Choosing the Right Trauma Therapy For You: Insights into EMDR and NARM

Healing from trauma is a deeply personal journey, and finding the right approach can make all the difference. Two effective methods are EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and NARM (the NeuroAffective Relational Model). Understanding both can help you determine which might be the best fit for your healing journey. As Toronto’s NARM Therapist, I am certified in the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) and other trauma-focused approaches, but do not offer EMDR.

What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)?

EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages you to briefly focus on traumatic memories while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation involves rhythmic sensory input alternating between the left and right sides of the body. This can be achieved through various methods, such as:

Eye Movements: The therapist guides the client’s eyes to move back and forth, typically using their fingers or a light bar.

Tactile Stimulation: Clients might hold tappers that buzz back and forth or the therapist might tap alternately on the client’s knees.

Auditory Tones: Clients listen to alternating sounds in each ear using headphones.

This process can reduce the vividness and emotional impact of traumatic memories.

EMDR is Best for:

• People with specific traumatic memories or events, such as accidents, assaults, or natural disasters. EMDR can also be modified for complex and developmental trauma, which might extend the initial phase and overall process.
• Those who prefer a more structured, short-term treatment approach.

Why it works:

EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories by reducing their emotional impact. The bilateral stimulation assists the brain in processing these memories, making them less distressing over time.

Considerations:

• Intensity: EMDR can be intense, involving direct confrontation with traumatic events. This intensity can benefit those ready to face specific memories head-on, often leading to quicker trauma resolution.
• Structure: The structured nature of EMDR provides a clear framework for those who appreciate a well-defined therapeutic process.

Addressing Sociocultural Trauma with EMDR:

EMDR can effectively address trauma related to experiences of racism and other forms of discrimination. By targeting specific distressing events, EMDR can help reduce the emotional impact of these experiences. The therapy can be tailored to address the unique personal and cultural contexts of such trauma, helping people process feelings of exclusion, prejudice, and systemic oppression.

What is the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM)?

At Talk2Me Therapy, I use the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) to focus on the connection between the mind and body, addressing the effects of trauma on the nervous system. NARM emphasizes mindfulness, in the form of present-moment awareness, and the relationship between emotions and what’s going on in your body, working gently to regulate stress responses (ex. Shutting down) and building resilience.

A Snapshot of NARM in Practice:

NARM sessions typically involve exploring present-moment emotions and what’s happening in the body, while maintaining awareness of relational patterns and history. The therapist helps clients recognize and integrate how past experiences influence their current feelings and behaviors. This process is gentle, emphasizing the development of personal agency and empowerment. Clients are encouraged to connect with their strengths and capacities, fostering a sense of control over their healing journey.

NARM is Best for:

• People with complex or developmental trauma, such as chronic neglect, emotional abuse, or attachment issues from early life.
• Those who prefer a more gradual, relationship focused approach to healing.

Why it works:

• NARM addresses deeper, long-standing patterns without requiring you to relive specific traumatic events. It focuses on the present moment and helps you develop a healthier relationship with your emotions and body.
• NARM integrates an understanding of how past experiences influence current behaviors and feelings, emphasizing personal agency. This approach helps clients build a stronger sense of control and empowerment for their future.

Considerations:

• Gentleness: NARM is gentler and works more slowly, which can be beneficial for those who find revisiting specific traumatic events overwhelming. This slower process allows for a more comprehensive integration of healing.
• Relationship Focused: The focus on relational and present-moment experiences can help build a strong connection to the therapist, fostering a deeper sense of safety and trust.

Addressing Sociocultural Trauma with NARM:

NARM is well-suited for addressing trauma related to racism and other forms of discrimination. It focuses on the present moment and the individual’s identity and relationships. This approach can help clients explore and heal the long-term effects of systemic oppression, prejudice, and exclusion. By emphasizing personal agency and empowerment, NARM helps clients develop a stronger sense of control and resilience. The gentle, relationship focused approach of NARM creates a safe space for clients to process and integrate these challenging experiences.

Finding Your Path to Healing

Choosing between EMDR and NARM depends on your personal history, preferences, and therapeutic goals. Here are some key points to consider:

• Specific Trauma vs. Complex Trauma: If your trauma is linked to specific events, EMDR might be more effective. For traumas that occurred early in life and extended over a long period of time (developmental and complex traumas), NARM offers a broader, more integrative approach.
• Intensity vs. Gentleness: EMDR’s intensity can lead to faster resolutions for those who want to face their trauma directly. NARM’s gentler approach is ideal for those who need a slower, more nurturing process.
• Structure vs. Relationship: EMDR is highly structured and typically shorter-term. NARM is more relationship focused and can be integrated into a longer therapeutic journey.

Both EMDR and NARM are effective tools for healing trauma, and with this information, you might be better equipped to make a more informed choice about which is the best fit for you. At Talk2Me Therapy, we’re here to support you in finding the right path for your healing journey. For those who prefer a gentler, more integrative approach, I’m here to support you with NARM through both in-person and virtual sessions.

Your journey to wellness starts with understanding your options and finding the approach that resonates with you. If you’re ready to dive into this work and start your healing journey, I invite you to reach out for a consultation. Let’s take the first step together.

If you enjoyed this blog or are interested in self-discovery and therapy, follow me on Instagram and Tiktok. I’m also on LinkedIn sharing professional development content for other therapists and mental health professionals.

Until next time, I hope you’re able to make today everything you need it to be.

References

American Psychological Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Courtois, C. A., & Ford, J. D. (2020). Treating complex traumatic stress disorders in adults: Scientific foundations and therapeutic models (2nd ed.). The Guilford Publications.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association. (n.d.). What is EMDR? Retrieved from https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/

Heller, L., & LaPierre, A. (2012). Healing developmental trauma: How early trauma affects self-regulation, self-image, and the capacity for relationship. North Atlantic Books.

Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). The Guilford Press.

Van der Kolk, B. (2015). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Publishing Group.