The NARM Training Institute Presents
The NARM-Informed Professional Training
(formerly NARM Basics Training)
About this Training
The NARM-Informed Professional Training (formerly NARM Basics Training) provides a comprehensive live virtual learning experience aimed at enhancing trauma-informed practices for mental health and other helping professionals. Attendees will engage in a dynamic mix of didactic instruction, Q&A sessions, and experiential elements, creating a rich and interactive learning environment. While primarily designed for mental health professionals, the training also welcomes coaches, medical and healthcare professionals, educators, case workers, legal professionals, clergy and spiritual care providers, bodyworkers, and other helping professionals. Any person whose work sees them interacting with the effects of complex trauma on a regular basis is welcome to apply for the training. Students preparing for these professions are also welcome to apply, provided they are enrolled in a baccalaureate-level or graduate program.
Covering the evolving landscape of trauma-informed care, this psychoeducational training delves into how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) contribute to complex trauma. Participants will be introduced to NARM’s principles and techniques, equipping them with effective strategies to support their clients. Although this training serves as an excellent starting point for licensed mental health professionals wanting to deepen their understanding of complex trauma, those seeking strictly clinical training may consider beginning their training with the NARM Therapist Training, instead. It is also important to note that this program is focused on professional development rather than personal growth. To find NARM Therapist training options please visit either the Complex Trauma Training Center or NARM Europe.
Why Take This Training?
The NARM-Informed Professional Training offers a transformative opportunity for mental health and helping professionals to deepen their understanding of complex trauma and enhance their professional practices. Past participants have shared profound insights into how training in NARM humanizes the healing process by shifting the focus from pathology to genuine connection and self-agency. Many attendees report that learning the four pillars of NARM and identifying toxic shame has fundamentally changed how they relate to their clients and themselves. Many practitioners have profoundly changed their practice by replacing the pressure they put on themselves to “fix” their clients with curiosity, and have reported feeling like they have a greater impact in their work.
Registration for the Fall 2026 Training is now closed
If you are interested in joining this training, please inquire with [email protected] to see if space is still available.
Alternatively, you can view our Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 trainings.
Training Dates & Details
Please review the details below to see which training is best for you. (Click to expand schedule).
Training sessions will occur 8:00 am – 2:30 pm Pacific Time each day.
- Module 1: Friday, August 28 – Sunday, August 30, 2026
- Module 2: Friday, September 25 – Sunday, September 27, 2026
- Module 3: Friday, November 6 – Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Module 4: Friday, December 18 – Sunday, December 20, 2026
Training sessions will occur 8:00 am – 2:30 pm Pacific Time each day.
- Module 1: Friday, February 26 – Sunday, February 28, 2027
- Module 2: Friday, March 19 – Sunday, March 21, 2027
- Module 3: Friday, April 16 – Sunday, April 18, 2027
- Module 4: Friday, May 21 – Sunday, May 23, 2027
Training sessions will occur 8:00 am – 2:30 pm Pacific Time each day.
- Module 1: Friday, September 17 – Sunday, September 19, 2027
- Module 2: Friday, October 8 – Sunday, October 10, 2027
- Module 3: Friday, November 12 – Sunday, November 14, 2027
- Module 4: Friday, December 17 – Sunday, December 19, 2027
Training Location: This training will be held live and hosted on Zoom.
This training is set for North America Pacific Time, which may be inconvenient for some of our international community members who reside in other parts of the world. The didactic and Q&A portions of this training will be recorded and made available to participants in the training portal. However, please note that the NARM-Informed Professional Training includes experiential components in dyads and small groups that will not be recorded. If you believe that your training experience will be adversely impacted by the time zone you live in, you are encouraged to wait for further training opportunities that may better meet your needs.
Pricing Details for the NARM-Informed Professional Training
OPTION 1
Pay in Full
$100 Application Fee plus
$1,676.00 USD
one-time payment | taxes included
OPTION 2
Payment Plan
$100 Application Fee plus
4 x $419 USD / 4 tuition payments
auto-billed monthly | taxes included
Student & Intern Pricing
We offer a 20% discount to active college and graduate school students studying within a helping professional field and to clinical mental health interns.
To apply as a student/intern, please click on the Student/Intern link on the Payment Page.
Agency Pricing
We offer agency pricing to groups of 3 or more from the same agency.
Please email [email protected] for more info.
Ready to sign up for the NARM-Informed Professional Training?
Registration for the Fall 2026 Training is now closed
If you are interested in joining this training, please inquire with [email protected] to see if space is still available.
Alternatively, you can view our Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 trainings.
NARM-Informed Professional Training Team
Ralf Marzen
NARM Lead Teacher
Ralf Marzen, Dipl. Psych., is a clinical psychologist, trauma psychotherapist, and NARM Trainer based in London, UK. He is the founder and director of Embodied Trauma Healing and has over 15 years of experience in private practice, specializing in developmental and complex trauma. Ralf integrates the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) with Somatic Experiencing, Integral Somatic Psychology, and other somatic modalities to support clients navigating a wide range of trauma-related issues, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, and relational difficulties. He has been actively training practitioners in NARM since 2013 and serves as a NARM faculty member in Europe, where he also regularly assists Dr. Laurence Heller in Master Therapist trainings. Passionate about embodied approaches to healing, Ralf is dedicated to supporting practitioners in developing trauma-informed skills with presence, depth, and compassion.
