RESOURCE TAPPING
Resource Tapping is an EMDR-related technique that is effective and easy-to-use for ego strengthening, affect regulation and stress reduction. This technique can be used to help rebalance the nervous system, activate the parasympathetic restoration cycle, and teach self-regulation. This mind-body technique can be interwoven throughout the course of treatment and taught to clients to help with:
- anxiety
- sleep problems
- triggers
- depression
- strong emotions such as fear, anger, and sadness
Resource Tapping can be used to prepare and strengthen clients prior to initiating emotionally intensive trauma processing work such as EMDR and also to help manage symptoms between EMDR sessions. It can be taught to clients for self-use to regulate their emotions and help with symptoms. Resource Tapping can also be used in groups. Resource Tapping uses imagination to activate inner resources which is then paired with alternating bilateral stimulation or tapping to strengthen and integrate the resource.
BILATERAL STIMULATION (BLS)
Bilateral Stimulation is the use of alternating right, left stimulation such as tapping on the knees, legs or shoulders, tapping toes or feet on the floor, or eye movements. Bilateral stimulation is used to activate and integrate information from the brain’s two hemispheres.
RESOURCE
Resources are people, places, images, qualities, memories, experiences—real or imagined— that we can draw upon to create a sense of safety, signaling to the brain that we are safe. Resources may include inherent qualities such as love, wisdom, and joy.
TAPPING
Tapping is the use of alternating bilateral stimulation (right, left) tapping on the knees, legs, shoulders etc.
TAPPING IN RESOURCES:
This is about pairing an activated resource with tapping. For instance, to tap in the resource of peaceful place, you would imagine a place where you feel a sense of peace such as a beach. When you can imagine the beach and feel the peacefulness, you alternately tap right-left, right-left for a short period of time (6-12 sets) or longer. The tapping serves to strengthen and integrate the feeling of the resource so that it becomes more easily available.
Bilateral Stimulation Therapies (BLSTs)
BLSTs refers to therapies and therapeutic techniques that incorporate the use of alternating bilateral stimulation. Examples of these therapies include EMDR, Resource Tapping, and Brainspotting. New techniques and therapies that use bilateral stimulation are being developed. These therapies work within the neuro-network system, either by facilitating the processing of traumatic memories, or in the case of Resource Tapping, by the purposeful activation and integration of healthy resource. BLSTs differ from the energy therapies such as EFT and TFT which work with acupressure points and not memory or neuro-networks.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR):
EMDR is based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors are the result of unprocessed memories. The treatment involves procedures that include focusing simultaneously on (a) spontaneous associations of traumatic images, thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations and (b) bilateral stimulation. Although EMDR therapy has been fully validated only for PTSD, there are numerous research studies underway evaluating applications to a wide range of disorders. Excellent results have already been achieved with myriad diagnoses. In addition to the reduction of symptoms and the strengthening of adaptive beliefs, the client’s experience of self and other typically shifts in ways that allow the person to respond in a healthier way to current and future life demands.