Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) Overview and Protocol

Vocabulary flashcards detailing Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) theory, neurobiology of traumatic memory, protocol sessions, and Lifeline symbols based on lecture notes.

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

An approach drawn on testimony approaches for survivors with repeated traumatic events, with the overarching aim to embed traumatic experiences in someone's autobiographical life.

Traumatic memory

Memory that is fragmented, experienced as now, vivid, easily triggered, not in context, carries a sense of current threat, and consists of sensory and emotional experiences that are hard to verbalise.

Normal memory

Memory that is chronological, narrative, faded, recognised as past, experienced as a past memory, in autobiographical context, ethical recollection, and does not invoke high sensory arousal.

Amygdala

The brain structure that acts as the threat system (fight or flight), becomes more active under threat, and focuses on survival.

Hippocampus

The brain structure where information is stored; during trauma, it gets overloaded and its optimal function is impaired.

Flashback

A phenomenon occurring after trauma that is normal to process memory, but when occurring outside the window of tolerance, leaves the hippocampus offline and memory unprocessed while the amygdala fires.

Cold Memory

Declarative memory containing context, specifically the who, what, where, and when.

Hot memory

Non-declarative, non-contextual memory containing detailed sensory, cognitive, emotional, and motor information along with a sense of current threat, which needs to be processed.

Fear networks

Networks connected through matching stimuli where a reminder of one event can trigger the activation of multiple networks.

Lifeline

A map that gives a bird's eye overview of life experienced thus far, focusing on cold memory (declarative) and photographed at the end of the session.

Stories (Lifeline)

The component or symbols on the Lifeline that represent negative events.

Flowers (Lifeline)

The symbols on the Lifeline representing positive events.

Coiled up part (Lifeline)

The section of the Lifeline that represents future aspirations.

Stick (Lifeline)

The symbol on the Lifeline representing aggressive acts that the individual has committed.

Candles (Lifeline)

The symbols on the Lifeline representing loss, whether symbolic or bereaved.

Big stone (Lifeline)

A Lifeline element placed next to smaller stones to represent long periods of trauma.

Session 1 (NET Protocol)

The protocol session dedicated to psychoeducation, conducted after the diagnostic interview assessment.

Session 2 (NET Protocol)

The protocol session dedicated to creating the NET lifeline.

Session 3 (NET Protocol)

The protocol session where narration of early life is started.

Session 4 onwards (NET Protocol)

Sessions where prior narration is reviewed and recent events are continued, slowing down at stories.