11580556/
4 PTSD/Military study: Heath, R., & Beattie, J. (2019). Case report of a former soldier using TRE (Tension/Trauma Releasing Exercises) for posttraumatic stress disorder self-care. Journal of Military and Veterans' Health, 27(1). https://jmvh.org/article/case-report-of-a-former-soldier-using-tre-tension-trauma-releasing-exercises-for-posttraumatic-stress-disorder-self-care/
5 East African refugees study: Parker, J., Shook, B., Washington, D., English, B., & Tatum, C. (2024). The effect of Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) on trauma symptoms in East African refugees. Psychology, 15(1). https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=130743
6 Kent, M. (2018). Neurogenic tremors training (TRE) for stress and PTSD: A controlled clinical trial. Final report. US Department of Veterans Affairs.
