NET

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is a manualized, trauma-specific intervention developed to treat trauma spectrum disorders in survivors of complex and multiple traumas, particularly those impacted by war and organized political violence. NET was developed as a short-term approach based on testimony therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. 
NET works by putting into context all of the associated elements of the fear network that often become fragmented during a traumatic event. These elements include the emotional, sensory, somatic, and cognitive memories. NET allows these fragmented memories to be put into a coherent narrative, and allow for understanding and processing of the traumatic memory over the course of the survivor’s lifespan.

Following assessment and diagnosis of the trauma spectrum disorders, clients will begin the NET process with constructing the lifeline during the lifeline exercise. This entails using symbols (most commonly stones for traumatic memories, flowers for positive memories, sticks for forensic purposes, and candles to represent grief) to signify the impactful moments to be explored throughout treatment. Clients then work with the counselor to identify. Because of the lifespan focus, NET does not limit survivors to focusing on or prioritizing one traumatic event over another, thus allowing for reflection on the entire lifespan as a whole, and allowing for the development of a more cohesive personal identity. During treatment, the narration of each event is transcribed by the counselor, creating a transcript or ‘testimony’ of the survivor’s lifespan, which is then provided to the survivor at the end of treatment.