A simple way to define trauma is anything that was too much, too soon, or too fast for our nervous system to handle, especially if the experience didn’t reach a successful resolution. And to a certain extent, we all have experienced that. Some traumas have impacted our lives and well-being only mildly, such as having a less optimistic view on life as before the trauma. Other traumas might have impacted our lives so deeply that it has caused us to be incapable of trusting other people or to walk around in a constant state of fear of worst-case scenarios. Some people have become masters at hiding their wounding, and become pretenders that convince their surroundings that they are successful happy people, while on the inside they are suffering in deep loneliness. When we don’t realize that we actually deserved better and see ourselves through the eyes of our abusers, we might evolve into beings that feel constantly insecure and ashamed, convinced we are utterly unworthy in life.

The decision to embark on a journey that includes trauma release therapy comes at a time that we are ready for it. We developed our survival mechanisms for a very good reason; our nervous system would not have been able to channel the intensity without suppressing our feelings. Only when we are mature enough, have found enough stability within ourselves and in our lives, the realization appears that it might be time to clean up our old traumas. Hidden traumatic childhood memories may appear in our consciousness, and they almost demand to be confronted. It takes commitment to go through the process of trauma release, as we will be re-experiencing the worst moments of our early life, and it can feel like the ground underneath our feet is disappearing. Because it is an intense and delicate process, it’s important to be guided by a highly experienced therapist, and there has to be a deep sense of trust in both the method and the therapist. There are different approaches within the area of trauma release:

• Hypnotherapy is an approach where we are guided to a semi or complete hypnotic state. With guided meditation or visualization, we are invited to relax deeper and deeper, until we reach a trance-like state where we are still awake, but deeply relaxed. From that state, we have access to our subconscious memories. The therapist guides us to the key moments that need to come back to the surface so they can be released and integrated. We can also be invited to create new associations and beliefs. This method can assist when having insight and clarity about an abusive past is needed, or in dealing with addictions and phobias.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is often used in cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The effects of the treatment can be very rapid. The information processing system of our brain naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wounding re-surfaces. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. During the therapy, we attend to emotionally disturbing memories in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on external stimuli, such as lateral eye movements, hand-tapping, or audio stimulation.
• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is an approach that involves tapping with our fingertips to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on our head and chest while we think about a specific issue, combined with voicing positive affirmations. It is like psychological acupressure and can be applied in case of traumatic experiences, addictions, depression, and fear.  The combination of tapping the energy meridians and voicing positive affirmations works to clear the emotional block from our bio-energy system, thus restoring balance in our mind and body, which is essential for optimal health and healing.
• Somatic experiencing is an approach that focuses on the natural bodily responses; it works with the energy in our system that was created by experiencing trauma and seeks to repair and complete the body’s natural cycle to release it. Shortly after our traumas, we are often trying to ‘keep it together’ and manage our feelings, rather than completing our natural cycle of trauma release guided by our instinctive wisdom. The approach assists us in rebuilding awareness, improving inner coherence, and regulating emotions. During sessions, we slowly begin revisiting a traumatic event or situation, so our body can build the resilience that is needed to start allowing the traumatic energy fully back into our awareness and release it. The pace of this process is determined by our comfort level each step of the way.
• Biodynamic breathwork is an approach that integrates deep connected breathing with conscious touch, movement, emotional release, and meditation, for intuitive healing where and when it’s needed most. With this approach, we can heal past trauma, connect with your authentic being, and increasingly feel joyful and peaceful. Deep connected breathing allows us to charge up the body, activating specific belts of muscular tension and emotional patterns. Movement exercises like shaking, spinal waves, and deep tissue stimulation, allows us to release energy that was stored in our system. After the release, we improve our ability to intimately connect with ourselves and others free from fear and tension and more joyfully and unconditionally.