[BudFox]

Anyone try it? I watched a YT and did some reading, sounds good, but as is often the case I can't find info on how it actually works.

[feralkittymom]

Reading about it, it doesn't seem all too different from what my T did a long time ago. There may have been more attention paid to emotional processing than this method suggests, but overall, not so different. The goals were to understand and process past hurt, but always through the lens of improving current functioning and healing in both meta-emotional and practical ways. But he identified as psychodynamic and CBT. This seems like a new name for not new ideas.

[Leah123]

This also has a great deal of similarity to what I and my therapist do. Intro to NARM

I agree it includes some recycled ideas- mindfulness, mind/body alignment, working with strengths, lack of pathologizing, working in the present, attunement, etc. Lots of familiar concepts.

What are referred to as the four main tenets sound fairly common to my experience of therapy, not as much to my experience of more classical psychoanalysis:

• Supporting connection and organization
• Exploring identity
• Working in present time
• Regulating the nervous system

Certainly though, history as it effects the present is relevant to therapy and we discuss that too- trauma work about old traumas wouldn't be complete without it, but not for its own sake, for the sake of repairing wounds and improving quality of life in the present, making the connections between triggers for example, to defuse them.

The other thing I like about my therapy which I wonder about with this NARM, is an almost complete lack of coercion, pushing or direction from my therapist. I've found that essential in doing such sensitive work, and had much worse results with a psychoanalyst in the past who was more leading. The element of client control is essential to preserve in my experience and study of work with folks who have PTSD or are dealing with other trauma related issues.

[BudFox]

This seems to be possibly unique but not sure:
"NARM uses both top-down and bottom-up approaches. Top-down approaches emphasize cognitions and emotions as the primary focus. Bottom-up approaches, on the other hand, focus on the body, the felt sense and the instinctive responses as they are mediated through the brain stem toward higher levels of brain organization. Using both bottom-up and top-down orientations greatly expands therapeutic options."

Maybe combines aspects of CBT with somatic approaches like Hakomi and SE.

Leah123, I agree about the coercion/pushing thing. Regardless of approach I don't want authoritative or directive therapy. But I don't get the sense that NARM is that way.

I will find out next week when I see a NARM therapist...