NARM Training Institute

In this webinar, NARM Master Therapist, Sherri Sharkins and Dr. Laurence Heller discuss the relationship between pleasure and pain, particularly in the context of NARM therapy. They emphasize that dopamine is not pleasure itself but a messenger, and true pleasure is a whole-body experience. They explore how people tend to avoid pain, but this can lead to further difficulties, especially with emotional pain. The discussion covers the energetic aspects of pleasure as expansion and pain as contraction, and how contracting against pain can create more pain. The importance of processing emotional pain differently from physical pain is highlighted, with a focus on deconstructing emotional pain into specific emotions like anger, grief, and self-shaming.

The presenters delve into the concepts of pendulation and resistance, and how physical and emotional pain are often interconnected. They assert that pleasure is a basic human need and its deprivation can lead to compulsive behaviors and addiction. The webinar emphasizes the importance of exploring a client's relationship with pleasure and acknowledging the impact of early experiences and societal or religious beliefs on their ability to experience it. Self-harm is discussed as a way to manage emotional pain, and the necessity of deconstructing this behavior is stressed. Ultimately, they underscore that developing an increased capacity for pleasure requires time, mindfulness, and an understanding of the body's adjustment to openness and expansion.