The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) is a “bottom-up”, body-based approach to therapy. It starts by looking at the physical signs of stress and working its way up to any connections with traumatic events a client may have experienced. Simcoe Addiction & Mental Health recognizes that trauma is often stored in the body’s senses and the nervous system, it is a natural response to feeling threatened or endangered. We offer this kind of therapy as it is both physical, neuropsychological, and an innovative way to seek out therapy. The TRM in therapy will help clients to develop a set of resiliency skills, as a priority, to address and overcome their physical manifestations of stress. This distinguishes TRM-based therapy from other forms of therapy, which focus on disrupting negative thought patterns rather than negative physical responses.

How It Works

Clients are taught about the biology of trauma responses and how skills rooted in our biology can help with emotional regulation. There are nine clear skills set out to learn. These skills are based on different sensory factors and aim to teach clients how they can measure and control their physical responses to stress in real-time.

Clients are also taught how to put together a library of comfortable and safe feelings, as well as how to practice physical movements that are calming. Once they learn how to master these techniques, they are more adept at controlling their responses to stress. Controlling how we react to stress in a positive, self-aware way is crucial to living a resilient and healthy life, as there will always be stressful factors around us.

Intercepting Stimuli

TRM-based skills aim to intercept difficult or negative stimuli before they form into thoughts. It works by deflecting them away when they first enter a client’s sensory system. Using TRM, clients avoid the physical strain that is caused by trauma-related stress. The skills taught can be used by people of any age.

Concrete Techniques

TRM encourages gauging one’s bodily responses and senses in real-time. This is called tracking, which works closely with another skill called resourcing. This technique relies on building a library of happy, comfortable and safe feelings and ideas. These are used as a refuge during tense moments.

Grounding and gesturing are two other techniques taught. The former relies on reconnecting the physical body to a calm, neutral state and the second is about developing a series of relaxing or supportive physical movements.

Pendulation is a unique technique to TRM-based therapy as it is specifically designed to help guide the nervous system between feelings of safety and trauma.

The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) in therapy is highly effective when it is implemented properly. The techniques are consistent and well-defined and help clients become aware of physical responses to stress and trauma. This therapy model also provides relief by creating an atmosphere and physical practice out of relaxation and freedom.

If you would like to talk to one of the professionals at Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health about whether The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) is right for you or your loved one, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 1-833-304-8181.

Interested in learning about other treatment methods? Continue to our Treatment Methods page.