Stay Tuned! We are launching our EMDR Phase 2 toolkit soon and while preparing it, we wanted to get EMDRIA member input and share the love. We asked EMDRIA members for video or written responses to the following question regarding Phase 2 of EMDR therapy: Preparation.
*** Dr. Ashley Austin, LCSW, Florida, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “A Phase 2 best practice I regularly use when working with transgender and nonbinary (TNB) clients is to intentionally resource “glimmers of affirmation,” rather than simply calming or safe state imagery. Because many TNB clients have experienced trauma associated with gender dysphoria and chronic invalidation, safety within one’s life and within one’s body is often inseparable from experiences of being authentically seen, validated, and affirmed. During preparation, I invite clients to identify small moments when they have felt affirmed as their authentic selves—such as hearing their affirmed name or pronouns spoken warmly, feeling grounded in affirming relationships and community spaces, or wearing clothing, accessories or hairstyles that foster a sense of authenticity. These moments can then be further developed using imagery, breathwork, or bilateral stimulation to cultivate safety, inner strength, and self-connection. This approach allows resourcing to cultivate identity-affirming states that foster regulation, empowerment, hope, and stability to support trauma reprocessing.”
*** Dr. Millia Begum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “[When using parts work in Phase 2, a] Phase 2 intervention could be- just asking the client to keep their arms open to receive any part of them that is concerned or is afraid of clearing the emotional disturbances of the memory chosen? Wait with a long pause and see who comes in. However young the part is to wait and see who comes in. A scared part that is concerned that this might be overwhelming- we ask what aspect of this work would be overwhelming- for instance, if it is the ability to handle the intensity of the emotions that may come by- what if we can start with processing body sensations first before the emotions- would that work? What if we start with the more periphery of sensations first, what if we test the portion of the memory that is least disturbing? What if we go only in for few seconds? And any agreement or negotiation that can be made to reduce overwhelm, then contract that the ‘stop’ signal would be applied if this gets too much, and all control is with the [client’s] system that has the way to come back out if it gets too much.”
*** Kirsten Boulier, RCSW, British Columbia, Canada – “In Phase 2, I focus on helping clients tolerate small increases in activation while staying oriented and connected. Many clients can access a regulated state in session with guidance. The difficulty emerges when activation arises spontaneously, especially around attachment themes or shame. If preparation is equated with “feeling fully calm,” reprocessing can feel destabilizing. Instead, I help clients track subtle shifts in breath, muscle tone, and attention, and practice staying present with 10-20% activation. We repeatedly return to dual attention, emphasizing flexibility rather than serenity. In my experience, phase 2 is about expanding the nervous system range. When clients learn they can remain grounded while mildly activated, Phase 3-6 work becomes more tolerable and sustainable.”
*** Jenn Bovee, LCSW, Illinois, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ “Honestly, it comes down to three things: stabilization, resourcing, and window of tolerance capacity. Your client needs to demonstrate they can access and USE their coping skills, not just name them. Can they actually resource when activated? Can they come back to baseline without you holding their hand through every step? You’re also watching their window of tolerance. Are they spending more time regulated than dysregulated? Can they tolerate dual awareness, staying connected to present safety while touching into past material? Readiness isn’t just motivation; it’s capacity. Those are two very different things.”
*** Nicole Braswell, LMFT, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ Note for subtitles on the videos, play the video and click on the ‘CC’ icon in the lower right-hand corner for closed captioning.
*** Kyle Brown, LCSW, New York, USA
*** Rich Doyle, LCSW-C, Maryland, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “Following scripts to expand your vocabulary and comfort with resource building can be helpful, as can taking a structured approach. At the same time, don’t be afraid to move into impromptu resourcing when adaptive moments emerge on their own. Normalize early on that pausing in these moments to soak in the images, emotions, and sensations–often with BLS–is an essential part of the EMDR process. Being spontaneous and creative in resource development can lead to especially potent and empowering experiences. So lean on scripts as needed while also staying ready to capitalize on any given moment that occurs. Trust that together, you and your client can creatively discover and build relevant, embodied, and powerful resources.”
