Unlocking Healing Through EMDR Resourcing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has emerged as one of the most effective therapies for processing trauma and alleviating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While many recognize EMDR for its trauma-reprocessing capabilities, a lesser-known but equally powerful component of EMDR is an intervention called “resourcing.” This technique can be a game-changer for both therapists and clients, ensuring safety during trauma processing and equipping individuals with tools to navigate daily stress.
What is EMDR Resourcing?
EMDR resourcing is an intervention designed to help clients create and strengthen mental “resources” that can be used both in therapy and daily life. These resources enable clients to stay regulated during trauma processing and develop the skills necessary to manage stress and emotional challenges.
Typically introduced during Phase 2 (Preparation) of EMDR, resourcing is a collaborative process where therapists and clients identify areas where the client lacks emotional skills or coping mechanisms. These gaps are then addressed by developing and reinforcing specific resources.
How Does EMDR Resourcing Work?
Resourcing involves creating and reinforcing positive mental imagery and sensations associated with a particular resource. Here’s how the process unfolds:
Identify the Need: The therapist and client determine the specific skill or feeling the client needs. For example, a sense of calm, safety, or courage.
Name and Visualize the Resource: The client chooses a name for their resource (e.g., “Safety” or “Strength”) and creates a mental picture associated with it. This might include thoughts, feelings, and body sensations tied to the resource.
Apply Bilateral Stimulation (BLS): The therapist uses slow, short sets of BLS (such as tapping or eye movements) to help the client strengthen and deepen their connection to the resource.
Practice in Session: The client tests their resource by focusing on a mild stressor from the past week and then shifting their attention to the newly strengthened resource. This exercise helps them move from stress to a positive emotional state.
Example of Resourcing in Action
Meet Ted. Ted seeks EMDR therapy after a traumatic car accident. Every time he thinks about the accident, he becomes overwhelmed. To help him process his trauma safely, Ted’s therapist suggests creating a resource called “Safety.” Ted visualizes a place where he feels safe and calm, focusing on the associated positive sensations. Through slow sets of BLS, Ted’s feelings of safety grow stronger. Finally, Ted practices using this resource to regulate his emotions when thinking about mild stressors, building his capacity to handle more challenging memories in the future.
Why is EMDR Resourcing Important?
Ensures Safety During Trauma Processing: Processing trauma without adequate emotional resources can retraumatize clients. Resourcing helps create a secure foundation for effective healing.
Builds Skills for Daily Life: Many individuals, particularly those with difficult upbringings, may lack the skills needed to handle everyday stress. Resourcing offers a fast-track to learning these essential skills.
Heals Relational Trauma: For clients who experienced neglect or lack of nurturing during childhood, resourcing can provide the experience of being cared for, filling critical emotional gaps and fostering healing.
EMDR Resourcing vs. Reprocessing
While resourcing and reprocessing are both integral parts of EMDR, they serve distinct purposes:
Goal: Resourcing aims to build skills and provide emotional safety, while reprocessing focuses on confronting and working through traumatic memories.
Experience: Resourcing is positive and centered around pleasant imagery, whereas reprocessing may feel distressing as it involves revisiting past trauma.
BLS Application: Resourcing uses slow, short sets of BLS, while reprocessing involves faster and longer sets tailored to the client’s comfort level.
Types of EMDR Resourcing
Almost anything can serve as a resource. Here are some of the most common types:
Calm, Safe Place: Clients visualize a location where they feel calm and safe, whether real or imaginary. This resource helps them stay grounded during therapy and daily stressors.
Container: Clients imagine a secure container to store distressing thoughts or memories. This resource provides a sense of control and the ability to choose when and where to process trauma.
Nurturing, Protective Figure: Clients visualize a nurturing or protective figure, real or imagined, who provides them with a sense of care and safety. This can be particularly powerful for healing relational trauma.
Is EMDR Resourcing Effective?
Absolutely. EMDR resourcing is backed by both anecdotal evidence and research. Many therapists report clients feeling deeply relaxed, even to the point of almost falling asleep during resourcing sessions. Research supports its effectiveness, particularly for individuals with complex PTSD. For example, a 2002 study found that resourcing can significantly reduce distress while increasing readiness for trauma-focused work.
Conclusion
EMDR resourcing is a cornerstone of effective trauma therapy. By building and strengthening emotional resources, clients gain the tools they need to process trauma safely and navigate life with greater ease. Whether it’s creating a calm, safe place or imagining a nurturing figure, resourcing provides a pathway to healing that’s as empowering as it is transformative. For EMDR therapists, incorporating resourcing into treatment plans isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential.