Exploring Pathways to Trauma Recovery: The MANTRA Study

An introduction to the MANTRA study on trauma-sensitive yoga and CPT therapy

Experiences of sexual violence in adulthood are more common than many people realise, and their impacts can be long-lasting. For some, the effects may include changes in mood, sleep, concentration, emotional regulation, or a sense of disconnection from the body. These responses are not signs of weakness — they are common and understandable responses to trauma.

While psychological therapies are often considered the primary pathway for trauma recovery, they are not accessible, suitable, preferred or effective for everyone. Many people face barriers such as long waitlists, cost, difficulty tolerating cognitive approaches, or feeling overwhelmed by talk-based therapies alone. At the same time, there is growing recognition that trauma is not only held in thoughts and memories, but also in the nervous system and the body.

The MANTRA Study was developed in response to this gap. It seeks to better understand how different group-based approaches can support recovery after sexual violence, and to build stronger evidence for options that are trauma-informed, accessible, and responsive to the whole person.

What is the MANTRA Study?

MANTRA stands for MeAsuring the beNefits of TRAuma-sensitive yoga.

The MANTRA study is led by researchers at the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with other Australian and overseas researchers. It is funded by the National Health & Medical Research Council. The study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Melbourne Ethics ID 32664.

The research project will be examining two different group-based approaches for supporting adults who have experienced sexual violence in adulthood and are living with ongoing impacts of trauma. The study is designed to rigorously evaluate how helpful these approaches are, and to understand more clearly what supports recovery, for whom, and why.

Participants in the study are randomly allocated to one of two 12-week group programs:

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY), or
Group Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).

Both programs are structured, facilitated by experienced practitioners, and grounded in trauma-informed principles. By comparing these two approaches, the study aims to contribute high-quality evidence that can inform future care options, service design, and survivor choice.

Importantly, the MANTRA Study has been carefully designed with participant safety, choice, confidentiality, and respect at its core.

Who is the study for?

This study may be suitable for adults who:

Are aged 18 years or older
Have had a sexual experience in adulthood that they did not consent to
Continue to experience impacts related to trauma
Live in Victoria and expect to remain in Victoria for the next 12 months
Are able to participate in a group program conducted in English
Feel open to taking part in a research study and being randomly allocated to one of two group programs

Not everyone who is interested will be eligible to participate. The study has specific inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure both safety and the integrity of the research. Exploring eligibility does not mean you are committing to participate.

What does participation involve?

Here is a detailed overview of what’s involved

The group programs being studied

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY)

A 12-week group program
Focuses on gentle movement, breath awareness, rest, and mindfulness
Emphasises choice, safety, and body awareness
No physical adjustments or pressure to perform
Designed specifically for people with trauma histories

Group Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

A 12-week group therapy program
Facilitated by trained mental health clinicians
Focuses on understanding thoughts, beliefs, and meaning after trauma
A well-established, evidence-based treatment for trauma

Both programs are provided at no cost to participants as part of the research study.

To Participate in MANTRA

If you are interested in participating in MANTRA, the first step is to answer some questions to see if this study is right for you. Unfortunately, not everyone who wants to be part of this study will be able to participate. To understand the impact of the programs we are testing, participants need to have had certain experiences but not others.

Check if this project is right for you by answering a few questions HERE

How are Billie and Kundalini House involved?

Billie Atherstone is involved in the MANTRA Study as an Associate Investigator, contributing clinical expertise and leading the development of the Trauma-Sensitive Yoga program being evaluated in the research.

Billie is a Yoga Therapist with over a decade of experience working in trauma recovery, alongside ongoing clinical practice, teaching, and training in trauma-responsive approaches. Through many years of working with individuals and groups, she has observed how trauma can be held not only in thoughts and memories, but also within the nervous system and the body. This long-term clinical experience has directly informed her contribution to the research and the design of the yoga protocol used in the study.

The 12-week Trauma-Sensitive Yoga program being evaluated in MANTRA was developed by Billie specifically for this research. It draws on Kundalini Yoga Therapy principles, trauma-informed care, and contemporary understandings of nervous system regulation, choice, and embodiment. The program is manualised and delivered consistently to ensure it can be studied rigorously and responsibly.

All Trauma-Sensitive Yoga groups in the study will be held at Kundalini House, which provides a supportive, accessible, and trauma-informed environment for participants. The comparison Group Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) program is delivered separately by trained clinicians in a clinical setting in Carlton.

It is important to note that MANTRA is a randomised research study. This means that individuals who are eligible and choose to take part will be randomly allocated to either the Trauma-Sensitive Yoga group or the Group CPT program. Participants do not choose the group they are placed in. This process is essential for high-quality research and allows meaningful comparison between different approaches to supporting recovery.

Why does this matter? Research of this kind plays a critical role in determining how trauma-sensitive yoga — and Kundalini Yoga Therapy more broadly — can be recognised, understood, and offered as a valid and worthwhile approach within trauma care. High-quality evidence is needed for yoga-based interventions to be taken seriously within health systems and to expand future options for survivors.

Participation in this study is not only about individual experience; it also contributes to a broader body of knowledge that may shape how trauma recovery is supported in the future. At the same time, involvement is always a personal choice. Each person’s wellbeing, readiness, and sense of safety come first, and there is no obligation to participate.

To Conclude

Taking part in research is always optional and personal. Some may feel drawn to contribute to this work; others may prefer different forms of support or none at all at this time. All responses are respected.

For those who wish to explore further, links to the official study information and eligibility screening are provided below. You are invited to approach this in your own time, with care and autonomy.

MANTRA — Restore Centre

Exploring Pathways to Trauma Recovery: The MANTRA Study