*** Karen A. Dwyer-Tesoriero, LCSW, New York, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “In my work with Complex PTSD, my strongest advice for Phase 2 of EMDR is this: Slow Down. When stabilization is rushed, clients often struggle in later phases. Dysregulation can increase, the sense of safety can decrease, and some may even consider discontinuing EMDR- not because it isn’t effective, but because their nervous system wasn’t adequately prepared. Phase 2 is more than installing a few resources. It’s about building real regulatory capacity. That may mean spending additional time strengthening breathwork, practicing grounding techniques repeatedly, incorporating tactile supports, or intentionally cultivating a felt sense of safety within the EMDR space. When we slow down, clients enter Phase 3 and 4 with greater stability, confidence and resilience. In Complex trauma work, pacing isn’t delaying the work, it IS the work.”
*** Genevieve Fuller, LMHC, Massachusetts, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant-in-Training™ – “No matter the resource, I always try to include some physical or embodied element, such as a movement, gesture, posture shift, a specific scent, sound or visual cue. Having a variety of entry points for a resource in phase 2 helps that resource become more accessible in moments of distress when certain parts may shut down and others become heightened. It also enhances the resource’s effectiveness and intensity when we can stack additional elements. Ultimately, this gets multiple parts involved in the resourcing process. Rather than just visualizing, can the participant also embody the resource through their five senses and in their physical movement choices?”
*** Dr. Serena Gupta, LMFT, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™
*** Lauran Hahn, LMHC, Florida, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “As a somatic EMDR therapist, I use positive feeling states in the body as the anchor of Phase 2 resource development. Using Resource Development and Installation (RDI), I intentionally build and strengthen the internal resources clients will need for reprocessing, with sustained attention to embodied experience. After installing a resource, I guide clients to deepen somatic integration with prompts such as where they feel the resource most clearly in their body, what they notice in their posture or breathing, what happens to the tension or ease in their body, and how they would describe the energy in their body in that moment. Some clients have difficulty connecting with their bodies, and this is when it becomes important to name the positive micro-shifts I notice to help deepen the somatic experience. Once the resource feels integrated, I invite clients to stand and walk while maintaining the embodied state to generalize resilience before moving into Phase 3.”
*** Crystal Hines, LPC, Colorado, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist,™ Approved Consultant,™ and Trainer™
*** Julie Homrich, LPC, Georgia, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant-in-Training™ – “My best Phase 2 practice is this: resourcing is not a script—it’s a system. It does not begin with “Calm Place” or “Container,” though those are valuable tools. Resourcing begins the moment a client reaches out for therapy. It is built on the predictability of your response, the clarity of your informed consent, and the steadiness of your scheduling and business practices. It is strengthened through relational safety—how you attune, track affect, and co-regulate. During Phase 1, resourcing deepens as you gather target information while actively protecting the client’s window of tolerance. The client experiences, again and again, “I can approach hard things and stay connected.” By the time you formally introduce Light Stream, Container, or Calm Place, you are not creating safety—you are layering skills onto an already established foundation of safety. The visible techniques are the tip of the iceberg. The first resource is the therapeutic relationship itself.”
*** Renee (Rivki) Jungreis, LCSW, New York, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™
*** Annie Kuni Melman, LMFT, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist ™ – “I’ve found that for visually minded clients it can be helpful to have a picture to associate with a positive feeling state for easier access. For example, during Phase 2 the client might list the positive feeling they want to access as “confidence”, the visual for that would be a “warm glowing ball in their chest”, and then pairing that visual and the somatic feeling with slow BLS sets (similar to calm place). Sometimes this will naturally come up during Phase 4 reprocessing/desensitization rather than in Phase 2. For example, a client naturally having the positive feeling of “relaxation and calm” towards the end of a reprocessing set, pairing that with the visual they stated of “ice melting,” and then using this as an exercise to close out the session or for client to access as a resource outside of sessions.”
