Before the Healing: Why EMDR Starts with Building Your Inner Toolkit
What Is Resourcing?
When people first hear about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), they usually think about the part where you move your eyes back and forth while working through painful memories. But here's what most people don't know: before we ever get to that stage, EMDR starts with something gentler and just as powerful, something called resourcing.
Resourcing is about building up your inner reserves before we tackle the hard stuff. Think of it like this: you wouldn't jump into lifting heavy weights at the gym without warming up first, right? The same goes for trauma work. We make sure you have the emotional tools and grounding techniques you need to feel steady and safe before we dive into difficult memories.
This happens during what's called the Preparation phase. It's where we work together to find out what helps you feel calm, safe, and capable. These tools might look different for everyone. For some people, it's imagining a protective or comforting figure. For others, it's connecting with their own inner strength, or tuning into the feeling of their feet on the ground. We'll explore what works best for your mind and body.
Why We Do It
Trauma has a way of hijacking our emotions. When old memories come back, your nervous system can respond like the danger is happening right now, even when you're completely safe. That's where resourcing comes in. It teaches your brain and body that safety is real and available, even when you're touching on something painful.
By helping you access calm, comfort, and your own inner strength, resourcing creates a sturdy foundation. It's not about avoiding the pain. It's about making sure you have solid ground beneath you when the pain shows up.
How We Use Resources During EMDR
Once we've built up your personal toolkit of resources, we start bringing them into the actual EMDR work. Think of these resources as emotional anchors, things you can hold onto when things feel overwhelming or intense during a session. And here's the cool part: we use bilateral stimulation (like the eye movements or tapping) to help your brain get really good at accessing these resources quickly.
During sessions, your therapist might help you:
Remember your own resilience, the strength that's gotten you through tough times before
Call on a nurturing or protective figure (real or imagined) when you need comfort or safety
Connect with the grounded, steady version of yourself, the part that can handle hard feelings
Notice calm or stable sensations in your body and let them grow stronger
Resourcing isn't about running away from pain. It's about remembering what you're capable of. You already have so much strength inside you. EMDR just helps you reconnect with it and lean on it as you move through healing.
Our Approach at Turn the Mind
At Turn the Mind, we never rush the preparation work. We take the time to help you build that foundation before we ever approach trauma memories. We'll work together to identify your strengths, practice grounding techniques, and find both internal and external sources of support. This isn't "extra" or optional. It's the essential first step.
Every person needs a different amount of preparation time, and that's completely okay. Research shows that when people feel prepared and have a positive early experience with EMDR, they tend to have better outcomes overall. When you know how to steady yourself, EMDR stops feeling scary and starts feeling empowering.
Healing happens in the space where safety and courage meet, and resourcing is what creates that space.
Want to learn more about EMDR therapy? Visit the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) at www.emdria.org for evidence-based information and resources.
To get matched with one of our EMDR therapists, contact us.
