NARM Training Institute

This five-part NARM demonstration and debrief series offers a compelling and in-depth look into the healing process of developmental trauma through the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM®). Across the sessions, Dr. Laurence Heller works with Megan, a client navigating the aftermath of complex PTSD, chronic shame, and long-standing relational struggles. In the opening session, Megan shares feeling overwhelmed and emotionally fragmented, particularly in the context of her intimate relationship and life decisions. As the work unfolds, she begins to recognize how her people-pleasing tendencies and emotional detachment are survival strategies rooted in early experiences of abuse and neglect.

Throughout the series, Megan gradually reconnects with her authentic self by exploring difficult emotions such as shame, fear, and anger—often reframed as signs of vitality and self-protection. She becomes increasingly aware of how her past survival patterns, particularly fawning and self-suppression, no longer serve her in the present. With Dr. Heller’s steady support and a focus on somatic awareness, Megan begins to access deeper self-compassion, nervous system regulation, and emotional resilience. By the final session, she reflects on the transformative impact of the work, noting a growing ability to advocate for herself and relate to others from a more grounded and empowered place. This series offers a rich demonstration of how NARM can support clients in moving from survival-based identity to greater self-connection and agency.