*** Nancy Lasater, LCSW, North Carolina, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “Phase two is not a one-size-fits-all. Every client has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to their imaginary abilities, their felt sense of safety and comfort with the therapist, and their history of positive experiences with people, activities, and objects. So, we as EMDR therapists need to customize the resourcing exercises for every client. How do we do that?
*** Rainier McCall, LMHC, Florida, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™
*** Paula Merucci, LCSW, Illinois, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist,™ Approved Consultant,™ and Trainer™
*** Ashley Orbanus, LPC, Pennsylvania, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “Phase 2 is more than just ‘safe place’ and ‘container.’ It’s about working with clients to develop skills and strategies unique to their individual self that promotes emotional tolerance and pave the way for learning how to increase autonomic regulation to handle what needs to be processed. There should not be a timeframe on these developments; time should be focused on the effectiveness, as well as the accessibility under stress of the tools and strategies that are created to ensure processing capability. Resourcing is a significant foundational piece of EMDR therapy and should be treated as such. Get creative too, think outside the standard therapy box.”
*** Charity O’Reilly, LPC, Pennsylvania, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “I find providing clients with written or recorded resources they can continue to use is very helpful during Phase 2. For example, I developed a workbook for my intensive clients where they can either write or draw about their container, their peaceful place, and their allies for later practice. I’ve also made lots of video and audio recordings of these for clients. If you feel like you don’t have time for that, it can be done during session. With the client’s permission, when you are walking them through a visualization of using one of their resources, you can record it right on their phone for them to use in the future. Of course don’t record sensitive, confidential, or activating information. This can be a wonderful way for clients to practice using their resources.”
*** Magaly Passos-Hoke, LMFT, Illinois, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “After completing all recommended resourcing. I typically use a memory with low SUD (1-2) as a resource for the client’s system. I have found that when I do that, the client’s system feels safer towards the process of EMDR. Also, using the flash technique at this phase to strengthen the client’s system.”
*** Eslia Yesenia Pérez Pernillo, Psych, Guatemala City, Guatemala – “1.Trust in the person’s AIP and the strength they have gained over time in life. 2. Ask about the strategies the person uses regularly to calm down and assess whether they are appropriate. 3. Listening to appropriate music is a very powerful resource to promote the change of emotional state or the state of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), as you think it is best explained. 4. Ask and inform about the practices that we sometimes have and that are harmful. For example: assertively choosing the multimedia content they consume. 5. Make sure the person gets the information they need about therapy, has a functional support network, and knows they can care for themselves between sessions.”
*** Megan Quigley, LCSW, Oregon, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “My best Phase 2 tip is simple: do all the resourcing. Guiding clients through a wide range of resourcing exercises gradually builds our own confidence as EMDR clinicians and helps us better understand what exercises work best to help each of our clients regulate. Some of our clients may surprise us by responding more strongly to somatic or breath-based resourcing than imagery, and that variability is normal—not a sign we are doing it wrong. I also keep a notecard for each client listing specific resourcing exercises and support figures, so I can reference those during or after reprocessing.”
*** Amanda Roberson, LPC, Oregon, USA – “In phase 2, I work with clients to create a simple visual of their window of tolerance—the range where they feel calm, present, and able to cope. I ask them to draw and describe what it feels like to be inside that window, as well as what happens when they move into hyperarousal (fight or flight) or hypoarousal (freeze or submit). This gives them a clear, concrete picture of how their nervous system responds to stress and helps build awareness of their different states. Additionally, I provide education about trauma responses and explain how the nervous system works in an understandable way. We also brainstorm adaptive coping strategies they can use to either decrease or increase energy, depending on their need. Over time, this helps clients expand their window of tolerance, build hope for change, and feel more confident in their ability to understand and regulate their nervous system.”
