Often I will make a joke about being a ‘changologist’ with my clients. It usually gets a chuckle and I can see a shine in their eyes. I like to view this as hope. Truly don’t we want to inspire hope and healing?
Therapy has had a bit of a bad rap with the old-fashioned chaise lounge talk therapy analysis going on for years as Freud employed. The media likes to encourage that myth.
I had a therapist friend say he knew a pal of his who’d been 10 years seeing his psycho analytic therapist. I was amazed that his high-functioning friend had not progressed.
Now I am not getting prescriptive here for we know that complex PTSD and some struggles will take a good deal more time than a one-session wonder.
Actually being an experiential learner I wnt to a psychotherapist who practiced in the analytic model for five years. While the therapist was skilled and I felt supported and knew my ‘issues’ intimately, I was ultimately disappointed.
Why you might ask?
For all that time and effort and nd let’s not go there with the money( Upset face here). I still felt about the same and while intellectually I knew and understood my patterns they were not shifting. I was trapped, totally frustrated without real emotional change. It felt crummy, a part of me even though it might have been me.
I quit after my therapist upped the ante by suggesting we meet twice a week. This made no sense to me. Indeed I felt a bit foolish and hopeless.
The trouble with these older models is that my questioning the advocacy of our work and the need for more was positioned as resistance. It is seen as an indication for further in-depth analysis. You couldn’t win!
I am grateful to this skilled therapist as they helped support me to recover from an abusive relationship, and the isolation being in a new country.
Still I felt not good enough. Doomed to failure.
As a psychologist of course I believed in the power of change. Plus my number one resiliency according to an online strength assessment quiz was as a learner.
It wasn’t until I had a brief experience of EMDR feeling so much clearer and freer I began to hope again.
So exciting to feel a sense of release and relief.
This was set me on a path where I learned a tapping method taught by Dr. Laurie Mackinnon which was amazing. My curious learner part then decided to explore the origins. She was an EMDR Consultant.
So I trained in EMDR, which then lead me to Ego State therapy and finally the amazing parts therapy Resource Therapy. So fascinating to experience lightning-fast emotional shifts offering real results.
Naturally combining the two EMDR and Resource Therapy ( RT) was like having Superman and Superwoman, Batman and Robin. A dynamic duo. The perfect Marvel movie.
So that’s why I’m committed to passionately sharing Resource Therapy with other therapists, psychologists, EMDRer’s, coaches, doctors, social workers, psychiatrists, and those who are in the mental health profession.
Being an early adopter of this practical model I am a senior consultant and trainer with both the Resource Therapy Institute Australia. Formerly Vice President of Resource Therapy International and now proudly Executive Director for Australia with a wonderful executive committee in each state.
After my EMDR certification, I am now on the EMDR Consultancy pathway. Supervision groups are on offer soon, watch this space.
In my experience, it’s important to involve the body and I love Somatic Psychology and Sensorimotor Experiencing. Adding in our bodies wonderful wisdom cements the work beautifully.
We hope to inspire you to join us.
Our Foundation program is March 13/14 Online. Learn the fundamental of Parts work in applying RT. Special early bird $647 disappears after March 1. The recording is available for on-demand viewing. Includes two group supervision sessions so you can share your experiences in our RT community of supportive therapists.
How do I find out more please visit the dates and fees page here. Or simply Email philipathornton@gmail.com or Call 0434 55 90 11
