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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NARM
The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) is a body- and psychotherapeutic concept that considers you as a whole – body, mind, and emotions . NARM helps you understand and change the connections between early attachment experiences, emotional patterns, and your posture.
Developed by Laurence Heller, NARM is based on the understanding that many chronic stress and trauma-related conditions are deeply rooted in body awareness and neural regulation. Using gentle, individually tailored methods, NARM supports you in strengthening your self-regulation, inner stability, and emotional resilience .
The therapy works with breath, body awareness and emotional processes to identify and resolve old attachment patterns – without you losing control over your feelings.
The goal is to activate your self-healing powers, regulate stress reactions , and achieve more inner freedom .
In our practice in Berlin Pankow, you will find a calm and safe environment for your NARM sessions, optimally supporting your individual development and healing. Online sessions are also available upon request.
Learn more about NARM therapy in Berlin Pankow
The applications of NARM therapy are diverse and individualized – each session aims to identify and regulate emotional patterns, stress reactions, and physical tension . NARM supports you in strengthening your self-regulation and inner stability .
NARM can be helpful for many different issues, for example:
Chronic stress and burnout
Attachment trauma and emotional patterns from childhood
Anxiety, panic attacks, or inner restlessness
Depression or feelings of inner emptiness
Physical tension or strain related to emotional stress
Support in regulating self-esteem and relationships
Important: NARM is a holistic therapy that incorporates body, mind, and emotions . It does not replace conventional medical diagnosis or treatment, but can be a useful complement to it.
Every person reacts differently – whether and how NARM can help becomes apparent individually during the course of therapy .
An overview of common issues that our NARM therapy in Berlin Pankow can help with can be found here: Treatment Focus Areas .
NARM therapy is aimed at adolescents and adults who want to strengthen their emotional regulation, attachment patterns and stress management .
The treatment is individually tailored to your personal needs, life history and current challenges in order to promote self-stability, inner freedom and resilience .
In our shared practice in Berlin Pankow, we bring sound training and experience in NARM and trauma therapy methods, including:
Training in the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) with recognized trainers
Specialization in attachment trauma and early childhood patterns
Experience in body- and emotionally oriented trauma work
Regular training in stress regulation, self-esteem building and resilience training
With these qualifications, we can ensure that every session is expert, safe, and individually tailored to you.
You can find out more about our team and our qualifications on our team page .
Yes, we are alternative practitioners (HP and HP Psych). You can find out more about our qualifications on our team page .
NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model) is a method that evolved from Somatic Experiencing (SE) . While SE primarily addresses shock trauma and aims to regulate traumatic experiences through body awareness, NARM extends this approach, particularly to attachment trauma, emotional patterns, and early childhood imprinting —that is, the area of developmental trauma . NARM combines body-oriented trauma work with psychotherapeutic knowledge to promote long-term self-regulation and emotional stability .
In our shared practice in Berlin Pankow, we both work with different backgrounds:
Klara is a licensed alternative practitioner for psychotherapy, officially trained in NARM, and brings many years of experience in psychotherapeutic bodywork and Somatic Experiencing (SE) .
Violetta is a naturopathic practitioner (including naturopathic psychotherapist), has many years of experience in osteopathy (M.Sc.), Gestalt therapy and Focusing , and is currently in the ongoing NARM training .
Our approach combines trauma therapy expertise, bodywork/osteopathy, SE and NARM , so that each session can be individually, safely and professionally designed.
Reimbursement for NARM is not uniformly regulated in Germany. Many statutory health insurance companies do not automatically cover NARM, as it is a form of psychotherapy considered therapeutic but not recognized by statutory health insurance .
If you have supplemental insurance for alternative practitioners or private health insurance , the costs may be fully or partially reimbursed , depending on your policy. It's best to check with your insurance company beforehand to find out which services are covered.
We will provide you with a transparent invoice according to the fee schedule for alternative practitioners (GebüH) , which you can submit to your insurance company.
And: If you find yourself in a difficult financial situation , just talk to us – we'll find a solution together.
No , you don't need a doctor's referral for NARM treatment at our practice. You can book an appointment directly with us.
However, if you would like to have the costs reimbursed by your insurance , please check with your health insurance provider beforehand. Some providers require a doctor's prescription in addition to the invoice, while others do not. The conditions vary depending on the insurance company – a quick phone call is all it takes; you can find the phone number on your insurance card.
You can currently book an appointment for NARM treatment directly with us via email or telephone .
If we are currently in a meeting, we will not answer the phone personally – please leave a message or send us an email.
We will usually get back to you within 24 hours .
Your NARM appointment is reserved exclusively for you – we deliberately keep this time free for you.
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible , but no later than 48 hours in advance . This will allow us to offer the time slot to someone else on the waiting list.
Please note: For cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance or in the case of no-shows, we charge a cancellation fee , depending on the agreed session duration. This fee is generally not covered by health insurance .
Thank you for your understanding and consideration – this way other people who urgently need an appointment can also benefit from available slots.
A NARM appointment begins with a brief check-in and anamnesis , in which we discuss your current situation and your concerns.
