Welcome!
I'm glad you've decided to join me to learn more about a practice called Resource Tapping.
I'm excited to introduce you to this empowering practice and hope it serves you well.
Resource Tapping allows us to literally tap in to positive,
Healing resources at times when we most need them.
Resource Tapping is related to attachment-focused EMDR therapy,
Which is a specific protocol used by trained mental health providers.
In EMDR,
Free associative processing is combined with bilateral stimulation to reprocess disturbing experiences,
Which can alleviate conditions such as post-traumatic stress and anxiety.
Resource Tapping,
On the other hand,
Focuses on positive and healing resources and uses only a brief set of bilateral stimulation to strengthen your resources and help you cope better with stress in daily life.
Bilateral stimulation essentially means activating one side of your brain and then the other.
In EMDR,
This has traditionally been accomplished with side-to-side eye movements.
In Resource Tapping,
We activate bilateral stimulation of the brain using tactile sensations,
Touch,
Or physical movements to stimulate the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
You can try that right now,
For instance,
By placing your hands on your thighs and tapping alternately on your right thigh,
And then your left thigh,
Your right thigh,
Your left thigh.
You can tap using your whole hand or just a finger.
You can tap lightly or more firmly,
Whatever feels best to you.
Another option is to tap on your knees or with your arms crossed,
You can tap on the opposite arm or elbow or up on your shoulders in what is sometimes called a butterfly hug.
Some people prefer tapping with their feet on the floor.
So really there's no right way,
It's just whatever feels right to you,
So feel free to experiment.
So when we combine the bilateral stimulation of right-left tapping or left-right tapping,
While we bring to mind specific positive and healing resources,
We strengthen and integrate the information between both sides of the brain.
By tapping in our resources in this way,
We activate the resource,
Making it easier to access,
As well as making the qualities of the resource more alive and available to you when you need them.
I teach resource tapping in my counseling practice to help my clients cope better in stressful situations,
For performance enhancement,
To reduce anxiety,
And also as one of the initial stages in attachment focused EMDR therapy.
Resource tapping has been learned by thousands of people all over the world who found this practice to help them feel more whole,
Happy,
Calm,
Confident and optimistic.
We know from recent years of research on brain function that when we imagine doing something,
It activates neurons in the brain as if we're actually doing it.
So this means if you imagine doing a yoga pose,
Your brain is activated in a similar way as if you were actually doing the posture.
Or if you imagine moving your arm,
Your brain is activated in a similar way as if you're actually moving your arm.
So tapping in resources activates pathways in our brains in much the same way and with much the same benefits.
In the next set of recordings,
I will teach you how to tap in some basic resources that most people find to be helpful and accessible in a wide range of situations.
The first is a peaceful place.
This could be a place you've been or a place you could imagine as having all of the qualities that would help you to feel most comfortable and at ease.
Some common examples are a secluded beach,
Beautiful beach on a perfect day,
Or a favorite garden you enjoy peaceful time in a forest.
The second resource will develop and tap into our nurturing figures.
Someone or something that has nurturing and caring qualities.
Maybe you bring to mind a favorite pet who would calm and comfort you,
Or a grandparent,
Or a good friend.
Could even be a character in a book or movie or TV show that you recognize as having nurturing and caring qualities.
The third resource will work with is protective figures,
Which could be people,
Animals,
Imaginal beings or fictional characters that have protective qualities.
These are beings that could protect as well as empower you.
You may have memories of positive interactions with people who've protected you in some way in real life.
Many people choose animals as protective figures,
Maybe a mother bear,
Or a tiger,
Or hawk,
Or even a superhero or a strong action figure.
The fourth resource that will work with is figures who have inner wisdom,
Or are spiritual figures that you connect with.
Wisdom figures may be people you've known,
Public or spiritual figures,
Maybe mentors that provide guidance,
Perspective,
And support.
So these may be people,
Animals,
Or other forms of beings,
Or something in nature,
Like a giant old tree.
Perhaps that helps you get in touch with your own wisdom and creativity.
I hope this has sparked your curiosity and that you'll join me to learn more about how to practice resource tapping and to access and strengthen your resources using these recordings.
I wish you well on your healing journey.
