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Learn the Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercise (TRE®) method with professional guidance to support nervous system regulation and the safe release of stored tension.
TRE® is a gentle, body-based trauma release practice, developed by David Berceli, PhD. It supports the body in releasing stored stress, trauma, and muscular tension at a physiological level, without the need to relive or verbally process past experiences.
Through a series of simple, guided exercises, TRE® activates the body’s natural neurogenic tremor response, an instinctive shaking reflex used by mammals to discharge stress and reset the nervous system, helping to:
With practice and confidence, TRE® can be used independently in day-to-day life to help release trauma stored in the body as deep tension and accumulated stress and encourage a return to a calm, regulated state.
In a guided TRE® session at The Forbes Clinic:
Once you feel confident, ready and you’ve worked with a practitioner for four or more sessions, you may choose to take the practice forward alone.
Special Interests:
Nutrition, Psychoneuroimmunology, Psychosomatic medicine, Trauma, purpose & meaning, emotional regulation, behavioural change.
Maria is a certified Nutritionist with advanced training in psychoneuroimmunology, nutritional therapy and Somatic therapy including TRE® trauma release and Heartmath® — a combination that gives her a uniquely integrative perspective on how people heal and change. As a former Health Coach Course Director at the College of Naturopathic Medicine She understands the science of behaviour change, the core foundations that support physical health, and the deeper emotional patterns that shape how we heal. She helps clients turn insight into action, whether they’re working from an Integrative Health Plan or seeking independent support, guiding them toward sustainable habits, balance and meaningful transformation.
At the Forbes Clinic we currently offer TRE® to adults only. TRE® is NOT recommended if you have epilepsy, seizures, if you are pregnant, or have recently undergone major surgery. Additionally, it is recommended that those with severe mental and behavioural conditions such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, psychosis, suicidal ideation, tendency to self-harm and personality disorders only undertake TRE® with the permission of their GP or mental health team. TRE® is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment but can be a powerful complement to trauma-aware therapies, body-oriented approaches, and emotional healing work.
TRE® is a body-based (somatic) intervention developed through trauma research, particularly in war zones and post-conflict settings. It was created by Dr David Berceli, who observed neurogenic tremoring as a natural stress-release mechanism in humans and animals exposed to extreme threat.
Studies have shown that neurogenic tremoring can:
-Regulate the autonomic nervous system
-Increase heart rate variability (HRV), a key marker of nervous system balance and overall health
-Increase alpha brain waves associated with calm, regulation, and reduced anxiety
TRE® has been studied in relation to trauma-related conditions including PTSD and neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, with ongoing research underway.
TRE® is designed to work gently with the nervous system, but temporary responses can occur, particularly in the early stages.
Some people may experience:
-Muscle soreness or fatigue
-Emotional release or heightened emotions
-Feeling tired, spaced-out, or very relaxed
These effects are understood as part of nervous system regulation and integration, especially as the body shifts out of long-held fight, flight, or freeze patterns. It's important to practice gradually with appropriate guidance.
Trauma release through TRE® is primarily physical rather than cognitive. The experience varies between individuals.
Common sensations include:
-Gentle, involuntary shaking or tremoring
-Warmth, softening, or waves of movement through the body
-A sense of calm, grounding, or deep relaxation afterward
The tremors originate in the brain stem and nervous system rather than conscious control, reflecting an innate biological mechanism seen widely in mammals.
TRE® has been widely used with people who have experienced trauma, including military veterans, first responders, and civilians exposed to conflict, disaster, and prolonged stress. Its focus on regulating the nervous system makes it particularly relevant for trauma-related conditions, where the body remains stuck in fight, flight, or freeze.
Trauma responses are held in the primitive, survival-based parts of the brain, rather than the thinking or reasoning brain. Because of this, body-based (somatic) approaches like TRE® may be supportive alongside talking therapies, helping the nervous system return to a greater sense of safety and regulation.
For people with PTSD or Complex PTSD, best practice is to:
-Introduce TRE® slowly and gently
-Work with a trauma-informed practitioner who can support pacing and regulation
-Avoid unsupervised self-practice until the body has learned to regulate without becoming overwhelmed
When approached carefully and with appropriate support, TRE® can be a valuable part of a trauma-informed care plan, complementing psychological and therapeutic approaches rather than replacing them.
Trauma is physiological as well as psychological. Experiencing trauma can:
-Dysregulate the autonomic nervous system
-Lower vagal tone and heart rate variability (HRV)
-Keep the body stuck in fight, flight, or freeze
-Increase inflammation and stress hormone activation
Long-term trauma exposure is linked to increased risk of chronic illness, including cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, and fatigue-related conditions.
You do not have to have experience a single major event for trauma to be stored in the body. Common life experiences can overwhelm the nervous system, especially when they occur repeatedly or early in life.
Indicators of stored trauma may include:
-Chronic tension or pain
-Ongoing anxiety or shutdown states
-Digestive or immune dysfunction
-Difficulty feeling safe, calm, or regulated
Tools have been developed in recent years which can objectively assess whether your nervous system is in a state of chronic activation such as the 'Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ)' and 'The Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS)', developed by the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium.
TRE® does not treat disease, but it may support physical health indirectly by helping regulate the nervous system.
Growing research has shown a strong link between chronic stress and trauma, particularly when experienced in childhood, and the development of long-term health conditions. A range of studies have shown traumatic experiences to be associated with:
-Autoimmune conditions
-Gut dysfunction & IBS
-Chronic fatigue syndromes
-Increased inflammation and reduced cellular energy production
By supporting autonomic nervous system balance and increasing Heart Rate Variability (HRV), TRE® may help reduce the patterns of physiological stress that may contribute to these conditions.
