Resource Therapy is a wonderfully brief therapy which has undoubtedly and proudly evolved from John and Helen Watkin’s Ego State Therapy.
I believe there has been some confusion because of these origins. Resource Therapy is not Ego State Therapy. It has distinct differences and clear protocols and certain advantages with it’s powerful interventions.
Both Ego State and Resource Therapy (RT) are ‘Parts’ Therapies. Go to see legends like Pat Ogden, Kathy Steele, Roger Solomon, Colin Ross, Norman Doidge or Maggie Phillips and other experienced leaders in the therapy world
and you will all hear them repeatedly mention ‘Part’s. Both Ego State and RT find the part of the personality that needs to change in order to do therapeutic work. This is especially useful in trauma informed therapy.
Resource Therapy has a variety of tools that Ego State Therapy does not.
New with Resource Therapy
- No need for Hypnosis: Ego State Therapy required therapists to be trained in hypnosis. Resource Therapists do not need to be clinical hypnotherapists or
learn hypnotic induction. All well and good if you are though! Resource Therapy’s protocols and actions are sufficient to address client issues.
Introjects are NOT Ego States. Resource Therapy holds that Introjects are merely internalized impressions of a person, animal or animate. These are Resource State specific. Ego State Therapy sees Introjects as needing to be transformed into Ego States which with therapist must worked with extensively and changed. RT works with Introjects in new and refreshing ways.
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I attended a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT Imaginal Re-scripting workshop last year. Here we were fighting with the perpetrator Introject, sending the Introject to the police or the moon or wherever. We then had to repeat the process several times from each Ego State perspective, child, adult and so forth. Time consuming! While it was hilarious, in my opinion it may not have been as beneficial to the client.
RT therapists do not attempt to change the Introject, we stick with the client and it is the client who decides what actions (if any) happen for the Introject. This is usually achieved in the one session.
RT is certainly positively client focused. This further empowers the client in processing trauma, or rejection to feel safe and loved. RT Therapists have been trained in systemic protocols to facilitate this quickly and efficiently.
- Resource Therapy has straightforward Diagnostic Criteria and Treatment Actions. Resource Therapists are skilled in working with the clients presenting problems by diagnosing the concern, NOT the person. They then work according to the prescribed 15 Treatment Actions. These are systematic protocols for working with clients impacted by depression, anxiety, chronic pain, grief and loss, below par performance, and so much more.
Resource Therapy Personality Theory. Resource States are physical and develop as coping mechanism over time, usually in childhood according to RT Personality Theory. Ego State Therapy’s define Ego States as split offs from the personality, this is derivative of a psycho dynamic perspective.
Resource Therapy’s theory is supported by contemporary neuroscience and our understanding of the brains unique ability to rewire and adapt. Read more here Neuroscience and Resource Therapy. RT taps directly into this key element of psychological therapy, as it harnesses our neurons ability to heal with defined interventions – Resource Therapy Actions 1-15.
Find out about the lastest Training dates here Resourcing your Clients Foundation Training in RT We would love to have you join us!
Please register today : email philipathornton@gmail.com now to secure your spot.
Thank you for all you do, Philipa! You are amazing!
Thanks, Lynn appreciate your kind comment.
This is quite fascinating, Philipa! ~ It seems like Resource Therapy is a more natural and gentle approach – which I like, particularly for a person who is anxiety-prone.
thanks Tina,
Indeed Resource Therapy is both gentle and natural, while attending to the source of the anxiety for clients. I continue to be both amazed and impressed by it. Only the other day a client reported since a Resource Therapy session a few months ago they have not had a panic attack, which were regular occurrences for her.
Thanks Tina!