Written by: Jericho Samatra
The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics is a concept of therapy that incorporates clinical problem-solving from a neurobiological developmental perspective. Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, has pioneered this approach particularly through a multitude of years’ worth of research and clinical experience with children who have experienced trauma and neglect. A key concept within Dr. Perry’s approach is the utilization of a therapeutic intervention called The 3 R’s. This technique is meant to redirect dysregulated individuals into a state of calm and guide them into a more conscious and intentional mindset.
The 3 R’s: Regulate, Relate, and Reason
In this technique, the user first approaches a dysregulated individual with the intention to regulate that person from whatever they are experiencing. Then, the user relates to that person, which might involve showing empathy in order to help the dysregulated person feel like they are not alone and that someone understands their experience. Lastly, once the first two steps are done, an individual helps another person in distress by guiding them to understand their situation, empower them to make a decision, and think through any possible consequences.
An advantage to this method is that the synthesis between emotional and physical regulation and logic has shown a large degree of feasibility among parents.
Regulate
Regulating is a core foundation for creating a safe and supportive environment in which emotional healing can take place. According to Dr. Perry, without regulating a dysregulated person, it is ineffective to engage in healing and healthy development because the person’s brain is not in a state that supports these functions. Thus, regulating is the essential first step of healing because it allows for meaningful connection (relating) and higher-level cognitive processing (reasoning).
Relate
Relating is the second crucial step to Dr. Perry’s intervention as it allows for someone to not feel like they are alone. Once someone is regulated, it is important to engage in relational interactions because it fosters safety and trust, which are essential for healing. In addition, relating strengthens attachment, which is key to healthy mental and emotional development.
Even though a person can redirect an individual into a state of calm, according to Dr. Perry, it is still important to also relate to them. Without it, a person may feel isolated, misunderstood, and unable to heal from difficult experiences.
Reason
Lastly, reasoning is the essential final step in Dr. Perry’s intervention, as it strengthens higher-level cognitive processing, such as decision-making and critical thought, in order to empower the individual to navigate through life’s hardships alone.
In addition, reasoning assists an individual in seeing multiple consequences, which can help prevent someone from repeating maladaptive behavior. Moreover, engaging in reasoning helps bring awareness to individuals who are having difficulty understanding their experience. Without reasoning, individuals will be more likely to act impulsively.
Reference
MacKinnon, L. (2012). The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics: An Interview with Bruce Perry. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 33: 210-218. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.unlv.edu/10.1017/aft.2012.26
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