Ego State Therapy – Resource Therapy

February 9, 2023January 9, 2024

Therapists – Is a Parts Therapy modality for me?

This is a question many therapists are asking themselves. What model of parts therapy will be a good fit for me and my clientele? We know there are many great parts therapies available. Amongst them, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Transactional Analysis, Ego State Therapy, Voice Dialogue, Family Constellations, and Resource Therapy are amongst the those that I am aware of.

Resource Therapy is my go-to, having used the approach fornearlyn a decade. Being curious I have attended training, and webinars and read books on IFS and Ego State.

Safe to say I love Parts work.

It’s been a game-changer for my clinical practice.

So let’s dive deeper into Internal Family System (IFS), Ego State Therapy(EST), and Resource Therapy (RT). Are they alike and how they may differ so you can decide what model feels most comfortable? I say learn them all 🙂

There are similarities to the parts approaches. RT, IFS, and EST all have a concept of an inner self, or in IFS the Self Energy that has been there from the beginning. This part has access to your purpose, values, and almost universal wisdom when you speak with it. This Higher self part I would saycano connect to the quantum energy field. It holds no judgment, is beneficent, and can act as a beautiful guide in a person’s life path.

How this core self is utilized may vary. Some people may find it is front and centre others may not be in contact. Yet it is there and once accessed can be a powerful loving force for good. Inner Self.

RT has a model of personality, which informs its treatment actions. Personality parts are generally developed in childhood. We call them our Resources and they are all there to help us. Most have the ability and skills we need to act in the moment according to our needs and values.

Our Parts/ Resources/ States can hold distressing unresolved emotions. PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety are examples of this. Resource Therapy says these are Vaded parts that may be holding unresolved Fear, Rejection, Confusion, Shame, or Disappointment. They can be empowered to their Normal condition.

Our Resources can show up with past their use-by-date unwanted behaviors. These parts are termed Retro States in RT. Retro States are those parts of us involved with addictions, Rage, Narcissism, avoidance, and OCD. They can be worked with directly and compromise is found quickly according to RT Action 10 Retro State Negotiation (Emmerson, 2014).

IFS and RT aretrauma-awaree setting the client at the heart of therapy are client-led. Cultivating therapeutic presence by having the right part, in psychotherapy your therapist. Both have methods for supporting clients to stay in their window of tolerance.

IFS from my limited experience ( Disclaimer: two-day workshop, few online recordings, and IFS manuals. So happy to stand corrected please comment below) appears mainly to use indirect access to the State. I don’t know enough to say what the personality theory is but will give it a limited go.

The IFS terminology would term wounded parts exiles. Similar to vaded States in RT. They are relegated. In the system, there are Firefighters and Managers. One is for perceived (emotional )emergencies and Managers exist to attend to the daily tasks and manage exiles. Akin to whatis deemedm Retro Parts in RT.

Transactional Analysis (TA) uses Ego States defined as Parent, Adult, and Child. Depending on which state we are in Parent, Adult, or Child will determine our thoughts and behavior. I know a very simplistic explanation and there’s a lot more involved. These are derived from the work of Eric Berne.

Ego State Therapy (EST) says we can have many Ego States and Introjects within. Both are like parts are worked with. As in RT, these can be conscious and subconscious. EST would say ‘Ego State is the awareness of the “me” inside’ (Emmerson, 2012).

EST and RT both have introjects. They differ in how they originate and they are perceived in the personality system. As Marusa Zaletel, Jana Potocnik, and Andreja Jalen state “introjected Parent ego state manifests in two ways: as an active ego state which communicates with the outside world, or as an intrapsychic influence.”

EST due to the above will spend a lot of time working to change the Introject.

RT deems an Introject as merely a memory fragment and makes no therapeutic effort to change it. RT action 5 Introject speak is applied in the empowerment protocol to assist the part to have a sensory experience memory ( SEM) for healing effect.

RT is for you if you like a clear structure.

RT’s 15 treatment actions teach us how to work with clients with unresolved emotions that drive out-of-date behaviors and current stressors, as identified by your client’s goals and desire to change.

RT is for you if you want a roadmap for results while allowing your creative energy and natural therapy skills.

