Typically, when we experience situations where we feel unsafe, our nervous system becomes flooded with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This can lead to fragmented memories that disrupt our sense of safety, continuity, and identity. We’re often left feeling lost and disconnected—from ourselves, our lives, and our loved ones.
One pathway to healing is by reconstructing these fragmented memories into a coherent, chronological life story. In the safety of our partnership, we gently "zipper" together your intense emotional memories with the facts of time and place. This process helps your brain finally understand that the danger is in the past, allowing you to regain your sense of self and reclaim your future.
Therapy for Healing Trauma Wounds
About Narrative Exposure Therapy
Narrative Exposure Therapy is an internationally recognized, evidence-based therapy that offers a healing-centered approach to trauma. This interdisciplinary practice takes into account your context in order to provide holistic and culturally-informed care. By piecing fragments of your life and creating them into a coherent narrative full of both painful and joyous experiences, Narrative Exposure Therapy empowers you to regain control of your life.
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is an evidence-based treatment originally developed for individuals who have experienced complex or repeated trauma, including survivors of conflict, displacement, or interpersonal violence. NET combines elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy and testimonial therapy, guiding individuals through a structured process of reconstructing their life story from early memories to the present.
Research shows that NET can reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety by helping the nervous system reprocess traumatic memories within a safe therapeutic relationship. By integrating traumatic experiences alongside moments of safety, resilience, and growth, clients are supported in restoring a sense of continuity, self-understanding, and hope for the future.
Stages of Narrative Exposure Therapy
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In this initial session, you will begin to explore with me your life experiences and how it has been impacting your present life.
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Here, you will begin to learn more specifically about how your past traumatic experiences have been impacting your well-being. Then, we will organize your past memories in chronological order and visually represent them using elements of nature. This process may take a couple sessions.
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In this phase, you will be exposing yourself to your past experiences in a safe environment. We will pay attention to both “hot” and “cold”memories, allowing room for processing the past and present. This stage typically lasts 10-12 sessions,
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In this last session, you will listen to what is now a crafted narrative of your life, allowing you to own yourstory