Goals:
1. Develop and strengthen specific qualities, abilities, or attributes so the child can increase self-regulation skills.
2. Provide tools for the child to switch from a state of distress to a state of calm and peace.
Materials:
Worksheet, crayon/colors/markers
1. Identify the Resource
• Ask the child to identify an ability that they have. “What is something that you do well?” For example: riding your bike, skateboarding, reading, organizing your toys, arts, crafts, music, painting nails, etc.
• Guide the child to draw a picture of himself/herself doing this activity.
• If possible, make comments related to the process of doing the drawing instead of the final product. For example: “Wow! You are very concentrated while drawing!”
2. Develop the Resource
• Ask the child: “How do you feel when you think about this thing that you do well?” “Where do you feel that in your body?” “What sensations do you have?”
3. Strengthen the Resource
• Guide child to do “Fun Movement” while thinking about the thing they do well: “How are you feeling?” (If positive, initiate more “Fun Movement” to make the positive feeling grow. If negative, find another resource.)
4. Identify a Cue Word
• Ask the child: “What name should we give this drawing so you remember it?” “What do you feel in your body when thinking about your drawing?”
5. Connect Cue Word with Resource
• Ask the child to think about the name of the drawing and the picture of the drawing together to help the brain connect the name and picture together. State: “How do you feel in your body? Let’s do more “Fun Movement.”
6. Encourage Using the Resource
• Tell the child that he/she can think of this drawing in any moment so they remember the things he/she do well.
Additional Ideas:
You can do this activity with a group. Each member can take turns identifying resources and acting them out. They can help each other to identify emotions/sensations and choose “Fun Movements.” Group members can give ideas to one another about abilities they have.
Developing Resources
1.Draw about a time when you felt strong/brave.
2. What emotions do you have when thinking about it?
3. Do some fun movement while you think about it this time.
4. Choose a word that reminds you about these times when you felt strong and brave.
5. Think about your word and your experience and let’s do some “fun movement.”
6. Remember that you can think about this time and feel brave and strong again.
Date
November 14, 2021
Creator(s)
EMDR International Association
Client Population
Children
Practice & Methods
Resourcing
Extent
2 pages
Publisher
EMDR International Association
Rights
Copyright © 2021 EMDR International Association
APA Citation
EMDR International Association. (2021, November 14). Developing resources (EMDRIA children's toolkit) [Client Handout].
Audience
EMDR Therapists, General/Public
Language
English
Content Type
Client Handout
Original Source
EMDRIA Children's Toolkit
Access Type
Members Only