TRE®

TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) is a body-based self-regulation practice designed to support the nervous system in releasing excess stress and tension.

TRE® uses a series of gentle, guided exercises to activate the body’s natural tremor response. These neurogenic tremors are an innate mechanism present in all humans, helping the body process stress, regulate and return toward balance.

TRE® does not require talking about past experiences or trauma. Instead, it works directly with the body and nervous system in a gradual, safe way.

How TRE® Works

When we experience stress - whether from daily pressures, emotional strain, or prolonged overwhelm - the nervous system may remain in a heightened state of activation. Over time, this can lead to chronic muscle tension, fatigue, anxiety, or a sense of being constantly “on edge.”

TRE® supports the nervous system by:

  • Gently activating the body’s natural tremor response

  • Allowing tension to be released at a pace the body can tolerate

  • Supporting a return toward greater regulation and flexibility

Throughout a TRE® session, the process is guided, paused when needed, and adjusted according to your nervous system’s capacity. You remain in control at all times.

TRE® is taught as a self-regulation practice, empowering individuals to build body awareness and learn how to support their own nervous system safely.

Potential Benefits of TRE®

People may experience a range of benefits from regular TRE® practice. These can vary from person to person and often develop gradually over time.

Potential benefits may include:

  • Reduced baseline stress and physical tension

  • Improved nervous system regulation

  • Increased body awareness and grounding

  • Greater emotional steadiness and resilience

  • Improved sleep and recovery

  • Enhanced capacity to cope with everyday stress

TRE® is not a treatment or cure, but a supportive practice that works alongside the body’s natural regulatory processes.

Who Can Benefit from TRE®?

TRE® may be supportive for individuals experiencing:

  • Ongoing stress or tension

  • Anxiety or nervous system overwhelm

  • Burnout or emotional fatigue

  • Difficulty relaxing or switching off

  • High levels of daily or work-related stress

TRE® is suitable for many people and can be adapted to individual needs. It is offered within a trauma-informed framework, where safety, choice, and pacing are prioritised.

If you are currently working with a mental health professional or managing trauma, TRE® can be used alongside existing support, when appropriate.

TRE® Sessions & Counselling

As a Registered Counsellor and Certified TRE® Provider, I am able to offer TRE® in two ways:

TRE® as a Standalone Practice

TRE® sessions can be offered without a counselling component, focusing purely on:

  • Nervous system regulation

  • Stress release

  • Learning the TRE® process in a guided, supportive environment

These sessions are educational and body-based, and do not involve counselling.

Integrating TRE® into Counselling

For clients already engaged in counselling with me, TRE® can be integrated into counselling sessions where appropriate. This allows for a holistic approach that supports both:

  • Emotional processing (through counselling), and

  • Physiological regulation (through TRE®)

The use of TRE® is always guided by your needs, capacity, and therapeutic goals.

Dedicated somatic counselling area prepared for body-centered tremor work and co-regulation
Dedicated somatic counselling area prepared for body-centered tremor work and co-regulation
Person guided through tension releasing exercises on a floor mat to discharge stored physical stress
Person guided through tension releasing exercises on a floor mat to discharge stored physical stress
Person performing a gentle leg stretch on a mat as part of the TRE stress exercise series
Person performing a gentle leg stretch on a mat as part of the TRE stress exercise series
Participants on mats engaging in guided tension and trauma releasing exercises for anxiety relief
Participants on mats engaging in guided tension and trauma releasing exercises for anxiety relief

To learn more about TRE visit my Instagram: trewithtara

green forest landscape photo

Professional Associations

Health Professions Council of South Africa Registered Counsellor
Health Professions Council of South Africa Registered Counsellor
Registered Counsellor with the Board of Healthcare Funders
Registered Counsellor with the Board of Healthcare Funders
Registered Counsellor with the Psychological Society of South Africa
Registered Counsellor with the Psychological Society of South Africa

HPCSA No. PRC 0044539

Practice No. 1223992

Equine Assisted Counsellor
Equine Assisted Counsellor
TRE Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises
TRE Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises