Trauma doesn’t only live in memory — research shows it lives in the body too, stored in muscle tension, nervous system dysregulation, and physical patterns that persist long after the original event. A growing body of peer-reviewed work is confirming what trauma-informed clinicians have observed for years: approaches that engage the body alongside the mind may produce meaningful relief for people who haven’t fully responded to talk therapy alone. At The Invictus Clinic in Marietta, Georgia, we work with patients who’ve often exhausted conventional options, and understanding what the evidence says about body-based healing helps us guide those conversations honestly.
What Are Trauma Release Exercises?
Trauma Release Exercises, commonly referred to as TRE, are a structured series of movements designed to activate neurogenic tremors — involuntary muscular vibrations that occur naturally in the body under stress. The core theory, developed by Dr. David Berceli, is that these tremors represent the body’s innate mechanism for discharging accumulated physical tension from stress and trauma. Unlike conventional therapy, TRE does not require participants to verbally recount traumatic events, which makes it particularly relevant for populations where language barriers, cultural factors, or emotional readiness limit access to traditional approaches.
The mechanism draws on what researchers describe as somatic psychotherapy — body-oriented treatment that targets trauma at the physiological level rather than exclusively through cognitive processing. The hypothesis is that chronic muscle contraction, held as a kind of procedural memory in the nervous system, contributes to ongoing psychological and physical symptoms. By deliberately inducing and then extinguishing the tremor response in a controlled setting, TRE aims to discharge that stored tension.
It’s worth being clear about what TRE is and what it isn’t. It is a self-directed, complementary approach, not a standalone psychiatric treatment. Clinical use consistently positions it as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, professional mental health care. Results vary by individual, and the evidence base, while growing, still consists largely of pilot studies and early-phase controlled research. For a practical introduction to movements you can begin at home, our post on trauma release exercises you can try at home offers a step-by-step guide.
What the Research Actually Shows
The peer-reviewed literature on TRE is modest in volume but consistent in direction. A 2024 study published in the journal Psychology examined TRE in a community sample of East African refugees — a population with high trauma burden and limited access to psychotherapy. Participants who completed eight weeks of weekly TRE sessions showed a 33% reduction in overall trauma symptom severity on the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, and a 64% increase in the number of symptoms rated as fully resolved, compared to no significant change in the control group (Parker et al., 2024). The researchers concluded that TRE offers a meaningful option for people who cannot access or engage with conventional therapeutic resources.
An earlier pilot study published in Global Advances in Health and Medicine explored TRE with non-professional caregivers at a children’s residential facility in South Africa — another high-stress, low-resource environment. After ten weeks of instruction and practice, participants reported statistically significant improvements in life enjoyment and overall quality of life across five domains (Berceli et al., 2014). The authors were careful to note the small sample size and the absence of a control condition as study limitations, underscoring that the findings are preliminary rather than definitive.
Taken together, these studies suggest a consistent pattern: body-based tremor work appears to reduce the subjective experience of trauma-related symptoms, with effect sizes that justify continued, more rigorous investigation. The research is not yet at the level that would support broad clinical recommendations, but it is substantive enough to inform patient conversations about complementary options.
Why Body-Based Approaches Matter for Treatment-Resistant Trauma
A significant proportion of people living with PTSD — post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition marked by intrusive memories, emotional numbing, hypervigilance, and avoidance — do not achieve remission through first-line treatments alone. Estimates from the clinical literature suggest that roughly half of patients engaged in evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD do not reach full symptom resolution, and attrition rates in treatment trials are often substantial. This treatment gap is part of why the field has expanded to explore interventions that work through different pathways.
The glutamatergic system — the brain’s primary excitatory neurotransmitter network, involving a chemical called glutamate — is increasingly understood to play a role in how traumatic memories are encoded and maintained. Traditional treatments largely target serotonin and norepinephrine pathways. Approaches that engage the body, or that work through glutamate-related mechanisms, represent a distinct avenue for patients whose biology or history makes conventional routes insufficient.
