Safe Meditation Practices for Trauma Survivors: Expert Tips from David Treleaven
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Not all meditation experiences are peaceful — and that's something we need to talk about.
In this conversation, meditation teacher Meryl Arnett sits down with mindfulness trainer and trauma expert David Treleaven, PhD, author of The Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Workbook, to explore how trauma impacts meditation and vice versa.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed, dysregulated, or triggered during meditation practice, this episode will help you understand why — and give you practical tools to work with these challenging experiences.
What To Expect
- Why meditation can trigger trauma responses and what to do about it
- The spectrum of trauma: understanding the difference between stress, traumatic stress, and PTSD
- The Window of Tolerance: a powerful framework for knowing when to lean into meditation and when to back off
- Being with vs. working with: two essential approaches to meditation practice
- Practical regulation tools beyond traditional seated meditation
Perfect For
- Meditation practitioners experiencing difficulty or overwhelm in practice
- Yoga and meditation teachers wanting to develop trauma-informed teaching skills
- Mental health professionals integrating mindfulness into their work
- Anyone with a trauma history exploring meditation
- Parents helping children develop emotional regulation skills
- Anyone interested in understanding the intersection of meditation and mental health
Featured Guest
David Treleaven, PhD is a writer, educator, and trauma professional specializing in trauma-sensitive mindfulness. His work helps meditation teachers and practitioners understand how to work skillfully with trauma in contemplative practice. He's trained thousands of meditation teachers worldwide and his resources include The Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Workbook and various online trainings.
Find David at: davidtreleaven.com
Resources Mentioned
The Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness Workbook by David Treleaven
Widening the Window by Elizabeth Stanley
Teachers referenced: Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Rick Hanson
Free trauma-informed meditation webinar available at davidtreleaven.com
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced challenges in your meditation practice? What tools help you regulate when practice becomes overwhelming? Share your experiences on social media using #meditatewithmeryl
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you're experiencing trauma symptoms or mental health concerns, please consult with a qualified mental health professional.
Learn more and sign up for Nature's Reflection: A Meditation and Forest Bathing Retreat happening October 23 - 26 here: https://www.hambidge.org/workshop-schedule/natures-reflection-a-meditation-and-forest-bathing-retreat
Sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/jjPrV2 to receive free mini meditations and soundscapes each week, along with creative musings and more.
New episodes every Monday (just the meditation) and Thursday (a full meditation class).
Learn more or contact me at https://www.merylarnett.com/.
Thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find her at:
https://www.instagram.com/itsbriannanielsen
This podcast explores meditation, mental health and the power of connection, offering guidance for caregivers, healers, and therapists facing compassion fatigue, burnout, and other mental health struggles through self-care, self-compassion, and resilience. With a focus on anxiety, depression, and overwhelm, each episode provides tools like meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to cultivate clarity and reduce stress. Listeners can also experience nature-inspired guided meditations, designed to bring peace and balance in times of distress.
