NARM Training Institute

Perfectionism is often understood as a personality trait or drive for excellence, but it can also develop as an adaptive strategy in response to developmental trauma. In this webinar, NARM creator Dr. Laurence Heller and NARM Master Therapist Sherri Sharkins explore how early experiences of misattunement can contribute to perfectionistic patterns organized around self-rejection, shame, and a deep sense of “not enough.” They examine how individuals may come to base their sense of worth on performance, appearance, or achievement, disconnecting from important parts of themselves in the process.

Designed for therapists and helping professionals seeking to better understand and work with perfectionism as an adaptation to developmental trauma, this webinar offers a look into how the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) supports a compassionate and clinically grounded approach to understanding and working with perfectionism. You’ll gain insight into underlying dynamics, including pride- and shame-based identifications, and explore how working with these patterns can support greater self-acceptance and a different relationship to the self.