*** Meg Rowley, LICSW, LCSW, Vermont, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “One of the most important shifts in my own EMDR practice has been expanding how I conceptualize Phase 2 (Preparation) work. Early in my training, I understood Phase 2 as primarily Safe Place, container work, and body scans. While those tools are incredibly valuable, I’ve since learned that Preparation should be broader and specific to the individual. Preparation is not a checklist; it is a stabilization process. Phase 2 can extend over a significant period and can include but is not limited to, Cognitive behavioral skill-building, DBT emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills, Psychoeducation (including polyvagal theory), mindfulness, as well as standard resourcing. Approaching this phase flexibly is liberating, and I found that clients entered Phases 3–7 with greater stability and confidence in their ability to navigate activation. Thinking holistically and flexibly about preparation has deepened the effectiveness of my EMDR work.”
*** Jennifer Starlight Rojas, LMFT, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant-in-Training™ – “When dealing with complex PTSD, some clients can be in phase 2 for a great number of sessions, but don’t give up and don’t lose patience. Stay patient and keep building readiness. Some clients are not yet resourced enough to process trauma safely. I have worked with clients who did not feel ready for EMDR reprocessing until after a year of weekly sessions focused on coping skills, containment strategies, emotional regulation, and strengthening the therapeutic relationship and sense of safety. When we transitioned into reprocessing, the work often moved more efficiently, and shifts in beliefs and perceptions became more noticeable from session to session. Phase 2 is where you build the foundation that makes Phase 3 tolerable, effective, and sustainable.”
*** Rebekah Taylor, LCSW, LICSW, Arizona, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant-in-Training™ – “One of the most important best practices in Phase 2 is: don’t rush it. Phase 2 is not a formality or a brief stabilization stop on the way to reprocessing — it is foundational. The quality of preparation directly impacts the safety, efficiency, and depth of Phases 3–8. When Phase 2 is done well, Phase 3 unfolds with greater clarity, containment, and momentum. When it is rushed, therapy often circles back to stabilization. Preparation is not a delay — it is what makes reprocessing possible.”
*** Perrin Turk, LCSW, Colorado, USA – “I like to address attachment wounding in Phase 2 to build emotional safety for younger parts prior to beginning reprocessing. I’ve started training in Shirley Jean Schmidt’s Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS), which incorporates identifying and vetting internal Resources and creating a Special Safe Place for wounded parts to hang out when they’re not receiving direct care from Resources. Each identified wounded part, in turn, is offered an opportunity to share its story and receive compassion, connection, and validation from the Resources. This empowers clients to recognize their own abilities to be there for younger parts of themselves, and provides a structure to use with overwhelmed parts. It’s also important to me to build a strong therapeutic rapport; consider the client’s preferences and felt readiness; and identify various strengths, skills, and external resources that a client feels comfortable relying on if challenges arise during or after reprocessing. My EMDR training encouraged assessing client readiness for reprocessing through evaluating their ability to identify and feel emotions, trust in the process of EMDR therapy, and to return to their Window of Tolerance following activation/being triggered. Together, these practices support a solid foundation for Phase 3 readiness.”
*** Elizabeth Warson, PhD, Colorado, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “One Phase 2 best practice I share with colleagues and consultees is to treat resourcing as an ongoing, creative process rather than simply stabilization or preparation for reprocessing. Phase 2 can be woven in at any point in EMDR therapy to strengthen regulation and expand a client’s circle of capacity (Malchiodi, 2023). Go beyond standard bilateral stimulation (BLS) by integrating movement, artmaking, rhythm, or sound. For example, clients might alternate tapping while drawing a protective figure, use bilateral drumming to embody strength, or hum with gentle side-to-side movement to anchor calm. These multimodal approaches engage the nervous system more fully and often make resources feel embodied rather than conceptual. Tailor the method to the client’s interests, culture, and developmental needs. When resourcing is experiential, flexible, and relevant, it becomes a living toolkit clients can access inside and outside of session. – Malchiodi, C. A. (2023). Trauma‑informed expressive arts therapy. In C. A. Malchiodi (Ed.), Handbook of expressive arts therapy (pp. 142–154). The Guilford Press.
