Compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction among NeuroAffective Relational Model Therapists: How NARM serves as a protective factor for trauma therapists

Abstract

The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) is a therapeutic model created to address Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) integrating both top-down cognitive and bottom-up somatic approaches. With the addition of C-PTSD in the ICD-11, treatment models are needed that address the specific needs of clients with C-PTSD. Working with clients with complex trauma exposes therapists to secondary trauma which can lead to secondary traumatic stress and burnout, the elements of compassion fatigue. Trauma therapists also experience compassion satisfaction, which are positive feelings about making a difference in their work. Training is identified as a protective factor against compassion fatigue. This mixed methods analysis examined the compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction of NARM Therapists. The study found that NARM Therapists (n=53) experienced lower compassion fatigue and higher compassion satisfaction than other trauma workers. Using the ProQOL5 measure (Stamm, 2024), 84.9% of NARM Therapists scored low in burnout, 83% of NARM Therapists scored low in secondary traumatic stress, and 67.9% of NARM Therapists scored high in compassion satisfaction. The study revealed four themes that represent the phenomenon of the impact of NARM on compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue from the perspective of NARM Therapists: expending less effort, improved boundaries, increased energy, and enhanced confidence. How NARM serves a protective factor for trauma therapists is discussed