NARM Training Institute

In this webinar, NARM Master Therapist Sherri Sharkins, and Dr. Laurence Heller discuss the hierarchy of intentions in the NARM contracting process—a core element of Pillar I. They outline five types of intentions ranked generally in order of effectiveness, ranging from symptom eradication to states of being. They note that intentions related to states of being, such as self-compassion, are considered the most effective, while intentions focused solely on symptom removal are less so.  

The discussion covers challenges clients may face in identifying their intentions, related to the survival style strategies. They explain that the client's capacity to create a clear intention reflects their internal organization and address how to proceed when a client is focused on what they don't want or can't come up with anything that they do want. The presenters also address how therapists can best guide clients in clarifying their intentions, emphasizing exploration, curiosity, and avoiding being too rigid or mechanistic in the contracting process.