NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM)

Connection: Our Deepest Desire & Greatest Fear

Wooden letter blocks displaying the words 'New Way' pointing to the right and 'Old Way' pointing to the left, with pink and white chalk arrows indicating directions on a gray textured surface.

In NARM therapy, we focus on discovering how past trauma shapes your present. It's not about dwelling on the why, but understanding how your survival strategies influence your life now.

Together, we’ll journey toward what you most desire for yourself.

“The coping strategies that initially helped us survive as children over the years become rigid beliefs about who we are and what the world is like. Our beliefs about ourselves and the world, together with the physiological patterns associated with these beliefs, crystallize into a familiar sense of who we are. This is what we come to view as our identity.”

-Laurence Heller, PhD & Aline LaPierre, PsyD

Close-up of four wooden blocks arranged in a row, spelling 'E M D R', with ‘E’ inverted and labeled ‘Eye’, and the other blocks labeled ‘Movement’, ‘Desensitization’, and ‘Reprocessing’.

How EMDR differs from other therapeutic approaches

The primary difference between EMDR and other forms of therapy is its focus on emotional and physiological responses to traumatic memories and the mechanism of action. Key differences include:

01

Direct focus on memories

Unlike cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on negative thoughts, EMDR gets to the root by directly altering how memories are stored in your brain.

02

Bilateral Stimulation

EMDR uses bilateral sensory input, like eye movements, to reduce the intensity of distressing memories.

03

Non-reliance on talk therapy

With EMDR, there's less pressure to talk about your trauma, making it suitable for clients who may struggle to verbalize their experiences.

Eye Movement Desentization and Reprocessing

EMDR goes beyond therapy; it's a journey

toward healing, a path to reclaiming your

sense of peace and emotional well-being

after enduring life's most challenging

experiences.