This is our final blog (for now!) on Phase II, Preparation. We find that we weave in and out of Phase I, History-Taking, and Phase II, Preparation, once we start digging in with our clients. As we have previously suggested, initial stabilization exercises such as Safe Place or Container should be done before history-taking takes place.
When you are preparing the treatment plan with your clients (in Phase I), it includes plentiful trauma-based experiences that define the negative cognition, which of course become the target memories your client will work on.
Since your client is also defining the positive cognition at this time, why not help them “get their money’s worth” from this positive self-belief? The idea here is to perform RDI (Resource Development and Installation) on the PC. We ask our client to define those life experiences that have solidified their knowledge of their PC. Then, we apply the standard RDI protocol to those experiences. Additionally, we can ask our clients to be “on the lookout” for any little experiences between sessions that also serve to strengthen the PC. The good thing about doing this is, they will be so much more mindful of these positive experiences. As they bring these experiences back to your sessions, you can continue to resource them!
This is so helpful, because you are helping your client build up the positive neural networks before you even start processing.
What could be better?
Want the worksheet we made for this? Ask Kathleen and she’ll send it along.
Take good care, Kathleen and Liz
