Trauma Recovery and Therapy: Finding Your Way Back to Wholeness
- Sara Becker, PT, DPT
- Apr 24
- 4 min read
Life can leave marks on us—some visible, others buried deep within. Whether from a sudden shock or long-term stress, trauma has a way of settling into the nervous system, often silently shaping our thoughts, reactions, and physical health. But here's the truth: healing is possible—and it’s more accessible than you might think.
Disclaimer: The content on this site and my posts are for educational and informational purposes only and not meant as medical advice. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Please consult a clinician that is familiar with your care, if you have specific questions for your own care.
Trauma Meaning: What is it, Really?
At its core, trauma is the body and mind’s response to an experience that feels too overwhelming to process. It’s not just about the event—it’s about how your nervous system reacts to and stores it. Whether it's a car accident, chronic neglect, or loss of a loved one, trauma can hijack your sense of safety and leave your body stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.
Understanding the trauma definition is the first step to reclaiming your life. Trauma can be emotional, physical, or psychological—and it doesn’t always show up right away. You might feel anxious, disconnected, hypervigilant, exhausted, or simply “off.” That’s your nervous system waving a flag for help.
What Does Trauma Recovery Look Like?
Trauma recovery isn’t about forgetting the past—it’s about rewiring how your brain and body relate to it. Recovery can mean feeling safe in your body again, building emotional resilience, and finding joy in everyday life. It’s not a quick fix, but with the right support and tools, you can shift from surviving to thriving.
Powerful Therapies for Trauma Healing
There are many effective, science-backed methods to support trauma healing. Below are several widely respected approaches, each offering a different path toward restoring balance and connection.
1. Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify and challenge distorted thinking patterns and teaches practical skills to manage anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts. It’s especially effective for children and adults who have experienced trauma.
2. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR uses guided eye movements to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. Rather than reliving them, you begin to see them with more clarity and less emotional charge. This can help dissolve longstanding symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety. If you're in Arizona, I have quite a few references for those that do EMDR in the valley - reach out if you'd like them!
3. Brainspotting
A powerful tool for deep emotional healing, brainspotting works by identifying spots in your visual field that correlate with stored trauma in the brain. This gentle, yet profound technique bypasses the thinking mind to access the emotional brain and allow processing at a deeper, somatic level.
4. Somatic Therapies and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE)
Because trauma lives in the body, healing must involve the body too. Trauma release exercises use intentional movement and tremoring to discharge stored tension from the muscles and fascia. These exercises can regulate the nervous system and bring a deep sense of relief without needing to talk through every detail.
5. Vagus Nerve Stimulation & Nervous System Regulation
Your vagus nerve is the command center for your parasympathetic nervous system (aka your “rest and digest” mode). When trauma disrupts this system, it can lead to chronic stress, poor digestion, anxiety, and pain. Simple tools like cold therapy, diaphragmatic breathing, gargling, and humming can stimulate the vagus nerve and bring your system back into balance.
6. Trauma-Informed Therapy
This approach creates a safe, empowering environment where you are never rushed or judged. Trauma-informed care recognizes the emotional and physiological effects of trauma and helps you feel seen, supported, and in control of your healing process.
How Releaseology is Different with Trauma Recovery
At Releaseology, I combine science, intuition, and hands-on expertise to help you release what your body has been holding onto—often for years. I am able to find where in your body you are holding onto trauma and emotion. I don’t just manage symptoms—I search for the root cause of your pain, anxiety, or dysfunction. My sessions often include:
Trauma release techniques using gentle movement and manual therapy
Vagus nerve regulation to bring your nervous system back into harmony
A personalized, compassionate approach that honors your story and your pace
No cookie-cutter protocols. No pressure to relive trauma or even to talk about what happened. Just a safe space to reconnect with your body and find your way back to peace.
Ready to Begin Your Trauma Healing Journey?
You deserve to feel whole, regulated, and at home in your body again. Whether you're exploring trauma therapy for the first time or looking for a new approach that actually works—I'm here for you.
🔗 Click here to book your first session and experience the Releaseology difference—where healing isn’t just possible, it’s powerful.
You are not broken. You are healing. And this is just the beginning.!
Book the NKT Vagus Nerve Combo if you're having pain in a particular area as well. But if you want full vagus nerve time, book the Vagus Nerve Harmony Massage. If you don't live locally, I also offer vagus nerve services virtually.
Medical Disclaimer
The content on this site and my posts are for educational and informational purposes only and not meant as medical advice. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace a relationship with a qualified healthcare professional. There is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in an article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Please consult a clinician that is familiar with your care, if you have specific questions for your own care.
More from Releaseology
Don't forget to check out other resources on my site! You can book a session with me here, find a list of conditions I treat here, find more about me here, learn how to regulate your own vagus nerve and nervous system here and read more on my blog here. Lastly, follow me on my social channels: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok!
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