DEVELOPMENTAL & RELATIONAL TRAUMA
THE DART METHOD
WEEKLY THERAPY · TWO-DAY INTENSIVES
FRANKLIN · BERRY HILL · VIRTUAL
What happened then still shapes what happens now
Childhood relational trauma isn't always one big event. Often it's what happened day after day: a parent who was too close or too far away, love that came with conditions, or needs no one had room for.
Years later, it can show up as shame that feels bigger than the moment, relationships that hurt in familiar ways, or reactions you don't understand. None of this means something is wrong with you. It means you adapted to survive, and those adaptations can soften now.
WHAT THIS WORK FEELS LIKE
UNDERSTANDING YOUR STORY
We look at what you grew up with, gently and honestly, and how it shaped the way you see yourself and others.
CARING FOR YOUR YOUNGER PARTS
You learn to meet the younger parts of you with the steadiness, warmth, and limits they needed back then.
SETTING DOWN WHAT ISN’T YOURS
Much of the shame and fear we carry was handed to us. Together, we sort out what is yours to keep and what you can set down.
People-pleasing, perfectionism, or always being the "strong one"
Shame or self-criticism that feels bigger than the moment
Relationships that feel familiar, even when they hurt
Trouble with boundaries, saying no, or asking for what you need
What this can help with
Many people never call their childhood "trauma." They just know certain patterns keep showing up.
Feeling like a child or a teenager in adult conflicts
Growing up with a parent who leaned on you, or wasn't there for you
Strong reactions you don't fully understand
Wanting to parent or partner differently than you were raised
The DART Method
DART stands for Developmental and Relational Trauma. The approach was developed by Jan Bergstrom, LMHC, author of Gifts from a Challenging Childhood, and builds on the work of Pia Mellody. Jen Biddle, LPC-MHSP, trained in the method and consulted with Jan for a year.
The heart of the work is building your Functional Adult: the steady, grounded part of you that can care for younger parts, hold healthy boundaries, and respond instead of react. You can do this work in weekly sessions, in a focused two-day intensive, or both.
The Two-Day DART Intensive
A private, one-on-one intensive for people ready to go deeper than a weekly hour allows. The work unfolds in three parts over two full days, with room to open your story, do the experiential work, and close each day with care.
What's included
A 90-minute preparation session to map your history and set goals
Two days of individual therapy, 9:00 to 4:00 (about 12 hours)
A written summary and practice plan
A 60-minute integration session two to three weeks later
Part 1 · YOUR STORY
Day One, morning. We review your childhood map together and name the patterns, roles, and core wounds you carried out of it.
Part 2 · REPARENTING
Day One, afternoon, and early Day Two. Experiential work with your younger self, building the Functional Adult who can offer the care, steadiness, and limits you needed back then.
Part 3 · STANDING IN YOUR TRUTH
Day Two. Working with carried shame and emotions, setting down what was never yours to hold, and closing with a written plan for the weeks ahead.
INVESTMENT
$3,950
A 50% deposit reserves your dates. Intensives are held in person in Franklin or Berry Hill.
This may be a good fit if
You recognize yourself in the patterns above. Even if you wouldn't call what you grew up with "trauma."
You've done talk therapy and want to go deeper. You understand your story but still feel stuck in it.
You're ready to feel, not just understand. This work is experiential, and some of it is tender.
You have support in your life. A therapist, a partner, friends, or a group you can lean on after sessions.
When to start with weekly therapy instead
An intensive can stir up a lot. It isn't the right first step if you've recently been hospitalized for mental health, are having thoughts of suicide, are in early recovery from substance use, or experience frequent dissociation. Weekly therapy is a steadier place to begin, and the intensive can come later.
Jen Biddle, LPC-MHSP
Jen is a licensed professional counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor in Tennessee. She trained in the DART Method and consulted with Jan Bergstrom for a year. Her style is warm, steady, and deeply human, and she meets clients exactly where they are, at a pace that honors both pain and resilience.
Who you'll work with
Questions People
Often Ask
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No. The work is about accountability, not blame. We name what happened honestly so you can understand its impact, and then the focus turns to how you care for yourself now.
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No. Many people have gaps. We work with what you do remember, along with what your patterns and reactions are telling us.
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Weekly therapy works well if you want steady support over time. An intensive gives you focused depth in a short window. Many people do both. We'll talk about what fits.
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It's strongly recommended. Intensive work keeps unfolding for weeks afterward. With your permission, we'll coordinate with your therapist, and your integration session is included.
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Weekly sessions can be virtual for clients located in Tennessee. Intensives are held in person.
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We don't accept insurance. We can provide a superbill, or file out-of-network claims for you through Mentaya for a small fee. Intensives are often not reimbursed.
You don't have to carry it all on your own.
If something here sounds familiar, reach out. We can start wherever you are.