NARM Training Institute

In this insightful webinar, Dr. Laurence Heller and NARM Master Therapist Sherri Sharkins explore the dynamic relationship between pleasure and psychological well-being. Moving beyond the idea of pleasure as just a “dopamine hit,” they reveal how family dynamics, cultural and religious conditioning, and early life experiences influence our capacity to experience joy, connection, and other expansive states. Many people unknowingly internalize limiting beliefs that suppress pleasure—viewing it as dangerous, selfish, or even sinful. This can create a sort of “pleasure hunger” that often manifests as disconnection, shame, or compulsive behaviors that attempt to fill that void.

Using the NARM framework, the presenters demonstrate how supporting a client’s capacity for expansiveness and pleasure is not only possible but essential for deeper healing and embodiment. They explore the energetics of pleasure, the vulnerability it can evoke, and how therapists and individuals alike can learn to slow down, track moment-to-moment experiences, and integrate pleasurable states for lasting change. This webinar is a must-watch for anyone interested in personal growth, healing from complex trauma, or deepening therapeutic work through the lens of pleasure and expansion.