A Frequency Analysis of the Professional Quality of Life of NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) Therapists after NARM Training

Research shows that trauma therapists often experience secondary trauma, which can lead to secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Trauma-informed care training has shown promise in enhancing practitioners' professional quality of life, particularly for those regularly exposed to trauma. To our knowledge, no prior studies have examined the training outcomes of NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) therapists on professional quality-of-life indicators. This cross-sectional observational study assessed the professional quality of life among NARM therapists in the United States (n = 13) using the ProQOL 5 scale. Descriptive findings indicated that therapists reported moderate levels of compassion satisfaction (x ̅ = 36.92), burnout (x ̅ = 23.46), and secondary traumatic stress (x ̅ = 23.54). Although limited by a small sample size and the inability to establish causality, this study provides preliminary insights into the professional well-being of NARM therapists. These findings may help trauma therapists and training providers better understand typical ranges of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress among clinicians working with relational and developmental trauma models, and identify areas where additional support or training could be helpful.