🌿 Key Terms in Resource Therapy
Understanding the Language of Parts-Based Healing
Resource Therapy uses a unique and precise language to describe the internal world of the client. While there are many important terms in the model, four are especially central to its theory and clinical application.
🔹 Resource State
A Resource State is a part of the personality that comes forward to manage a situation. Each state has its own memories, feelings, body sensations, and ways of responding. Some Resource States are strong, skilled, and confident. Others may be wounded, stuck, or overprotective due to past experiences.
In therapy, we work with the specific state that needs attention – not just talk about the problem.
🔹 Conscious
The Conscious refers to the part of us that is aware in the present moment – the one observing, talking, or making decisions. In Resource Therapy, only one state is conscious at any time. When another part takes over, the former state becomes unconscious or moves into the background.
Therapists are trained to help clients become conscious of and access the state that is currently driving thoughts, feelings, or behaviours.
🔹 Introject
An Introject is a stored internal representation of another person, often from childhood, whose voice, tone, or beliefs have been absorbed into the psyche. In RT, we do not treat the introject itself, but rather help the wounded Resource State express itself to the introject using safe therapeutic dialogue (Actions 4 – 7).
This helps clear emotional pain, shame, and worthless held by the state.
🔹 Sensory Experience Memory
Sensory Experience Memory (SEM) is the stored emotional memory that a Resource State holds, often linked to trauma or a painful event. These memories are usually encoded through the senses: what was seen, heard, felt, or sensed at the time.
Resource Therapy accesses these memories directly through the activated state and uses memory reconsolidation to transform their impact.
🌟 Common RT Terms
While the EDTs form the foundation, these additional terms are essential for understanding how Resource Therapy works in practice.
🔸 Vaded State
A Vaded State is a part of the personality that has been overwhelmed, hurt, or traumatised. It carries pain from the past and needs healing. These states often present with feelings of rejection, fear, confusion, shame, or distress.
Example: A client may have a ‘Vaded in Rejection’ state that feels worthless in relationships.
🔸 Retro State
A Retro State is a part that steps in to protect the system – often through control, avoidance, anger, or people-pleasing. It developed its strategy long ago and may no longer serve the client’s adult life.
Example: ‘Retro Angry’ might lash out to protect a younger Vaded State. ‘Retro Avoidant State’ might shut down during conflict.
🔸 Conflicted State
A Conflicted State is caught between two opposing internal needs or beliefs. It feels torn and stuck, often driving indecision, procrastination, or inner tension.
Example: A client who wants connection but fears commitment may have a Conflicted State between ‘Reach Out’ and ‘Pull Back’ parts.
🔸 Pathological State
This term refers to any state that is in distress or causing distress, including Vaded, Retro, Conflicted, or states stuck in the past. These are the focus of RT interventions.
🔸 Surface State
The state currently running the show. It may or may not be aware of the wounded parts beneath. RT helps surface states step aside so deeper healing can occur.
🛠️ The 15 Treatment Actions in Resource Therapy
Clinical Summary for Practitioners
These 15 Treatment Actions guide the therapist step by step through the process of working directly with the Resource State (part) that is experiencing distress, stuckness, or protective behaviours. Each action is applied based on the state’s diagnosis and therapeutic need.
1. Diagnosis of Resource Issue
Identify the issue the state is experiencing – is it Vaded, Retro, Conflicted, or another presentation? This informs the therapeutic direction.
2. Vivify Specific
Bring the specific Resource State into conscious awareness so it can be directly accessed, supported, and worked with.
3. Bridging
Connect the state to the original sensitising experience or memory that underpins its current emotional or behavioural activation.
4. Expression
Allow the Resource State to express its thoughts, emotions, and unmet needs fully and safely. This step enables validation and release.
5. Introject Speak
Facilitate the state’s dialogue to an internalised representation (Introject) of a significant person or figure who caused confusion, pain, or harm.
6. Removal
Assist the state to remove the power or presence of the Introject when it is no longer helpful or needed. This may involve symbolic or imagined actions.
7. Relief
Bring forward a nurturing, soothing Resource State that can offer comfort, compassion, and internal co-regulation to the wounded state.
8. Find Resource
Access a high-functioning Resource State with the specific skills or strengths the client needs for resilience, problem-solving, or integration.
9. Changing Chairs – Introject Action
Use structured chairwork to enable the wounded state to speak directly to the Introject in an empowered way, promoting clarity and resolution.
10. Retro State Negotiation
Engage the protective Retro State in dialogue to appreciate its function and invite safe updates to its strategies or roles.
11. Conflicted State Negotiation
Work with a Conflicted State that feels torn between opposing needs, helping it move towards clarity, alignment, or resolution.
12. Imagery Check
Revisit the memory or scene using imagery to assess whether healing has taken place and ensure the state feels safe and understood.
13. Resistance Alliancing
If resistance arises, identify the protective part behind it and form a therapeutic alliance to ensure safety, permission, and pacing.
14. The Separation Sieve
Facilitate the separation of unhelpful beliefs, roles, or identifications that no longer serve the client or Resource State’s wellbeing.
15. Anchoring
Secure the transformation by embedding the new learning or emotional shift into the client’s system – through breath, words, posture, or visualisation.