If you are chronically ill or on the sensitive side, I recommend you start here or with a very short duration of TRE

We can think of our nervous systems being flexible and fluid parts of us. From being still and resting and digesting, to being socially engaged and connected and growing and repairing the body, to playing, creating, and being active and stimulated, our nervous system states are crucial to all of that.

In a state of overall balance, our nervous system can move easily and to the proper degrees throughout different states throughout the day, depending on our needs and our internal and external environment. In simple terms, we can think of someone who generally feels safe and secure and connected as having a healthier and more regulated nervous system.

In a state of disease and feeling unwell, our nervous system does not move fluidly and tends to over or under-react to stimuli. Someone who generally feels unsafe, overwhelmed, insecure, and traumatized has more dysregulation of his or her nervous system.

Living in our modern, toxin and stress and trauma-filled world makes it easy for us to be living in a mild to severe state of nervous system dysregulation. In my view, and the view of many, we believe that chronic illness syndromes such as CFS, MCS, MCAS, Fibromyalgia, Food Sensitivities, etc, are also strongly rooted in the health and regulation of the nervous system. That’s why bringing awareness and attention to improving our nervous system health is so vital.

Some examples of nervous system regulation exercises could be:

• Vagal Toning

• Visualizations

• Breath patterns

• Orienting

• Self-Touch

• Functional Neurology Eye Exercises

• Somatic Movement

• Kidney/Adrenal/Brainstem Focusing

• And more

TRE is an easy-to-learn DIY relaxation method. The first part, for most individuals, consists of a few simple warm-up exercises primarily of the legs and back. Then, for the second part, we go to the floor to tune in to the natural vibrations and shaking that is produced in the body. The key is allowing this tremoring while we are at rest. The body will intelligently move, unwind, and soften whatever tension patterns and stresses are stored within its muscles and fascia. The tremor can move throughout any part of the body, not just the legs. All of the exercises can be modified or even omitted if necessary in case of previous injuries, mobility concerns, hypersensitivities or chronic illness difficulties such as fatigue.

With continued practice, the body will intelligently use this tremor to gradually open up the entire body, working through bracing patterns and sensations, and then later opening up emotions and deeper subconscious material.

An added bonus about TRE is that it is primarily a passive process. You do not have to think a certain thing or go through a complex process of remembering or reprocessing events and memories. For those of us with chronic illness who have practiced brain retraining and somatics, we know that these can often involve a complicated process. The certain way we may be encouraged to do visualizations, vagal toning, breath patterns, and movements, can be helpful but also overwhelming and tiring, especially if we are already low in energy and mental focus. With TRE, after a few sessions, often all that is necessary is to simply lay on the floor and allow the tremor to start, and let it go wherever it needs to go and do whatever it needs to do.

Some ways our bodies release tension

• Shaking, movements, twitches, tremoring

• Yawning

• Sighing

• Burping

• Crying

• Laughing

• Angering

• Myofascial unwinding

With TRE, we learn to befriend and welcome these varied forms of release, both during the session and outside of the session.

What effects have been noted during and after TRE?

• More grounded and connected to body

• Reduction of panic attacks

• Better mood

• Feeling calmer

• Feeling Lighter

• Feeling more alive

• Deeper dreams and dream recall

• Feeling relaxed

• Pain reduction from stress and illness

• Reduction of fatigue and fatigue from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Feeling safer in the body and more comfortable with feeling emotions

• Unwinding and healing of past traumas, even from decades in the past

• Improved capacity to handle day-to-day stresses

• Improved relationships and less conflicts

• Clearer thinking

• Greater emotional range

• Pain and Injury Recovery

• Improvement of PTSD symptoms

• Improvement of CPTSD symptoms

• Less worries and fears

What does a TRE Class look like and what is included?

• Professional Guidance to help lead you through the TRE practice in a pace and way that is safe for you.

• A copy of class notes and any educational materials used in class

• Access to my TRE videos to help lead you through the exercises and some breath and movement videos

A brief overview of the typical TRE process can be found HERE.