While designed as a stand-alone therapy, it incorporates easily into other methods including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Coaching, Clinical Hypnotherapy, and Humanistic and Existential approaches to name a few.

RT is for you if you enjoy working intuitively, effectively, and efficiently with a heartfelt presence.

In today’s busy world, time and money are at a premium. RT teaches us how to work directly with the part of the personality involved in the issue. Not the intellectual narrator reporting on the story. You also learn how to sidestep defences and resistant parts with appreciation and compromise with kindness and care.

What are you waiting for, join us for over 60 hours of fun learning and practical techniques to have fun with, Hop on to the Dates and Fees page now.

References

Emmerson, G. Resource Therapy (2014). Old Golden Point Press. Blackwood, Victoria Australia.

Zaletel, M., Potocnik, J. Jale, A. PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH THE PARENT EGO STATE accessed 6 February 12.12 pm https://www.integrativetherapy.com/en/articles.php?id=69Emmerson,

Emmerson, G. Ego State Therapy (2012). Crown House Publishing: United States of America.

Photo Credit Christina @ wocintechchat.com

November 2, 2021November 1, 2021

How to Tell the Key Differences in Advanced Ego State Therapy & Ego State?

Oprah Winfrey and Dr Bruce Perry have this wonderful new resource for those who are interested in healing trauma with parts therapy

I was first introduced to Ego State therapy by Gordon Emmerson in 2013. Watching Gordon do a live demonstration of therapy was both amazing and confusing. Yet I was curious for more. He has since adapted and changed his version of Ego State into it’s own therapy modality – Resource Therapy aka Emmerson’s Ego State Therapy.

Personally, I love all the parts modalities and their advocates. My favourite Ego State Therapist would have to be Robin Shapiro, very helpful for those of us trained in EMDR.

Resource Therapy (RT) has been the one I have trained in and now train others in. Better add a disclaimer here – I am formerly vice president of Resource Therapy International (RTI). We are honoured to have Dr Karlheinze Erbe, a psychiatrist based in Bamberg Germany as Vice President of RTI. My current role is Australia Executive Director under the auspices of Resource Therapy International. Gordon Emmerson is President.

Emmerson’s Ego State Therapy was founded by Professor Gordon Emmerson Ph.D. Gordon’s expertise in Ego State Therapy and hypnosis is world-renowned, previously Vice President to Ego State Therapy International (ESTI).

Gordon formed a close connection with the late and great John and Helen Watkins, the pioneers of Ego State Therapy, spending a summer with them in the 1980s.

Professor Emmerson is the author of several books, Ego State Therapy, Resource Therapy The Complete Guide With Case Examples & Transcripts, Resource Therapy Primer and many research and journal articles.

How come we now have Resource Therapy ?

In his transformational work with clients, research, and journal writing, and he found himself referring to Ego States as Resources. Although Gordon respected Ego State Therapy, he was developing his unique model later known as Resource Therapy. Talking with Gordon too it’s clear he wishes parts therapy accessible to more therapists globally.

Resource Therapy (RT) formally superseded Advanced Ego State Therapy from 2014. You will know when you hear or read Advanced or Emmerson’s Ego State therapy, we are referring to Resource Therapy. Gordon says the name change seemed natural as he was always referring to Ego States as Resources (parts).

Gordon as a psychology and statistics professor believed in the need for a RT personality theory. The RT theory of our personality parts evolution forms the foundation of the Resource Therapy Actions. These guide us in working with our client’s presenting issues.

Gordon is a genius in my opinion with his development of techniques directly and rapidly offering life-changing results for ourselves and our clients.

Truly I have both experienced and witnessed this in my own therapy adventures as a psychologist. RT is kind, gentle, heart centred, respectful as a powerful therapeutic tool for change.

Key similarities and Differences in Resource Therapy and Ego State Therapy

Personality Theory

Both models’ view of the personality is one of ‘parts’ that make up the whole. RT Personality theory expands further stating these parts of us are our “Resources” formed in childhood as opposed to Ego States. These therapies originate from a psychodynamic perspective.

Watkins saw personality parts developing from the personality splitting; “split off from the core ego because of trauma” (Watkins & Watkins, 1997, pp. 26). According to RT our Resources are formed through the axon and dendritic synaptic firing in our brains in line with current neuroscience.

