The 3 Phases of TRTP: What to Expect from Start to Finish

Becky Merka
May 12
3 min read

Starting something new — especially something as important as trauma healing — can feel overwhelming.

You might be wondering:

"What’s actually going to happen during TRTP?"

"Will I be pushed to relive painful memories?"

"Is it going to be scary or hard?"

Here’s the good news: The Richards Trauma Process (TRTP) is structured, supportive, and surprisingly gentle. It’s designed to guide you step-by-step in a way that feels safe and empowering — not overwhelming.

Today, let’s break down the 3 clear phases of TRTP, so you’ll know exactly what to expect from your first session to your last.

Phase 1: Getting You Strong, Safe, and Ready

Before anything else happens, TRTP focuses on building your inner strength. That’s right — healing doesn’t start by diving into the trauma. It starts by helping you feel powerful.

In this phase, your practitioner will help you:

Strengthen your sense of self: You’ll reconnect to a feeling of “I am strong. I can do this.”
Create emotional safety: You’ll learn simple, powerful techniques to shift into a calm, grounded state.
Build trust with yourself: You'll start seeing yourself not as a victim of your past, but as someone capable of real, lasting change.

Why is this important? Because if your nervous system still feels fragile or stuck in survival mode, trying to process trauma would be like trying to renovate a house during a hurricane. You need to feel solid and safe first — and that’s exactly what this phase does.

Phase 2: Resolving the Trauma at the Core

This is where the magic happens — and no, it’s not about dragging you through the pain.

In this phase, TRTP:

Accesses the subconscious (where trauma is stored)
Resolves the emotional charge around the traumatic memories
Updates your inner story so you can move forward with power and peace

Here’s what’s different about TRTP:

You don’t have to relive every detail of what happened. Instead, you work in a calm, relaxed state where you direct the outcome of the story. You get to step into a version of yourself that’s strong, safe, and no longer stuck in the past.

It’s about changing the way your mind holds the trauma — so that when you think about it, it no longer feels overwhelming, painful, or even threatening.

Instead, it just becomes... something that happened. Something that’s over.

And you? You are safe, strong, and free.

Phase 3: Locking It In and Moving Forward

woman in field with the sun on her face — I'm safe now.

Once the trauma has been resolved at the subconscious level, the final phase is all about making sure the changes stick.

In this phase, you’ll:

Reinforce your new sense of self: So that your mind and body recognize this powerful, healed version of you as the “new normal.”
Anchor future goals and visions: You’ll set yourself up for success moving forward, with your past truly behind you.
Fully release old patterns: No more self-sabotage. No more living in fear. You’ll step fully into a life where you can think clearly, love fully, and dream boldly.

This is the part where you’ll probably notice your nervous system feels so much calmer, your relationships feel healthier, and your mind feels clearer.And best of all? It doesn’t take years. Many people complete TRTP in just a few powerful sessions.

What Clients Often Say After TRTP

After completing the full process, people often say things like:

"It’s like the trauma happened to someone else, not me." "I can finally breathe again." "I feel strong. Calm. In control."

This isn’t just about coping with trauma — it’s about healing it at the root.

Final Thoughts: Healing That Respects Your Story

At Merka Wellness, we believe that healing should never be about forcing you to relive your worst moments. It should be about honoring your strength, respecting your journey, and helping you reclaim your peace with dignity and compassion.

TRTP is built to do just that — to walk you through a safe, structured process that truly changes the way you experience yourself and your life.

Ready to take the next step toward healing? We’re here for you. Reach out anytime — we’ll be honored to walk this journey with you.

Want to find out if TRTP is right for you?

Book a free consultation today — no pressure, just possibilities.