Talking therapies can be beneficial to many people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief or psychosomatic pain, but they don’t necessarily work for everyone.
I feel they are our default option - and it was the same for me.
Over the years I saw a psychologist, a counsellor, a CBT practitioner – but it didn't really bring me the desired results.
Still, I wanted to train as a bereavement counsellor – and I wanted to do things differently.
Well, I didn't continue the counselling training after the foundation course.
For me it was like going round in circles, talking about the past sh*t (technical term!) and analysing things and situations and how they made me feel.
It took me years to realise that The Body Keeps The Score - have you heard of this amazing best-seller by psychotherapist (!) Bessel van der Kolk?
So, let me introduce my favourite alternative approach to cognitive therapies:
Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE), which can help you feel better without needing to talk about, analyse or relive issues or trauma from the past. When I trained in TRE, it was a HUGE eye-opener for me.
The body is super important and much, much cleverer than we give it credit for.
Now I love, practise and teach TRE and I want you to know - and ideally experience - how amazing your body is.
And how you can help and heal many health challenges yourself.
Let's start from the beginning, well, the default.
What are talking therapies?
Talking therapy is any approach that involves talking to a trained professional about issues or difficulties you’re encountering.
There are many different types of talking therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling and cognitive analytic therapy (CAT).
Talking therapies are often recommended for people struggling with anxiety, stress, grief, depression or psychosomatic pain.
They can work well for some people, but as with any form of treatment, talking therapies don’t necessarily work for everyone.
Here are just a few reasons why talking therapy may not feel like a suitable pathway for you:
You’re unable to commit to regular, long-term sessions
You don’t feel ready or able to discuss your issues at this time (or would simply prefer not to!)
You can’t find a therapist or counsellor that you feel comfortable with
It feels as though there’s a mismatch between your struggles and the therapeutic approach on offer
A lack of cultural relevance or sensitivity to your specific circumstances
You’ve tried talking therapies in the past without the desired results or success
You don't want to spend money on sessions over months or even years
Some people start talking therapy but find that they’re unable to engage with it in a way that’s beneficial for them or find they can’t get on with their therapist or the approach used.
In addition to all this, accessing talking therapy via the NHS in the UK can involve multiple appointments for assessment and referral, followed by a prolonged wait, which isn’t ideal for those looking for more immediate help.
What are the alternatives to talking therapy?
Fortunately, there are many alternatives to talking therapy, including self-help, peer support or complementary therapies.
Often, those people seeking an alternative to talking therapy are looking for a move away from focusing on the mind and verbalising their issues towards a focus on the physical body instead.
This is why so many alternatives to talking therapy involve physical movement of some kind, for example, dance therapy, yoga, or TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises).
How Can TRE Help?
TRE is founded on the principle that tension and trauma are stored in your body and that over time, this can manifest as pain – both physical and emotional. TRE is a natural and innate way of ridding your body of this tension and to help your nervous system regulate itself.
When used as an alternative to talking therapies, the focus of TRE is to remove stored stress and tension from the body without the need to investigate, discuss or relive the original trauma.
What's more, we also down-regulate an over-active nervous system which can help with finding calmness, peace and a better good night's sleep.
TRE is also an empowering approach to dealing with issues, as once you’re familiar and comfortable with the techniques of TRE, it’s something you can practise yourself, without feeling reliant on anyone - or anything - else.
One of the many benefits of TRE is that it’s a 'simple' self-help technique that’s suitable for most people.
However, TRE is also an incredibly powerful tool and many people prefer to be guided through the exercises when starting to practise TRE.
As a certified TRE Provider, I teach - and therefore empower - you in a way that feels safe and comfortable, giving you the confidence to trust your own body as you learn how to practise TRE.
Once you know how to practise TRE safely, it's your tool for life, which will save you time and money.
Let's talk (excuse the pun!)
So if you’re looking for an alternative to talking therapy, and would like to learn more or get started with TRE, get in touch today.
You can also book a free, no-obligation discovery call, giving you the opportunity to ask all those important questions before deciding whether you'd like to start your TRE journey with me.
I’d love to help you discover the power that lies within you so you can feel better.
You deserve to feel so much better.
Natural. Innate. TREmendous.