Then comes the actual process work , which is oriented towards body-oriented and psychotherapeutic approaches. NARM supports you in recognizing and regulating emotional patterns, attachment experiences, and early childhood imprints – always at your own pace.
If you wish, osteopathic methods can also be incorporated.
In between sessions, we'll discuss how you can actively strengthen your self-regulation , for example through body awareness, breathing exercises, or small everyday activities. This creates a space where you can experience change safely, stably, and with support .
You don't need to bring any special materials to a NARM session.
It can be helpful to:
Comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely and relax.
Notes or questions you would like to discuss during the session
Otherwise, all you need is yourself and your willingness to discover, at your own pace, what is happening in your body and nervous system.
Our practice is located in Pankow , right on the border with Prenzlauer Berg: Hallandstraße 14, 13189 Berlin
Public transportation:
Located only about 400 m from Vinetastraße (U2, tram lines 50 and M1, bus line 250)
Further stops on Wisbyer Straße or Bornholmer Straße are about an 8-minute walk away (Tram 50, M1, M2, M13, Bus line 10)
By car:
Free parking is available on Hallandstrasse, directly in front of the practice.
Depending on the time of day, finding a parking space can take some time.
Please note: Our practice is located on the ground floor , however the entrance area has three steps , therefore access is unfortunately not barrier-free .
You can pay for your NARM session directly on site after the treatment in cash or with a debit card .
Alternatively, you can transfer the costs within 14 days of receiving the invoice . We offer the following payment options:
classic bank transfer using IBAN or QR code
PayPal
This way you can choose the payment method that is most convenient for you.
Prices for NARM vary depending on the practice and the duration of the session. In our practice, the current price is €120 per session (60–90 minutes).
Billing is generally based on the German fee schedule for alternative practitioners (GebüH) . Please note: Many statutory health insurance companies do not automatically cover NARM. Some private health insurance companies or supplementary insurance plans reimburse a portion of the costs – it's best to check directly with your insurance provider.
We offer discounts for people in difficult financial situations . Please ask us about it.
It's impossible to give a general answer. NARM doesn't work according to fixed programs or guidelines , but rather adapts to your nervous system, your pace, and what emerges during the process.
Some people come for only a few sessions because they want to address a specific issue . Others opt for longer-term therapeutic support to understand and change deeper patterns, attachment issues, or stress reactions.
How many appointments are advisable depends, for example, on:
your personal request
your current life situation
the depth of the topic
and the pace at which your nervous system can regulate well
NARM works gently and in a resource-oriented way . It's not about "solving as much as possible in a short time," but about creating stability, clarity, and inner security . Many people experience changes in their perception or body awareness after a few sessions – others take more time.
You decide how long you would like to be accompanied.
A NARM session in our practice typically lasts between 60 and 90 minutes . The exact duration may vary slightly depending on the topic, process, and your individual situation.
Especially at the beginning, we take time for a calm arrival , for spatial awareness, and for a shared orientation before we begin the actual process work. In therapeutic work, pressure and pace do not come from the outside – the session adapts to what your nervous system can handle effectively.
NARM doesn't work faster because "more is happening," but because it involves deeper understanding and regulation . Sometimes a lot happens in a session; sometimes silence, awareness, or a single new point of contact is what's essential.
We recommend taking some time after the session – for rest, a walk, or simply to let the experience sink in.
NARM is a mindful, resource-oriented, and non-invasive method . Its goal is to support people in gaining more contact with themselves, their bodies, and their emotional patterns.
Nevertheless, as with any therapeutic work, temporary reactions can occur.
Because NARM facilitates access to emotional and physical processes, the following experiences may occur briefly after a session:
increased sensitivity
emotional agitation (e.g., sadness, anger, relief)
Tiredness or exhaustion
more intense body awareness
Such reactions are not "side effects" in the medical sense , but part of the process: The body re-regulates itself, frozen patterns begin to move, and the nervous system finds new ways of self-regulation.
It is important to note that NARM work proceeds at a safe pace . Clients remain in contact with their resources and their own control at all times. NARM consciously avoids retraumatizing , confrontation, and overwhelming the client.
If someone is in an acute crisis, has serious psychiatric diagnoses, or is very unstable, NARM can be usefully used as a complementary therapy – sometimes in consultation with doctors, psychotherapists, or other professionals.
Our focus is on guiding changes gently and in a stabilizing way , so that more clarity, regulation and inner security can develop.
NARM is a body- and psychotherapeutically oriented method that can provide support for developmental and attachment trauma as well as emotional patterns. At the same time, NARM has clear limitations.
NARM does not replace medical or psychiatric treatment . Acute crises, severe mental illnesses, suicidality, psychoses, or acute medical emergencies require specialist medical, psychotherapeutic, or clinical treatment .
In many cases, NARM-supported work can be a complementary approach – for example, to stabilize, strengthen resources and promote self-regulation – ideally in consultation with treating physicians or therapists.
NARM is not a crisis intervention , but a process that supports you in developing long-term changes, inner clarity, and emotional regulation .
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