Resource Therapy

How can resource therapy nourish you?

This unique psychotherapy system is based on the belief that various states of consciousness^[1] and personality parts need to be addressed for enduring emotional health. Resource Therapy works with the personality part^[2] that is involved in the issue, hence it is also known as ‘strength based parts psychotherapy.’ This modality seeks to address the subconscious cause of an issue, as it understands that the part presenting with the problem is seldom the one that requires change.

Resource therapists are trained to work directly with personality states such as pain, fear, abandonment, rejection, neglect, hurt, guilt, trauma, resentment, anger and shame. These ‘resources’ are the internal personality parts^[3] that people draw on to handle their life situations. 

Resource therapy was named after the premise that our personality parts are our coping resources. American-born, Australia-based Psychologist Professor Gordon Emmerson^[4] developed resource personality therapy based on his experiences with Ego State Therapy,^[5] Cognitive Psychology^[6] and his clients. Resource therapy differs from ego state therapy in that hypnosis is no longer required and results may be more rapid. Prof. Emmerson has authored books including Resource Therapy,^[7] numerous refereed articles and experimental clinical research.

In 2014, Prof. Emmerson and his wife, Anna Emmerson, co-founded Resource Therapy International (RTI),^[8] the association for resource therapy, in order to provide accreditation and ongoing support to students, graduates and clients. RTI currently provides Foundation Training, the practitioner qualification in resource therapy, an advanced clinical course and a train the trainer program in resource therapy.