What Happens in Therapy?

More Than 'Just Talking'

 Clients often comment that the reason they are hesitant to start therapy is that ‘talking about it won’t help’. Some people find talk-based therapy useful to process their feelings or emotional responses out loud, but others feel they get that experience enough with friends or family.

It is important however to note that therapy is rarely one single technique that creates change. Instead, it is a layered process that integrates multiple strategies tailored to your individual nervous system, history, and therapeutic goals. Even if you have a session that feels you ‘talked’ a lot, it is likely that your therapist was doing much more than just listening.

Therapy as a Multilayered Process

Effective psychotherapy often includes a combination of:

• Parts work and internal systems exploration

• Nervous system regulation and release

• Sensory and environmental supports

• Psychoeducation

• Emotional stabilisation

• Formal trauma processing and integration

• Meaning-making and identity development

Cognitive reframing.

An integrative approach aligns with the evidence that trauma and distress are held in the body, the implicit memory system, and relational patterns, not only in conscious thought (van der Kolk, 2015).

An Example from My Own Life

When I fly, I experience an extreme panic response during the take off. When I finally decided to do something about it, the shift came not through one intervention, but through a combination: a parts work processing session during my Resource Therapy training, bilateral stimulation (tapping) during the take off phase, an environmental modification (noise-cancelling headphones), and helpful psychoeducation from my sister, who is a trained pilot.

Real change occurs when the brain receives new adaptive information while feeling safe, resourced, and supported. This mirrors the Adaptive Information Processing model underpinning EMDR therapy (Shapiro, 2018).

I definitely have more work to do in this space (when I find time!) but even this small intervention has reduced my discomfort significantly.

The Role of Parts Work in My Therapy

As a Clinical Resource Therapist, parts work is foundational to my practice. Integrating Resource Therapy with psychoeducation, emotional stabilisation, EMDR therapy, environmental change and skill building enhances trauma processing even more. Whether sessions are movement based, processing based, or more talk-heavy, I notice it is important to focus on emotional resilience and building self-compassion and awareness. Additionally, Resource Therapy allows me to identify precisely which part of a client is distressed and address that part directly, as well as offering ‘top down’ skills.

Which Therapy is Best?

Whatever approach you choose in therapy, whether it is EMDR therapy, a parts work model, psycho-education (understanding the brain responses and mechanisms), learning new skills to manage emotions, and reflective work noticing changes in thinking patterns and in the body, it is likely that your therapist is skilfully weaving together different approaches based on your schemas/core beliefs, drivers of distress, reflective questioning, emotional processing, helping you to make sense of the narrative, or skill based tools.

The key is often to choose a therapist you feel comfortable or ‘vibe’ with, and work collaboratively with them to find what approaches land best for your unique brain. A safe and trusting therapeutic relationship predicts positive outcomes above any thing else, and fosters open communication and feedback so that you can find a therapeutic plan that works best for you.

 Click here for Resources including my therapy logbook to track your responses and emotions between sessions!

Claudia Wolf | AMHSW | Accredited EMDR | Advanced Clinical Resource Therapist & Trainer

✨ EMDR Informed Advanced Parts Work Training

✨ Client EMDR Intensive Program (Immersions)

✨ Consultation

www.wolftherapeutic.com.au

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This blog is not a replacement for therapy and is for entertainment and educational purposes only. If these themes bring up any distress for you, please seek formal support.