Embodied Processing is a process or framework that is influenced by many different modalities.

EP helps us to explore the roots of our depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, habits, patterns, relationship issues, overwhelm, addiction, and more.

Using curiosity and non-judgment, we follow the body and trust that it has an innate intelligence to bring us back into balance. Positive shifts, insights, softening of protective parts of the body, and transformation happen as we support the process in a safe and regulated way.

Why Choose Embodied Processing?

As we work with regulation and embodiment practices such as TRE, we may find that subconscious material starts to rise to the surface of our awareness. This can show up as memories, impulses, imagery, symbolism, dreams, symptoms, triggers, etc. Embodied Processing (EP) gives us a wonderful way to observe this subconcious content, understand it, sit with it, and process it in a more direct way so it is not stuck in our body and draining or holding our energy back.  

Some clients may choose to learn TRE and regulation tools over the course of several sessions and then continue that work on their own, with some refresher sessions here and there. However, the nature of EP tends to lend with working with the EP practitioner over a longer period of time. As this relationship between client and practitioner is built, there can be a greater container to practice working on trust, connection, attunement, and relational pieces. This means that EP can be helpful for developmental and C-PTSD as well as for shock trauma.

What Does an EP Session Look Like and what is included ?

To simplify greatly:

• We first spend some time in regulating the nervous system and anchoring this relaxation into the body using a variety of resource options.

• Then, if the client is ready for this stage, we invite in the trigger and explore the thoughts, emotions, sensations, impulses, images, and memories connected to the trigger.

• We process this content connected to the trigger with a variety of techniques.

• Throughout the session and also in closing the session, we bring attention to any sense of positive shifts, resolution, and completion.

• We check in with the nervous system and perhaps make a plan for the next session.

• Education is provided throughout as needed

A video of the flowchart of an EP Session can be found HERE.

Embodied Inquiry deepens the wok of Embodied Processing.

We explore further into the body and the subconscious parts that we find. We can learn things like:

• What are the origins of the part

• What are the beliefs the part holds?

• How is this part benefiting us?

• Who would we be without the part?

• Does the part need to move or express itself in any way?

• What is the part protecting us from?

• And more

Parts work is based off of the model called Internal Family Systems by psychologist Richard Schwartz.

Have you ever said, “Part of me wants to do this, but part of me doesn’t?

• “Part of me is excited about the event, but part of me is also really anxious.”

• “Part of me wants to go to the party, but part of me is exhausted and wants to just stay home.”

• “Part of me wants to laugh at what just happened, but part of me knows that just isn’t appropriate here.”

• “I want to rest, but part of me just makes me keep overachieving and overthinking.”

There are countless examples parts may show up in our life.  Often times these “parts” are formed at the time of a stressor or traumatic event in our life, as a way for our mind-body system to survive and get through it. Part of our life-force energy splits off and creates a part. It is also very common for there to be many different split-off or orphaned parts and even complex systems of parts that affect each other. In a somatic sessio, we can start to bring awareness to these parts. 

• What is their story?

• What is their job

• When did they start protecting us?

• What burden or pain are they holding?

• What do they need to feel witnessed and cared for?

• How can we help them?

Parts work helps us to unblend from the strong pull of parts that pull us into unhealthy behavior. This could be things like passing on abuse or neglect to others the way that we learned from our caregivers, or being compelled to use addictive substances or do addictive behaviors. When we can unblend from our parts, lead them from a grounded place, and unburden the pain that they are carrying, then deep transformation can take place. When the pain is no longer there, then we are free to move through life in the present, not trapped in the past.

Sometimes we need a bit more support in between the main sessions.

This could look like a variety of things. Typically, calls would include some regulation and embodiment practices.

• What is happening for you this day? This week?

• How is your nervous system doing?

• What is triggering you?

• What emotions are involved?

• What is new and good in your life?

• What are you grateful for?

• What positive changes do you see happening in your life?

Sometimes we just need to talk. Sometimes we just need to vent. And sometimes we just need to know that someone is there supporting us and that we are not alone.

Let me know if this is something you are looking for.