At our clinic, we specialize in patients who fit this profile: people who have tried multiple treatments and still haven’t found sustained relief. Our founders, Dr. Brandon Grinage, MD, and Wesley Karcher, MSN, CRNA, both bring anesthesia expertise that informs how we think about the body’s stress and pain systems — and why addressing physiology, not just psychology, matters in treatment-resistant cases. You can read more about our PTSD treatment approach in Marietta on our dedicated service page.
Two Barriers Worth Addressing Directly
One barrier we hear often is concern about having to talk about trauma in order to heal from it. Many patients have had experiences in clinical settings where recounting difficult memories felt retraumatizing rather than therapeutic. Body-based approaches appeal in part because they don’t require verbal narration — and we think that’s a legitimate clinical consideration, not just a preference. We’re always willing to discuss what a treatment experience looks like before a patient commits to anything.
Another barrier is practical: time and schedule. We offer flexible scheduling at our Marietta location and work to accommodate appointments around most work schedules. We accept Anthem BCBS, Aetna, and Medicare, and we’re willing to explore coverage options with other insurers as well. CareCredit financing is also accepted for patients managing out-of-pocket costs. Reach out to our team to discuss scheduling or coverage before your first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are trauma release exercises the same as therapy?
No. TRE is a self-directed, body-based technique and is not a form of psychotherapy. Research positions it as a complementary practice — potentially useful alongside professional treatment, but not a replacement for clinical care. If you’re considering TRE as part of your broader approach, discussing it with your provider is a good first step.
Can body-based approaches help with PTSD specifically?
The research suggests they may. Studies on TRE have shown reductions in trauma-related symptoms in populations with high PTSD burden, though the evidence is still early-stage and results vary by individual. Clinical treatment for PTSD at our practice centers on IV ketamine infusion therapy, which works through a distinct biological pathway and has a more developed evidence base for treatment-resistant presentations.
Who might benefit most from body-based healing approaches?
People who have difficulty engaging with talk therapy — due to language, cultural factors, emotional readiness, or prior negative experiences — may find body-based approaches more accessible. Those with treatment-resistant trauma histories, or who are looking for complementary tools to use alongside clinical treatment, are also worth considering. Your provider can help you assess whether any complementary approach makes sense given your specific history.
Is there scientific consensus on TRE?
Not yet. The existing research is promising but preliminary, consisting mainly of small pilot studies. Larger, randomized controlled trials are needed before TRE can be considered an evidence-based treatment in the clinical sense. That said, the findings to date are consistent enough to merit continued investigation and informed patient conversations.
How does body-based healing connect to what you offer at The Invictus Clinic?
Our clinical focus is on advanced, evidence-based therapies for treatment-resistant conditions — primarily IV ketamine infusion. Ketamine works in part by promoting neuroplasticity, the brain’s capacity to form new neural connections, which overlaps conceptually with what body-based approaches aim to support at a physiological level. We’re happy to discuss how our treatments fit into a broader healing approach during a consultation.
Key Takeaways
- Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) are a body-based, self-directed technique that uses neurogenic tremors to release stored physical tension associated with stress and trauma.
- A 2024 peer-reviewed study found a 33% reduction in trauma symptom severity and a 64% increase in fully resolved symptoms after eight weeks of TRE, compared to a control group (Parker et al., 2024).
- The research base is growing but still early-stage; TRE is best understood as a complementary tool rather than a standalone clinical treatment.
- Body-based healing approaches are particularly relevant for people who haven’t achieved full relief through conventional therapy, or who face barriers to accessing traditional mental health care.
- Results vary by individual, and anyone exploring body-based approaches should discuss them with a qualified provider before beginning.
The relationship between trauma and the body is one of the most active areas in clinical research right now, and the evidence for approaches like TRE, while still developing, points toward something meaningful. If you’re living with treatment-resistant trauma and wondering whether different approaches might offer more relief, we’d welcome that conversation. Call us at 770-580-1042 or schedule a consultation at theinvictusclinic.com — our team is here to help you think through your options and find a path that makes sense for where you are.
References
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/
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), 77–91. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=130743
Medical Disclaimer: The information in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Treatment for trauma-related conditions, including PTSD and anxiety, should only be pursued under the supervision of a licensed provider familiar with your full medical and psychiatric history. Individual results vary. Trauma Release Exercises are not a replacement for professional clinical care. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of self-harm, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to your nearest emergency room.
