NARM™

“Paradoxically, the more we try to change ourselves, the more we prevent change. On the other hand, the more we allow ourselves to fully experience who we are, the greater the possibility of change.”

~Dr. Laurence Heller, grondlegger NARM

NARM, the NeuroAffective Relational Model, is a form of trauma therapy that focuses on healing relational, attachment, and complex developmental trauma (C-PTSD). In NARM sessions, we work with survival patterns that cause lifelong difficulties in connecting with ourselves and others. These early unconscious patterns get in the way of connection and are associated with all kinds of psychobiological symptoms.

The patterns arise around five life themes that we all encounter in our development: connection, attunement, trust, autonomy, and love-sexuality. NARM places less emphasis on why someone is the way they are and more on how their survival style distorts what they experience in the present moment. The here-and-now way of working is based on somatic mindfulness and increases our capacity for self-regulation. In this way, we create more capacity to be present with ourselves and with others.

Photo: Tehzeeb Kazmi