Trauma Resourcing
Trauma resourcing is a technique to help us find our inner ability and wisdom to cope with rough times and difficult situations. Most of us have never thought about how we cope. Resourcing is a way to reclaim our positive experiences and memories. Sometimes these positive experiences are surprising.
Example: Paul, a Vietnam veteran, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder for many years. He attended group sessions at the Veterans Administration for years and because “nothing helped” him there, he began “taking the edge” off his inner pain by using drugs. During a therapy session with me, he talked about his father, an Arkansas Baptist minister, and how ashamed he is of him. “He’s a coward! He lets rednecks push him around. Whenever one of them taunts him, he apologizes and walks away. He’s not a man. He won’t fight back.” An ex-soldier who prided himself on the number of kills he had under his belt, Paul’s anger began to escalate. To distract him, I ask him to recall a positive or an unforgettable experience. What comes up for him is a recollection of an incident in Saigon when he had been given crowd-control duty. It was at this time that he watched a Buddhist monk immolate himself. “You know, that little monk setting fire to himself, brought down a whole G_d d___ government!” After a long silence, he added, “Man, there’s power in non-violence.” After another long silence, he continued, “My father – maybe he’s no coward! He may be the bravest man I’ve ever known.” From that moment on, Paul began to heal. He became calmer and within a short time, his PTSD symptoms became less frequent and eventually left him.
When you’re ready to create positive, lasting change, I encourage you to contact me today at 510-866-4781 or email me at eleanor@eleanorlew.com to schedule a free, 15-minute, initial telehealth consultation. I look forward to meeting you, but the person you’re really going to meet is YOU.