Resourcing in Somatic Therapy

One of the layers of Somatic Therapy is Resourcing.

A Resource is anything that offers us a sense of grounding, presence, or more ease in times of challenge and shift. Resources are like a life buoy in a storm; something we can hold onto as we navigate what is happening and what our next move might be. They assist us to respond rather than react in times of overwhelm or discomfort.

There are many practices that can assist us in finding a resource that is supportive to us. Each person’s resources are going to be individual and unique. The way that our bodies handle stressful and difficult situations in the longterm have to do with the availability of our resources during or after a challenging experience.  

There are three main types of Resources:

Internal Current - something that is currently available and comes from inside you (like slowing down your breath)

External Current - something that you can see, touch, hear, smell, or taste that is with you in the present moment

Internal Non Current - something that is not with you currently, but is coming from inside you (a memory for example)

Resources also include our community, family, cultural support networks and traditions, availability of securities (money, food, health, shelter), and greater institutional support.  

I cannot tell you how many times I have had clients come to me because they have seen a former practitioner or therapist that used a somatic tool (like EMDR or tapping for example) without properly resourcing them.  

As humans, anything that feels unfamiliar can also feel unsafe, and this includes the benefits of somatic tools and the feeling of calm or easefulness. If someone is constantly living in fight or flight (or freeze or fawn) shifting their nervous system into a state of rest and digest without properly resourcing them and preparing them for the shifts can be retraumatizing.  

So take a moment and consider your resources (singing your favorite song, looking out the window, placing a hand over your heart) as well as any support networks that you have had during challenging times.  How might you nurture and celebrate these resources in order to create a practice that will make them available when you need them?