Elizabeth Lee is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Psychological Science (MAPS) program at the University of Minnesota Duluth, counseling/clinical track. As a member of the TIWL Research Team, she recently co-led a groundbreaking study exploring trauma-informed weightlifting as an adjunctive intervention for youth experiencing PTSD in residential treatment. We sat down with Elizabeth to hear more about the study, what they found, and why embodied practices might be the future of trauma care.

Rachel:

What is this study, and why did you want to do it?

Elizabeth:

The study, “Trauma-Informed Weightlifting as an Adjunctive Intervention for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Youth in Residential Treatment,” explored the effects of an eight-week trauma-informed weightlifting program co-developed by Candace Liger (TIWL Director) and Sophia Pellegrom (TIWL Certified, Youth Coach). The approach emphasized autonomy, emotional safety, consent, and empowerment.

Participants were divided into two groups: one participated in the trauma-informed weightlifting (TIWL) program, while the other received treatment as usual. Seven participants completed the TIWL program, and five completed the control condition. We measured symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, stress, and interoceptive awareness across four time points.

We hypothesized that trauma-informed weightlifting would be both feasible and beneficial in a residential setting—and that participants in the TIWL group would show stronger mental health outcomes over time. This is one of the first structured studies on trauma-informed weightlifting, and we saw it as an important first step in advancing this field.

Rachel:

So what did you find?

Elizabeth:

Participants in the TIWL group attended 87.5% of sessions, and rated the program as very helpful.

And then our qualitative responses highlighted that participants appreciated the structured workouts and expressed desire for the program to continue longer. So they were upset that it was ending so soon.

From a mental health standpoint, we saw improvements in traumatic stress, depression, and interoceptive awareness by the end of the intervention. However, some symptoms returned or increased at the four-week follow-up. We believe this may reflect the loss of a meaningful coping tool once the program ended—mirroring other research that shows mental health can decline when access to exercise is withdrawn.

Our results supported the conclusion that trauma-informed weightlifting is both feasible and acceptable within the residential treatment setting based on qualitative fit and their attendance.

Rachel:

Was there anything that surprised you?

Elizabeth:

Yes—the return of some post-traumatic stress symptoms at follow-up was surprising and counter to our hypothesis. We think this speaks to how impactful the weightlifting sessions were as a coping mechanism, and how their abrupt end might have negatively affected participants. It really highlighted the importance of ongoing access to movement-based interventions in residential care.

Rachel:

You’re continuing this research, right?

Elizabeth:

Yes, I’ve had researchers reach out to collaborate, and I’m working on a new study that isolates interoception—a key mechanism of trauma-informed weightlifting. In my current program, I’m examining how changes in interoception may support people with PTSD.

Rachel:

When you began this work, did you have specific hopes for its impact?

Elizabeth:

Absolutely. I hope this study encourages a shift toward embodied interventions in mental health—complementing traditional psychotherapy with practices that center the body. For some people, trauma-informed weightlifting may be their first experience of connecting physical and emotional well-being. I hope our findings offer a more empowering and accessible healing path for those individuals.

Rachel:

How do you see embodied interventions like trauma-informed weightlifting comparing to more traditional approaches like CBT?

Elizabeth:

CBT has long been considered the gold standard, but embodied treatments offer unique strengths—especially for people who may feel disconnected from cognitive or talk-based therapies. We’ve seen that these approaches can improve emotional regulation, interoceptive awareness, and overall mental health. Practices like yoga, weightlifting, walking, and mindfulness provide other access points for healing and should absolutely be part of the conversation.

Rachel:

Do you have any personal stories or reflections from your own journey?

Elizabeth:

Definitely. I completed the trauma-informed weightlifting certification, and it helped me reflect on my own relationship with movement. When I was younger, I couldn’t do a push-up or a pull-up—but now I can. Recently, I fractured my ankle and had to stop lifting. I’ve felt the emotional impact of losing that outlet, which only reinforces what I believe from the research: weightlifting has real healing power.

Rachel:

Is there a “hill you’d die on” when it comes to trauma treatment?

Elizabeth:

Yes. I believe we need to broaden our clinical definition of trauma. Right now, someone must have experienced or witnessed actual or threatened death to receive a PTSD diagnosis. But people can have trauma responses from discrimination, chronic stress, or significant loss. Everyone deserves access to interventions like trauma-informed weightlifting—whether or not their experience fits within a narrow diagnostic box.

Rachel:

Beautifully said. Thank you for this important work—and for sharing your story.