TRE Therapy for Trauma in Addiction Recovery
TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) is a body-centred technique used at Holina Rehab to help release tension and stress held in the nervous system after trauma. It is offered as one part of our Dual Treatment programme, which treats addiction and the trauma underneath it together, not as separate problems.
- Licensed Facility
- Somatic & Trauma-Informed Care
- Koh Phangan, Thailand
- Part of Dual Treatment Programme
What Is TRE Therapy?
TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) is a body-centred technique that uses a series of simple physical exercises to activate neurogenic tremors — involuntary muscle tremors that the body appears to use to discharge stored tension and stress from the muscles and nervous system.
The method was developed by Dr David Berceli, based on the observation that humans, like other mammals, have a natural tremor mechanism for releasing the physical effects of stress and threat — a mechanism that can stay “held” in the body after trauma rather than completing on its own.
At Holina Rehab, TRE is not offered as a stand-alone service. It is one of the somatic, body-based therapies used within our Dual Treatment programme, delivered alongside CBT, DBT, and EMDR, because unresolved trauma is one of the most common conditions driving addictive behaviour.
A 2024 controlled study of East African refugee women found a 33% reduction in trauma symptom severity after eight weeks of TRE, with improvement across 36 of 40 items on the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire relative to a delayed-treatment control group (Parker, Shook, Washington, English & Tatum, 2024, Psychology, 15, 77–91). A separate controlled clinical trial funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that a TRE group showed significant improvements in sleep disturbance and cognitive/working-memory measures compared with a control group, with gains sustained at six months; the trial did not find a statistically significant difference in PTSD symptom severity between the TRE and control groups at six-month follow-up (Kent, 2018, VA Phoenix Hospital, Neurogenic Tremors Training for Stress and PTSD). Researchers note that while pilot studies are promising, larger controlled trials are still needed to confirm the size and durability of TRE’s effects.
How Does TRE Support Recovery From Trauma?
TRE is used at Holina Rehab because addiction and trauma are treated as connected, not separate. These are the areas clients most often notice change as part of their wider Dual Treatment plan.
Reduced Physical Tension
The tremor process is intended to help discharge tension and stored stress held in the muscles and nervous system.
Parasympathetic Activation
The tremor response is associated with activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, supporting a shift from a stress state toward a calmer one.
Improved Emotional Regulation
Releasing stored physiological stress is linked to steadier emotional regulation alongside addiction-focused therapy.
Greater Resilience
Learning to self-regulate the nervous system is a skill clients carry into daily life, supporting long-term relapse prevention.
How Is TRE Used Within Dual Treatment at Holina Rehab?
TRE is delivered at Holina Rehab as part of the somatic and body-based track of our Dual Treatment programme — never as a stand-alone service — working alongside evidence-based therapies that address the addiction itself.
Trauma and Addiction, Treated Together
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Guided Neurogenic Tremor Sessions
Sessions are led by a trained therapist in a safe, structured setting, always paced to what the client’s nervous system can tolerate.
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Paired With Evidence-Based Therapy
TRE runs alongside CBT, DBT, and EMDR — treating the addictive behaviour and the trauma driving it within one clinical plan, not as separate programmes.
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Supports Engagement With Recovery Work
A more regulated nervous system supports engagement with talk therapy, group work, and the daily structure of residential treatment.
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TRE Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions
What is TRE therapy used for at Holina Rehab?
At Holina Rehab, TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) is used to help clients release physical tension and nervous system stress connected to trauma, as part of the somatic track of our Dual Treatment programme for addiction and co-occurring trauma.
Is TRE a stand-alone trauma treatment?
No. TRE is delivered alongside evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR, and is never used as a substitute for addiction-focused clinical care. It is one tool within a licensed residential programme, not an independent retreat service.
What happens during a TRE session?
A trained therapist guides clients through a series of gentle exercises designed to activate neurogenic tremors — involuntary muscle tremors thought to help the body discharge stored tension. Sessions are paced to each client’s tolerance in a safe, supervised setting.
Is there research supporting TRE for trauma symptoms?
Yes. A 2024 controlled study found a 33% reduction in trauma symptom severity in refugee women after eight weeks of TRE (Parker et al., 2024, Psychology), and a Veterans Affairs-funded clinical trial found improved sleep disturbance and cognitive measures sustained over six months, though PTSD symptom severity did not differ significantly from the control group at that follow-up (Kent, 2018). Researchers note that larger controlled trials are still needed to confirm the size and durability of these effects.
How does TRE connect to addiction treatment?
Unresolved trauma is one of the most common conditions driving addictive behaviour. By supporting nervous system regulation, TRE supports the deeper clinical and psychological work of addiction recovery delivered through Holina’s Dual Treatment programme.
Who leads TRE sessions at Holina Rehab?
TRE is facilitated by trained clinical staff as part of the somatic and body-based therapies delivered by Holina’s wider clinical team, working under the same treatment plan as your addiction-focused therapy. See our full Dual Treatment programme for the team involved.
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