*** Kathryn White, LPC, Colorado, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “I do a lot of work with clients healing their attachment wounds so one of my go-to Phase 2 practices is working with clients to increase self-compassion through connecting to the qualities of their True Self and/or an Ideal Parent(s) (I.e., loving, calm, curious) and imagining introducing the True Self and/or Ideal Parent(s) to their younger self.”
“What is a Phase 2 tip/best practice that you would share with a colleague?”
*** Dr. Ashley Austin, LCSW, Florida, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “A Phase 2 best practice I regularly use when working with transgender and nonbinary (TNB) clients is to intentionally resource “glimmers of affirmation,” rather than simply calming or safe state imagery. Because many TNB clients have experienced trauma associated with gender dysphoria and chronic invalidation, safety within one’s life and within one’s body is often inseparable from experiences of being authentically seen, validated, and affirmed. During preparation, I invite clients to identify small moments when they have felt affirmed as their authentic selves—such as hearing their affirmed name or pronouns spoken warmly, feeling grounded in affirming relationships and community spaces, or wearing clothing, accessories or hairstyles that foster a sense of authenticity. These moments can then be further developed using imagery, breathwork, or bilateral stimulation to cultivate safety, inner strength, and self-connection. This approach allows resourcing to cultivate identity-affirming states that foster regulation, empowerment, hope, and stability to support trauma reprocessing.”
*** Dr. Millia Begum, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “[When using parts work in Phase 2, a] Phase 2 intervention could be- just asking the client to keep their arms open to receive any part of them that is concerned or is afraid of clearing the emotional disturbances of the memory chosen? Wait with a long pause and see who comes in. However young the part is to wait and see who comes in. A scared part that is concerned that this might be overwhelming- we ask what aspect of this work would be overwhelming- for instance, if it is the ability to handle the intensity of the emotions that may come by- what if we can start with processing body sensations first before the emotions- would that work? What if we start with the more periphery of sensations first, what if we test the portion of the memory that is least disturbing? What if we go only in for few seconds? And any agreement or negotiation that can be made to reduce overwhelm, then contract that the ‘stop’ signal would be applied if this gets too much, and all control is with the [client’s] system that has the way to come back out if it gets too much.”
*** Kirsten Boulier, RCSW, British Columbia, Canada – “In Phase 2, I focus on helping clients tolerate small increases in activation while staying oriented and connected. Many clients can access a regulated state in session with guidance. The difficulty emerges when activation arises spontaneously, especially around attachment themes or shame. If preparation is equated with “feeling fully calm,” reprocessing can feel destabilizing. Instead, I help clients track subtle shifts in breath, muscle tone, and attention, and practice staying present with 10-20% activation. We repeatedly return to dual attention, emphasizing flexibility rather than serenity. In my experience, phase 2 is about expanding the nervous system range. When clients learn they can remain grounded while mildly activated, Phase 3-6 work becomes more tolerable and sustainable.”
*** Jenn Bovee, LCSW, Illinois, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ “Honestly, it comes down to three things: stabilization, resourcing, and window of tolerance capacity. Your client needs to demonstrate they can access and USE their coping skills, not just name them. Can they actually resource when activated? Can they come back to baseline without you holding their hand through every step? You’re also watching their window of tolerance. Are they spending more time regulated than dysregulated? Can they tolerate dual awareness, staying connected to present safety while touching into past material? Readiness isn’t just motivation; it’s capacity. Those are two very different things.”
*** Nicole Braswell, LMFT, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ Note for subtitles on the videos, play the video and click on the ‘CC’ icon in the lower right-hand corner for closed captioning.
*** Kyle Brown, LCSW, New York, USA
*** Rich Doyle, LCSW-C, Maryland, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “Following scripts to expand your vocabulary and comfort with resource building can be helpful, as can taking a structured approach. At the same time, don’t be afraid to move into impromptu resourcing when adaptive moments emerge on their own. Normalize early on that pausing in these moments to soak in the images, emotions, and sensations–often with BLS–is an essential part of the EMDR process. Being spontaneous and creative in resource development can lead to especially potent and empowering experiences. So lean on scripts as needed while also staying ready to capitalize on any given moment that occurs. Trust that together, you and your client can creatively discover and build relevant, embodied, and powerful resources.”
