The Power of Breathwork: Releasing Trauma Beyond Talk Therapy
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve talked about this so many times—why do I still feel it in my body?” you’re not alone. That question is what led me to breathwork.
When therapy helps—and when it can feel incomplete
Traditional therapy can be life changing. Talking through painful experiences, recognizing patterns, and building coping skills are all essential parts of healing. And still, even after years of “doing the work,” some of us feel like something is stuck under the surface. One reason is that trauma isn’t held only in thoughts and memories—it can also be held in the body.
What made it click for me
I didn’t fully understand the mind-body connection until I read The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. It helped me see how traumatic stress can impact the nervous system and, over time, show up as real physical symptoms. I remember thinking, If I can name it, understand it, and process it in therapy—shouldn’t that be enough? For some people, it is. For others, it isn’t.
When I started my podcast, Bent Not Broken – Starting Over After Divorce, several guests shared how they used breathwork and RTT (Rapid Transformational Therapy) alongside more traditional approaches. As I listened, I began to wonder if I still carried unresolved trauma myself. I felt stuck—emotionally and physically—and I couldn’t explain why. For Mother’s Day, I gave myself a gift - retreat time to focus on me and experience breathwork with the intention of releasing whatever my body might still be holding. It was the best gift I’ve ever given myself.
So what is breathwork?
Breathwork is a healing practice that uses intentional breathing patterns to influence the body and mind. By changing how we breathe, we can sometimes access emotions stored beneath awareness—feelings that talking alone doesn’t always reach.
A quick note: If you have a medical condition (especially related to the heart, lungs, blood pressure, seizures, or pregnancy) or a history of severe panic/dissociation, talk with a clinician first and consider working with a trained facilitator. Go gently and stop if you feel unwell.
Breathwork includes many styles, but a common approach is conscious connected breathing—a steady rhythm with minimal pauses between inhales and exhales. Practiced safely, this kind of breathing can help downshift the stress response, increase body awareness, and loosen tension that has been held for years.
For trauma survivors, breathwork can be especially powerful because trauma can keep the body locked in survival mode—fight, flight, or freeze. Even when life is safe again, the nervous system may still react as if danger is present. Breathwork can support nervous-system regulation and create a pathway for the body to release stored fear, grief, anger, or shame.
During a session, people sometimes experience emotional release—crying, shaking, laughter—or they may feel an unexpected calm and clarity. These responses aren’t weakness; they can be signs that the body is finally processing what it has carried for too long.
What makes breathwork different is that it doesn’t require you to solve everything intellectually. You can understand your story in therapy and still feel emotionally stuck. Breathwork shifts the focus to the body—where many protective trauma responses begin—and can help movement happen when insight alone hasn’t been enough.
My experience last weekend fits that description. I cried and shook; I felt cold and warm; and eventually I found a sense of peace. What I thought was my “logical” sticking point turned out to be something deeper. In my early twenties, I was in a serious car accident: I was thrown through the windshield, shattered both kneecaps, and later needed four surgeries and about 18 months of recovery—including learning to walk again. That trauma shaped me in countless ways. But in the session, what surfaced most clearly was something else: I didn’t want to go with my husband (now my ex) that day. I was on vacation and wanted to rest, but I let him override my no. Underneath everything, I was angry with myself for not holding my boundary.
Healing is not one-size-fits-all. Therapy, coaching, support groups, and somatic healing practices can work beautifully together — and you have permission to explore what supports your healing best. If you feel like you’ve done “all the work” but still carry emotional heaviness or tension in your body, breathwork may be the missing piece — the deep exhale you didn’t realize you needed.
If you’re interested in exploring breathwork, look for a trained facilitator who prioritizes safety, consent, and nervous system regulation to help create a supportive and grounded healing experience.
Until next time,
Coach Deborah
Website: www.brokentoboldness.com
Email: deborah@brokentoboldness.com