Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)

 
 
 

What is Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)? 

Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a unique approach to healing that focuses on the body. It uses gentle movements to help people recover from trauma that might be held within their bodies.

When someone experiences trauma, especially ongoing or childhood trauma, their nervous system can shift into survival mode. This means they might become extra aware of their surroundings – noticing sounds easily, being very tuned into other people's moods, or always thinking about how to escape a situation. These are all ways the body tries to stay safe. However, this constant state of alertness can make it harder to feel what's going on inside your own body, a sense called "interoception." This can show up as physical clumsiness, trouble feeling sensations, or even not knowing what you like or enjoy.

TCTSY helps rebuild this inner awareness through gentle movements, where you get to make choices about how you move and notice what you feel. The brain is naturally able to change and adapt, a process called "neuroplasticity." TCTSY uses this ability to create new connections that help you become more aware of yourself. By improving your interoception, you can reduce the effects of complex trauma and understand yourself better.

In a TCTSY session, you might do simple seated movements or try some basic yoga shapes. There's no right or wrong way to do it, and you always get to choose how you move. There are no advanced levels or complicated shapes – whatever movement you choose will help you build interoception.

Benefits and Evidence Base

TCTSY has been shown to have the following benefits, both in group and one-on-one settings:

  • PTSD symptom reduction and/or loss of PTSD diagnosis1

  • Reduced anxiety1

  • Improved mood1

  • Improved attention regulation1

  • Improved interoception1

  • Improved self-esteem 2

  • Improved coping strategy use, when combined with traditional psychotherapy2

Additionally, TCTSY has been shown to have an equivalent impact at reducing PTSD as cognitive reprocessing therapy, a traditional gold standard of trauma processing. However, TCTSY shows a 42.6% higher rate of treatment completion. Whereas traditional forms of psychotherapy regarding trauma can be overwhelming and result in clients not continuing, TCTSY is often seen as a rewarding process that clients enjoy. 

If you’d like to learn more, the Trauma Center offers a wealth of resources regarding the efficacy of this treatment at https://www.traumasensitiveyoga.com/research, including the articles mentioned here. 

How is TCTSY different from other therapies?

TCTSY is a healing method that focuses entirely on the body. This means that during a session, you won't be asked to talk about your trauma or difficult experiences. Instead, TCTSY works directly with how trauma affects your brain and nervous system, especially in how it can make you overly focused on the outside world. Through simple movements, giving you choices, and guiding your awareness, TCTSY helps your brain create new pathways to rediscover your inner sense of self. This is called 'interoception.'

TCTSY can also be used alongside traditional talk therapy. If you're in therapy, the physical and emotional changes you experience in TCTSY can be discussed with your therapist. In this way, TCTSY uses body-based healing to help you understand thoughts and feelings that might have been previously hard to reach.

Who is a good fit for TCTSY? 

TCTSY can be utilized at any phase of therapy, and is especially good for those who are interested in taking a somatic (body-based) approach to therapy and healing. 

Those who would benefit from TCTSY:

  • Those who have been in traditional talk therapy, and are feeling stuck.

  • Those who are not ready to talk about their trauma history or stressful life events.

  • Those who have a complex trauma history.

  • Those who have trouble managing their emotions.

  • Those who struggle with chronic pain, fatigue, or sleep issues.

  • Anyone who believes they would benefit from TCTSY.

Who is not a good fit for TCTSY? 

TCTSY is a gentle, body-based healing modality. Those who are looking to be able to “talk it out” will likely not enjoy somatic healing. Additionally, those who associate a high level of intensity or challenge with successful therapeutic work will likely not enjoy TCTSY’s gentle pace. Finally, anybody who is looking primarily for a yoga class that centers physical exercise, such as those characterized by elevated heart rate and muscle fatigue, will not be a good fit for TCTSY. 

Here are a few additional individuals who may not benefit from TCTSY:

  • Anyone who is looking for a “quick fix” or a “magic pill” for healing

  • Individuals struggling with hallucinations or delusions

  • Individuals who are actively abusing drugs or alcohol

  • Those who are only interested in a traditional talk therapy experience

  • Those who are looking for physical exercise experience with elevated heart rate and muscle fatigue. TCTSY is for nervous system healing and is not a workout. 


Sources:

1 - Dietrich, K. M., Strumbel, N. M., & Nguyen-Feng, V. N. (2024). Effects of One-to-One Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Sessions on Psychological Symptoms and Interoception over 6 Months. International journal of yoga therapy, 34(2024), Article-10.

2 - Dietrich, K. M., Strumbel, N. M., Baumann, A. M., & Nguyen-Feng, V. N. (2024). Experiences with One-to-One Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Sessions: Consensual Qualitative Research. International journal of yoga therapy, 34(2024).

3 - Zaccari, B., Higgins, M., Haywood, T. N., Patel, M., Emerson, D., Hubbard, K.,  & Kelly, U. A. (2023). Yoga vs cognitive processing therapy for military sexual trauma–related posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 6(12), e2344862-e2344862.