*** Karen A. Dwyer-Tesoriero, LCSW, New York, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “In my work with Complex PTSD, my strongest advice for Phase 2 of EMDR is this: Slow Down. When stabilization is rushed, clients often struggle in later phases. Dysregulation can increase, the sense of safety can decrease, and some may even consider discontinuing EMDR- not because it isn’t effective, but because their nervous system wasn’t adequately prepared. Phase 2 is more than installing a few resources. It’s about building real regulatory capacity. That may mean spending additional time strengthening breathwork, practicing grounding techniques repeatedly, incorporating tactile supports, or intentionally cultivating a felt sense of safety within the EMDR space. When we slow down, clients enter Phase 3 and 4 with greater stability, confidence and resilience. In Complex trauma work, pacing isn’t delaying the work, it IS the work.”
*** Genevieve Fuller, LMHC, Massachusetts, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant-in-Training™ – “No matter the resource, I always try to include some physical or embodied element, such as a movement, gesture, posture shift, a specific scent, sound or visual cue. Having a variety of entry points for a resource in phase 2 helps that resource become more accessible in moments of distress when certain parts may shut down and others become heightened. It also enhances the resource’s effectiveness and intensity when we can stack additional elements. Ultimately, this gets multiple parts involved in the resourcing process. Rather than just visualizing, can the participant also embody the resource through their five senses and in their physical movement choices?”
*** Dr. Serena Gupta, LMFT, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™
*** Lauran Hahn, LMHC, Florida, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “As a somatic EMDR therapist, I use positive feeling states in the body as the anchor of Phase 2 resource development. Using Resource Development and Installation (RDI), I intentionally build and strengthen the internal resources clients will need for reprocessing, with sustained attention to embodied experience. After installing a resource, I guide clients to deepen somatic integration with prompts such as where they feel the resource most clearly in their body, what they notice in their posture or breathing, what happens to the tension or ease in their body, and how they would describe the energy in their body in that moment. Some clients have difficulty connecting with their bodies, and this is when it becomes important to name the positive micro-shifts I notice to help deepen the somatic experience. Once the resource feels integrated, I invite clients to stand and walk while maintaining the embodied state to generalize resilience before moving into Phase 3.”
*** Crystal Hines, LPC, Colorado, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist,™ Approved Consultant,™ and Trainer™
*** Julie Homrich, LPC, Georgia, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant-in-Training™ – “My best Phase 2 practice is this: resourcing is not a script—it’s a system. It does not begin with “Calm Place” or “Container,” though those are valuable tools. Resourcing begins the moment a client reaches out for therapy. It is built on the predictability of your response, the clarity of your informed consent, and the steadiness of your scheduling and business practices. It is strengthened through relational safety—how you attune, track affect, and co-regulate. During Phase 1, resourcing deepens as you gather target information while actively protecting the client’s window of tolerance. The client experiences, again and again, “I can approach hard things and stay connected.” By the time you formally introduce Light Stream, Container, or Calm Place, you are not creating safety—you are layering skills onto an already established foundation of safety. The visible techniques are the tip of the iceberg. The first resource is the therapeutic relationship itself.”
*** Renee (Rivki) Jungreis, LCSW, New York, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™
*** Annie Kuni Melman, LMFT, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist ™ – “I’ve found that for visually minded clients it can be helpful to have a picture to associate with a positive feeling state for easier access. For example, during Phase 2 the client might list the positive feeling they want to access as “confidence”, the visual for that would be a “warm glowing ball in their chest”, and then pairing that visual and the somatic feeling with slow BLS sets (similar to calm place). Sometimes this will naturally come up during Phase 4 reprocessing/desensitization rather than in Phase 2. For example, a client naturally having the positive feeling of “relaxation and calm” towards the end of a reprocessing set, pairing that with the visual they stated of “ice melting,” and then using this as an exercise to close out the session or for client to access as a resource outside of sessions.”
