NARM Training Institute

In this demonstration session with Dr. Heller, Megan shares that she’s been sleeping and feeling better since their last session, crediting Dr. Heller’s reframing of her depression as a “love affair with survival” as a turning point. This insight led to increased self-compassion and emotional clarity. She also describes somatic shifts, such as improved movement in yoga, suggesting deeper nervous system regulation. Throughout the session, they explore her recurring patterns in relationships—particularly merging with others, difficulty asserting boundaries, and an overwhelming fear of disappointing people, which often leaves her feeling powerless and disconnected from herself.

Delving into her past, Megan discusses childhood experiences with a verbally and physically abusive, alcoholic father who was frequently frightening. These early dynamics laid the foundation for her people-pleasing behavior, shame spirals, and inability to express anger or advocate for herself. As the session unfolds, Megan becomes more in touch with her anger—not as a destructive force, but as a sign of vitality and self-protection. Dr. Heller supports her in seeing these long-standing patterns as survival strategies from childhood that she no longer needs. By the end of the session, Megan feels more grounded and aligned, expressing a sense of empowerment and compassion for her younger self and a renewed desire to live as a “fully expressed human being.”