Embodiment, Trauma and the Nervous System: Reimagining Mindfulness Practice

Mindfulness is often taught as attention training, but for many, the body is where practice becomes complex—especially when trauma is present. Turning inward can activate the nervous system, challenging one-size-fits-all approaches.

In this fireside-style conversation, David Treleaven, Ph.D., author of Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness, explores how the nervous system shapes practice. Drawing on his work with clinicians and educators, he discusses adapting mindfulness to support regulation, choice and agency within an individual’s window of tolerance.
The conversation highlights how a trauma-informed approach to embodiment can make mindfulness more flexible, responsive and supportive.
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David Treleaven, Ph.D.
Treleaven is a writer, educator and trauma specialist focused on mindfulness and trauma. His work, including Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness (2018) and Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness Workbook (2025), has been translated into 10 languages and widely adopted in teacher training programs. He has taught at institutions including Oxford Mindfulness Centre, Brown University and UCLA, as well as leading centers such as Spirit Rock, Shambhala Mountain Center, Esalen Institute and Omega Institute.