*** Nancy Lasater, LCSW, North Carolina, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “Phase two is not a one-size-fits-all. Every client has strengths and weaknesses when it comes to their imaginary abilities, their felt sense of safety and comfort with the therapist, and their history of positive experiences with people, activities, and objects. So, we as EMDR therapists need to customize the resourcing exercises for every client. How do we do that?
- First: We explain how these resourcing exercises will serve them during the memory processing phase in two ways: shifting their emotional and mental states and being able to observe their memories while not being absorbed by them.
- Second: We collect an extensive menu of resourcing exercises that address these two functions. This menu offers exercises for highly imaginative clients, concrete-thinking, skeptical clients, and hesitant, avoidant clients.
*** Rainier McCall, LMHC, Florida, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™
*** Paula Merucci, LCSW, Illinois, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist,™ Approved Consultant,™ and Trainer™
*** Ashley Orbanus, LPC, Pennsylvania, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “Phase 2 is more than just ‘safe place’ and ‘container.’ It’s about working with clients to develop skills and strategies unique to their individual self that promotes emotional tolerance and pave the way for learning how to increase autonomic regulation to handle what needs to be processed. There should not be a timeframe on these developments; time should be focused on the effectiveness, as well as the accessibility under stress of the tools and strategies that are created to ensure processing capability. Resourcing is a significant foundational piece of EMDR therapy and should be treated as such. Get creative too, think outside the standard therapy box.”
*** Charity O’Reilly, LPC, Pennsylvania, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “I find providing clients with written or recorded resources they can continue to use is very helpful during Phase 2. For example, I developed a workbook for my intensive clients where they can either write or draw about their container, their peaceful place, and their allies for later practice. I’ve also made lots of video and audio recordings of these for clients. If you feel like you don’t have time for that, it can be done during session. With the client’s permission, when you are walking them through a visualization of using one of their resources, you can record it right on their phone for them to use in the future. Of course don’t record sensitive, confidential, or activating information. This can be a wonderful way for clients to practice using their resources.”
*** Magaly Passos-Hoke, LMFT, Illinois, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “After completing all recommended resourcing. I typically use a memory with low SUD (1-2) as a resource for the client’s system. I have found that when I do that, the client’s system feels safer towards the process of EMDR. Also, using the flash technique at this phase to strengthen the client’s system.”
*** Eslia Yesenia Pérez Pernillo, Psych, Guatemala City, Guatemala – “1.Trust in the person’s AIP and the strength they have gained over time in life. 2. Ask about the strategies the person uses regularly to calm down and assess whether they are appropriate. 3. Listening to appropriate music is a very powerful resource to promote the change of emotional state or the state of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), as you think it is best explained. 4. Ask and inform about the practices that we sometimes have and that are harmful. For example: assertively choosing the multimedia content they consume. 5. Make sure the person gets the information they need about therapy, has a functional support network, and knows they can care for themselves between sessions.”
*** Megan Quigley, LCSW, Oregon, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “My best Phase 2 tip is simple: do all the resourcing. Guiding clients through a wide range of resourcing exercises gradually builds our own confidence as EMDR clinicians and helps us better understand what exercises work best to help each of our clients regulate. Some of our clients may surprise us by responding more strongly to somatic or breath-based resourcing than imagery, and that variability is normal—not a sign we are doing it wrong. I also keep a notecard for each client listing specific resourcing exercises and support figures, so I can reference those during or after reprocessing.”
*** Amanda Roberson, LPC, Oregon, USA – “In phase 2, I work with clients to create a simple visual of their window of tolerance—the range where they feel calm, present, and able to cope. I ask them to draw and describe what it feels like to be inside that window, as well as what happens when they move into hyperarousal (fight or flight) or hypoarousal (freeze or submit). This gives them a clear, concrete picture of how their nervous system responds to stress and helps build awareness of their different states. Additionally, I provide education about trauma responses and explain how the nervous system works in an understandable way. We also brainstorm adaptive coping strategies they can use to either decrease or increase energy, depending on their need. Over time, this helps clients expand their window of tolerance, build hope for change, and feel more confident in their ability to understand and regulate their nervous system.”