Sherri Sharkins
NARM Teacher in Training
Sherri Sharkins, MA, LPC, is a NARM Master Therapist, Licensed Counselor and Somatic Experiencing practitioner. Based in Sedona, Arizona, she specializes in developmental and complex trauma in her private practice. Sherri co-hosts the monthly NARM Inner Circle Webinars with Dr. Laurence Heller and provides mentorship and consultation for clinicians seeking to deepen their NARM practice. Sherri holds a MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychotherapy. Since discovering NARM in 2014, she has continued her learning through assisting NARM trainings, as well as the NARM Post-Masters and Fellows Program, and the CTTC SPACE Program. Passionate about working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, Sherri is dedicated to supporting both clients and practitioners in their healing and professional development.
Dr. Laurence Heller
Creator of the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM)
Dr. Laurence Heller is a clinical psychologist, international trainer, and author with over four decades of experience in the field of trauma healing. He is the creator of the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®), a clinical approach specifically designed for working with complex and developmental trauma. Dr. Heller is the founder and director of the NARM Training Institute and is a Senior Fellow at The Meadows Treatment Centers. Dr. Heller regularly teaches advanced NARM trainings across the U.S. and Europe, leads immersive clinical consultations, and is a sought-after speaker at trauma-focused conferences worldwide. His groundbreaking book Healing Developmental Trauma, co-authored with Aline LaPierre, has been translated into 15 languages. His more recent book, The Practical Guide for Healing Developmental Trauma, was published in 2022 by North Atlantic Books.
Included in the NARM-Informed Professional Training
Training Module Video Archive
Between each module, you will have access to the training video archive that contains recordings of the training modules from your cohort for 1 year after the training completes.
Self-Study Exercises
Journal and other reflective exercises to be completed between training modules.
Supplemental Handouts
Learning materials to support your study and application of NARM principles.
NARM Demonstrations
Opportunities to observe and learn experienced NARM Therapists applying NARM principles with a variety of individuals dealing with Complex Trauma.
Eligibility for NARM Consultations
Supplemental case consultations to assist you in the application of NARM principles. (Please note that the NARM-Informed Case Consults are purchased separately.)
NARM Inner Circle Discount
Upon completion of Module 1 of the Training, you'll receive $100 off your first year of Inner Circle membership. Your discount may be redeemed anytime throughout the training.
NARM-Informed Professional Certificate
Upon completion of your educational requirements, you will receive your NARM-Informed Professional Certificate.
Listing within the NARM Directory
Upon completion of the NARM-Informed Professional Certificate, you will be eligible to join the NARM Directory as a NARM-Informed Professional.
Training Topics
Please explore the topics covered in each module below by clicking on the headers below:
- The ACEs Study, Complex Trauma, and Differentiating Shock & Developmental Trauma
- The NARM Organizing Principles
- The NARM Five Adaptive Survival Styles
- Toxic Guilt and Shame
- Self-Rejection, Self-Hatred, & Self-Defeating Behaviors
- Developmental Trauma, Memory, & Personal History
- The NARM Four Pillars: Building Blocks of the NARM Approach
- Differentiating NARM from Other Trauma-Informed Approaches
- NARM Demonstrations, Reflective Exercises, and Experiential Practice
- Supporting Personal Agency (“Adult Consciousness”)
- The NARM Relational Model
- Attunement, Misattunement, and Unmanaged Empathy
- The Internal Obstacles and Triggers of Helping Professionals
- A New Way of Understanding Burn-Out
- Complex Trauma & Toxic Shame
- NARM Pillar I: Clarifying the Working “Contract”
- NARM Pillar II: Asking Exploratory Questions
- Spirituality, Healing, and Personal Growth
- NARM Demonstrations, Reflective Exercises, and Experiential Practice
- NARM Pillar III: Reinforcing Agency
- NARM Pillar IV: Reflecting Increasing Connection and Anchoring It In the Body
- The Emotional Completion Process
- Working with Primary and Default Emotions
- Complex Trauma, Self-Sabotaging, & Addictive Behaviors
- Complex Trauma & Relationship/Intimacy Dynamics
- Complex Trauma & Family Dynamics
- Complex Trauma & Working with Children
- NARM Demonstrations, Reflective Exercises, and Experiential Practice
- The Application of NARM’s Four Pillars for Addressing Complex Trauma
- Connection: Our Deepest Desire and Greatest Fear
- Attachment and Environmental Failure
- Intergenerational Trauma
- Developmental Trauma’s Impact on the Body
- The NARM Personality Spectrum Model: Organization of Self
- Disidentification & Post-Traumatic Growth
- Heartfulness
- NARM Demonstrations, Reflective Exercises, and Experiential Practice
- The Future of Trauma-Informed Care
NARM-Informed Professional Certificate Requirements
Become a NARM-Informed Professional
Upon completing the program and fulfilling the additional requirement of four case consultations, graduates will receive the NARM-Informed Professional Certificate. This designation enables you to join the NARM Practitioner Directory, enhancing your professional credentials in the field of trauma-informed care.
