What is NARM and what does it mean to be a NARM Therapist?

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NARM (the NeuroAffective Relational Model) is a therapeutic approach specifically designed to address complex trauma and the internal patterns that affect quality of life that often emerges alongside it. These patterns usually began as adaptations to early adversity, but can become automatic and unhelpful when responding to a source of stress that is no longer present.

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Learn more information about Complex Trauma

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Being a NARM Master Therapist means I have completed the full formal training in the NeuroAffective Relational Model and remain connected with those trained in the model to remain competent in providing it. I integrate NARM principles and skills into almost every session I offer.

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NARM Process 

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One of the factors I appreciate most about NARM is how well it translates to online therapy. As long as you are in a private, comfortable space where you can safely turn inward, we can do this work together from anywhere.

 

While many therapy approaches focus on behaviors and goal setting with external factors, NARM centers on your internal world in how you relate to your own thoughts, sensations, and emotions in the present moment as the foundation for healing.

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NARM is trauma-informed and depth-oriented. It recognizes the impact of unprocessed trauma and the role of the subconscious in shaping our lives. Sessions are experiential and mindfulness-based, meaning we work together in real-time with what arises. This approach is also relational as we pay attention to how you’re feeling in our present connection, and somatic in including the awareness of physical sensations and nervous system shifts that happen as part of the healing process.

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Within a NARM session, there are four distinct interventions:

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Clarifying the Therapeutic Contract – getting clear about what you want from therapy and receiving your active consent for our work

Asking Exploratory Questions – gently inviting curiosity with your experiences and how it may relate to what you want with therapy

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Reinforcing Agency – supporting your capacity to choose your experience based on what we learn

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Reflecting Psychobiological Shifts – noticing present physical shifts as we explore to support embodied, fuller awareness

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How NARM views complex trauma

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NARM also explores what are called survival styles or patterns developed early in life as a means to survive.

 

As young children, our survival relied on maintaining our relationship with primary caregivers and our primary group even when it means disconnecting from our authentic wants and needs that is necessary to thrive as an adult. Since modern social structures has led to less time with young children and their authentic experiences, it is common to have all survival styles to some degree.

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Connection Survival Style

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The connection survival style is recognized through a tendency to disengage or disconnect with our body and with others. We may struggle to feel ourselves as part of a shared social space in the present and tending to find safety in retreating into our intellect and/or spirituality. The safety with this is to prevent the rejection that was first experienced very early in life including pre-birth or generationally.

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They and others may experience them as outliers or neurodivergent. Since complex and also more severe trauma does have a neurological and biological effect, neurobiological concerns such as ADHD, autism, and also what is considered giftedness may co-occur with this survival style.​​

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Attunment Survival Style

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In progress. July 7, 2026

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Trust Survival Style

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Core dilemma: continue to trust self or trust the process in the relationship

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Autonomy Surival Style

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Core dilemma: continue to perform or be authentic in the relationship

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Love-Sexuality Survival Style

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Core dilemma: continue to be open to love and sexuality or remain closed to it

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Within therapy sessions, clients are supported to be aware of when survival styles are present to practice agency with them. Therapists support clients to internalize this experience through NARM interventions so they may bring this sense of agency with them into circumstances outside of therapy that may activate these survival patterns.

 

The goal is not to eliminate survival styles or to erase trauma, and this is not realistic anyway as it isn't realistic to erase lived experience and predisposition, but to improve awareness and agency over them so they may be more present to their anthentic wants and needs. This is the place where posttraumatic growth can occur.

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