*** Jennifer Starlight Rojas, LMFT, California, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant-in-Training™ – “When dealing with complex PTSD, some clients can be in phase 2 for a great number of sessions, but don’t give up and don’t lose patience. Stay patient and keep building readiness. Some clients are not yet resourced enough to process trauma safely. I have worked with clients who did not feel ready for EMDR reprocessing until after a year of weekly sessions focused on coping skills, containment strategies, emotional regulation, and strengthening the therapeutic relationship and sense of safety. When we transitioned into reprocessing, the work often moved more efficiently, and shifts in beliefs and perceptions became more noticeable from session to session. Phase 2 is where you build the foundation that makes Phase 3 tolerable, effective, and sustainable.”
*** Rebekah Taylor, LCSW, LICSW, Arizona, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant-in-Training™ – “One of the most important best practices in Phase 2 is: don’t rush it. Phase 2 is not a formality or a brief stabilization stop on the way to reprocessing — it is foundational. The quality of preparation directly impacts the safety, efficiency, and depth of Phases 3–8. When Phase 2 is done well, Phase 3 unfolds with greater clarity, containment, and momentum. When it is rushed, therapy often circles back to stabilization. Preparation is not a delay — it is what makes reprocessing possible.”
*** Perrin Turk, LCSW, Colorado, USA – “I like to address attachment wounding in Phase 2 to build emotional safety for younger parts prior to beginning reprocessing. I’ve started training in Shirley Jean Schmidt’s Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS), which incorporates identifying and vetting internal Resources and creating a Special Safe Place for wounded parts to hang out when they’re not receiving direct care from Resources. Each identified wounded part, in turn, is offered an opportunity to share its story and receive compassion, connection, and validation from the Resources. This empowers clients to recognize their own abilities to be there for younger parts of themselves, and provides a structure to use with overwhelmed parts. It’s also important to me to build a strong therapeutic rapport; consider the client’s preferences and felt readiness; and identify various strengths, skills, and external resources that a client feels comfortable relying on if challenges arise during or after reprocessing. My EMDR training encouraged assessing client readiness for reprocessing through evaluating their ability to identify and feel emotions, trust in the process of EMDR therapy, and to return to their Window of Tolerance following activation/being triggered. Together, these practices support a solid foundation for Phase 3 readiness.”
*** Elizabeth Warson, PhD, Colorado, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ and Approved Consultant™ – “One Phase 2 best practice I share with colleagues and consultees is to treat resourcing as an ongoing, creative process rather than simply stabilization or preparation for reprocessing. Phase 2 can be woven in at any point in EMDR therapy to strengthen regulation and expand a client’s circle of capacity (Malchiodi, 2023). Go beyond standard bilateral stimulation (BLS) by integrating movement, artmaking, rhythm, or sound. For example, clients might alternate tapping while drawing a protective figure, use bilateral drumming to embody strength, or hum with gentle side-to-side movement to anchor calm. These multimodal approaches engage the nervous system more fully and often make resources feel embodied rather than conceptual. Tailor the method to the client’s interests, culture, and developmental needs. When resourcing is experiential, flexible, and relevant, it becomes a living toolkit clients can access inside and outside of session. – Malchiodi, C. A. (2023). Trauma‑informed expressive arts therapy. In C. A. Malchiodi (Ed.), Handbook of expressive arts therapy (pp. 142–154). The Guilford Press.
*** Kathryn White, LPC, Colorado, USA, EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ – “I do a lot of work with clients healing their attachment wounds so one of my go-to Phase 2 practices is working with clients to increase self-compassion through connecting to the qualities of their True Self and/or an Ideal Parent(s) (I.e., loving, calm, curious) and imagining introducing the True Self and/or Ideal Parent(s) to their younger self.”
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Additional Resources
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- Search for an EMDR Training Provider
- Check out our EMDR Training FAQ
Date
March 20, 2026
Practice & Methods
Your EMDR Practice