RT says all our Resources are formed in a healthy state and there for a beneficial purpose to live our life fully. Hence are termed Resources as they each have unique skills and abilities when in the conscious. It’s great to have a child part of us enjoying being on a swing, riding a bike, or drawing.

This state of health can change if the state is exposed to distress, neglect, or some form of trauma and does not get the support it needs. It will become ‘pathological’ in RT terminology ‘Vaded.’ RT is trauma aware and consistent with the belief in Oprah and Dr Bruce Perry’s book title – (it’s )”What happened to you? Not what’s wrong with you. RT therapists are changologists having skills to heal our hurt parts.

Great book here from a conversation with Dr Bruce Perry and Oprah on how childhood trauma impacts our lives.

Hypnosis

Resource Therapy does not require hypnosis induction or training in its application. From what I understand traditional Ego State Therapy often does. All clients with a high level of focus will likely be in a state of hypnosis. If you know more about this please let me know.

Introjects

Ego State (ES) and RT vary in their view of an Introject. ES may say that Introjects are parts – Ego States and need to be worked with for change. RT says it is only Resources that are our parts. Introjects are merely a type of internal imprint of a person, place, or object held by a particular Resource State.

We work to empower the Resource State using Emmerson’s concept of a Sensory Experience Memory (SEM). Each of us may have parts that hold an internal representation of an introject. Introjects can be positive or negative. For example, we can have a child part that may hold a sense of a caregiver who was unsupportive. In adulthood, we may have a different introject who can see how loving this caregiver is to their grandchildren.

Introjects are not real and we don’t have to alter them or protect the part from the Introject. We can change them or remove them from a personals internal space. I have seen in an CBT imaginal rescripting workshop I attended we were required to put the introject in gaol, outer space or even the firing squad. In RT we only attend to the parts needs and empower it over the Introject.

Resource Therapy’s Diagnostic Framework

Rt therapists are trained to diagnose the problem a Resource State holds and in how to apply a clear set of procedures – the RT treatment actions for resolution.

RT personality theory informs the 15 treatment Action steps. This diagnostic system guides the RT Treatment Action steps providing a road map for clinicians to follow. Working directly with the part holding disturbance and resolving the issue for rapid results.

So that’s my take on the key differences. RT is being trained in Europe and worldwide. Please let me know your thoughts and comments below.

Thanks for reading :))

Yours in service to our healing. Philipa.

May 23, 2021

Why Learn Resource Therapy?

In the creator of Resource Therapy Gordon Emmerson Ph.D. own words, he shares his compelling wisdom :

Copies from Professor Emmerson’s Linkedin Article:

Why learn Resource Therapy?

Resource Therapy is a psychodynamic therapy. That means it sometimes focuses on the memories in order to attend to the cause of current issues.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on reframing and behavioural homework, and does not therapeutically attend to memories of the past.

Attending to the Cause

Resource Therapists believe that attending to the cause is better than attempting to lessen the impact of the symptoms, because when the cause of an issue is attended to the symptom will disappear, plus the client will no longer carry the unresolved confusion from the past.

Working with the right part

Resource Therapists believe the personality is composed of parts and it is important to locate and attend precisely to the Resource State that has the issue. Working directly with the part that needs change is the most direct route to resolution. Continuing to spend time talking with the wrong part is a waste of therapy time.

Understanding pathology

Resource Therapists learn there are 8 pathologies that underpin psychological distress. They learn precise treatment actions to attend to each pathology.

Having the right tools

Resource Therapists have clear guidelines for working with issues that clients bring to therapy. It is important for Resource Therapists to learn the types of pathologies, and to learn the associated treatments in order to feel competent to handle the various issues presented by clients.

Full article in the link below.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-learn-resource-therapy-gordon-emmerson-phd-/

I call it finding the goldmine within. We connect to our internal Resources special and unique to us, healing the hurt parts stuck in trauma time is freeing and fun. Look at our next two day introduction to Resource Therapy – Foundation program. We guarantee you will love it. Especially suited to those with chronic, complex trauma, EMDR practitioners and Clinical Hypnotherapists and Ego State Therapists wanting the missing piece of the puzzle- Parts Therapy!

Yours in Service,

Philipa Thornton