Critical Memory Integration (CMI™) is a comprehensive therapeutic system that uses science-based mind, body, and memory approaches to guide individuals toward optimal mental wellness. CMI™ helps individuals understand their reactions as adaptive responses to life’s difficulties rather than viewing mental health challenges as illness. Through CMI™, clients explore their relationships with emotions and experiences to enhance their sense of self. CMI™ techniques help clients gain insight to integrate critical memories, leading to a healthier nervous system, increased agency, and improved well-being.

Many therapies today fall into the category of “cognitive-behavioral therapies,” or CBT. CMI™ differs from CBT in many ways. Where CBT targets thinking and behavioral patterns as the leverage points for change, CMI™ is an experiential approach that privileges sensations and emotions as a means to initiate meaningful changes. CMI™ is also designed to support the therapist as a person within the therapeutic relationship.

Individuals who recognize patterns in their thinking, behaviors, or interactions with others that they want to change are ideal candidates for CMI™. CMI™ requires a willingness to explore sensation and emotion responses as a source of important information. The CMI™ clinician supports the individual in expanding their capacity for emotion and exploring the individual’s experiences.

Critical memories do not need to be traumatic to influence us. Very important experiences can often be processed to help individuals renew their stories. These experiences can be processed with CMI™ in support of different therapeutic approaches.

The CMI™ training is designed to provide clinicians with the knowledge and skills to use CMI™ as an independent treatment modality. Many CMI-trained therapists seamlessly integrate CMI™ techniques within other treatment modalities they typically use.

CMI™ is well positioned for diverse populations because it focuses on the individual’s experience and how they form their sense of self.

The mechanisms of CMI™ are informed by the evidence base found across other treatment modalities and the most recent neuroscience findings on memory, emotions, and self-concepts.

CMI™ is flexible in how it may be deployed. An intervention can be as short as 20-30 minutes or as long as an hour.

CMI™ does not require a minimum or maximum number of sessions. While the CMI™ process can be facilitated within one session for a specific issue, the process of self-discovery is ongoing. It’s typical for individuals to engage in around 6 sessions of CMI; however, some individuals may need more or fewer sessions to achieve their goals.

Although the CMI™ protocol does not include written homework, the clinician might suggest some skill practice, such as exploring emotions or practicing self-compassion.