Group Case Consults Requirements:
- Four consultation credits need be completed within one year of finishing the NARM-Informed Professional Training.
- At least two of the four required consultation credits must be completed through Group Case Consultations through the NARM Training Institute.
- Up to two of the four required consultation credits may be completed through approved Individual Consultations with a NARM Post-Masters Fellow.
- Group Case Consultations through the NARM Training Institute are two hours in duration, are generally held once per month, and provide an opportunity to reflect on how to apply NARM principles in your professional work.
- Individual Consultations are one-on-one sessions with approved NARM Post-Masters Fellows and offer personalized support in integrating NARM principles into your work.
The NARM-Informed Professional Certificate is a separate certificate from a CE Certificate of Attendance. It does not act as a certificate for Continuing Education (CE) credits. For information on receiving CE credits for this training and for requirements toward receiving a CE Certificate of Attendance, please review the NPT CE Information page.
What Our Training Participants are Saying:
Registration for the Fall 2026 Training is now closed
If you are interested in joining this training, please inquire with [email protected] to see if space is still available.
Alternatively, you can view our Spring 2027 or Fall 2027 trainings.
Continuing Education (CE) Information
The NARM-Informed Professional Training offers a total of 60 Continuing Education (CE) credits, divided up into 15 CE credits per module. Please find additional information about CE credit for this training on our NPT CE page, or reach out to us at [email protected] with questions.
Important Terms & Conditions
Training Orientation and Mission
The NARM-Informed Professional Training is a trauma-informed psychoeducational training and will provide an introductory overview of the NeuroAffective Relational Model. This training is not focused on social or political activism and will not provide specific training in addressing the systemic failures that perpetuate complex trauma. While we do acknowledge and discuss the origins of complex trauma emerging out of social systems and the legacy of unresolved cultural & intergenerational trauma, the NARM-Informed Professional Training itself will not specifically focus on addressing these important areas of changing systems that maintain systemic oppression and inequalities.
We very much hope that our NARM-Informed Professionals will work in the many systems they are associated with and can use NARM to impact these systems for the better. We support these efforts outside the NARM trainings and are excited to be providing people with what we believe is a great model to promote real change.
Additionally, since the NARM-Informed Professional is a multidisciplinary psychoeducational training, full application of the clinical model is not taught. In other words, please know that this is not a clinical skills-based training. Completion of the NARM-Informed Professional Training does not authorize participants to practice psychotherapy or provide mental health services unless they are otherwise legally qualified and licensed to do so within their jurisdiction. If you are a licensed mental health professional who is seeking a clinical training in NARM, please review information on the NARM Therapist Training here.
Cancellation and Transfer Policy
In the case of a training withdrawal or cancellation:
- The application fee is non-refundable.
- Participants cancelling within 21 days of a training module start date will be refunded 50% of that module’s tuition.
- Participants cancelling within 7 days of a training module start date will be refunded 25% of that module’s tuition.
- No refund will be issued for no‐shows or if registration is cancelled within 24 hours before the training. No exceptions will be made.
- For participants that pay in full and withdraw mid-training, the appropriate prorated amount will be refunded.
- Partial refunds are not awarded for those who miss portions of the live online training.
- Tuition may be transferred to a new cohort (for the same type of training) at no additional cost, if the request is made at least 22 days prior to the training module’s start date.
- Participants who transfer between 21 days and 7 days before the training module’s start date will be required to pay a transfer fee of $197.
- Tuition transfers are not available for no-shows or if the transfer request is made within 7 days or less before the training module. No exceptions will be made.
- Participant may transfer a maximum of two times, after which they will forfeit their application fee and will need to reapply to the training.
- All modules of the training need to be completed within a maximum of 36 months. Individuals who cannot complete the training within that time frame, will be required to retake the training in its entirety.
Other Disclaimers
The NARM Training Institute, LLC reserves the right to approve or deny any application, and/or accept or reject the participation of any person in its sole discretion and in accordance with its policies and the law.
The NARM-Informed Professional Training is not a licensure or certification training. It is a professional training program. The aim is to support professionals working with complex trauma to learn NARM principles and to become more trauma-informed in their field. Becoming a NARM-Informed Professional is not a replacement for a clinical license or professional certification. You are solely responsible for working under your professional license, certification, and/or within your scope of practice. If the NARM Training Institute learns of you using NARM outside this agreement, your NARM-Informed Professional designation will be revoked, and you will be removed from the NARM Practitioner Directory.
NARM Case Consults are provided within the framework of this professional training as learning opportunities for receiving support and guidance for the application of NARM in your professional work with complex trauma. NARM Case Consultations are not a replacement for professional supervision within your field of practice. If you require personal psychotherapy, counseling, or supervision, it is your responsibility to seek those resources outside of the NARM-Informed Professional Training (formerly NARM Basics Training).
For ADA assistance for this training, please contact us at [email protected].