Resource building is a familiar term when preparing clients for Eye movement desensitisation & processing (EMDR) which is a psychotherapy tool used to process traumatic or difficult memories/experiences. However, these resources can be beneficial as stand-alone tools for grounding, relaxation, and emotional state change.
Safe place is a guided (but can be used independently with practice) experience of visualising a place that evokes feelings of safety or calm. Working through each of the senses whilst imagining being in that place, alongside noticing the emotions evoked as well as where they sit within the body, can be a great strategy to allow the brain to reset following distress. Guided eye movements or butterfly taps can increase the positive experience of this.
The nurturing or protective figures are another visualisation technique that encourages imagined characters, creatures, superhero’s, spiritual beings, icons, or others who embody certain qualities such as protection, courage, nurturing, etc, that may be called upon during a time that difficult emotions may be experienced. These characters can be given as much detail as possible with props, costumes, powers, and names. Animal resources such as pets, real or imagined, are also helpful visualisations for some.
In this reflection, we have been given consent by one of TEDS’s clients to share their use of safe place, resources, and creativity.
To further strengthen this process, this client used creativity to bring the imagery to life by painting their safe place; a pink blossom tree overarching a stream, illustrating their safe character that embodies a sense of protection and unconditional love named Anastasia, and painting an imaginary unicorn named Fantasia; a trusted and loyal companion of Anastasia. (As seen above)
They also used creative writing to reflect on their use of these resources and how helpful they have been in managing distress and emotional regulation. They were happy for their poem to be shared to reflect this.
The magic of healing from within
When I am sad and upset
What do I do?
I turn to music, sport
And art too.
I sit with my dog
I hold him close and tight
He is my bestest friend
And can sense I am not quite right
Or sometimes I sit rigid
With the thoughts in my head
Hurting and torturing me
To the point I wish I was dead
Most of the time
The tears start to fall
With each is a thought
Some big, some small
I think I cry
Much more than most
The tears become me
I become more like a ghost
The tears are my thoughts
That overwhelm me
They take me to such painful places
Where I don’t want to be
And then when the tears
Can no longer fall
I feel exhausted, tired
And not like myself at all
So, I close my eyes
And go to bed
I take Anastasia and Fantasia
To my safe place in my head
My safe place is beautiful
So peaceful and calm
I feel light inside
As I feel truly safe from harm
The pink blossom smells sweet
And the sun feels warm
The water in the stream ripples
I am totally transformed
Transformed to a different
Version of me
Happy, hopeful, enlightened
The way I should be
Maybe one day
This will feel real
But for now, I shall keep going
With my recovery journey to heal
