Resource Therapy in Melbourne
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What Resource Therapy Is
Resource Therapy is a modern, parts-work-based therapy developed by Australian psychologist Professor Gordon Emmerson. It is built on the understanding that our personality is not just one single “mind.” Instead, our psyche is made up of various parts, known as Resource States.
At any given moment, a specific part of us is “online” and running the show. For example, you have a Resource State for working, a state for socialising, and a state for relaxing.
However, some of our parts can become stuck in negative patterns due to past stress or trauma. This is where we experience internal conflict, such as:
- An anxious part that overreacts to minor stressors.
- A critical part that judges your every move.
- An avoidant part that uses procrastination to protect you from failure.
Unlike traditional therapies that try to talk you out of these feelings, Resource Therapy works by communicating directly with the specific part of you that is distressed.
By identifying which “Resource” is hurting, anxious, or acting out, we can help that specific part release its old burdens. This resolves internal conflict at its source, allowing your parts to work together in a calm, healthy, and harmonious way.
To be clear: Resource therapy is individual work about your own internal system. It is not family or couples counselling, even though the name can suggest otherwise. Our psychologists have completed Resource therapy training and integrate it within a broader, evidence-based treatment approach. Read more about our integrative approach to therapy and how we combine IFS with other methods where it helps.
Understanding "Parts Work"
Parts Work (practised through the lens of Resource Therapy) is an approach that helps you understand the different “parts” of your personality, referred to as your “Resource States.” These are the distinct parts of you that handle different areas of your life, such as the part that criticises, the part that avoids, or the part that strives for perfection.
Rather than viewing these internal voices as conflicts to be suppressed, Resource Therapy helps you connect directly with these parts to understand why they exist and how they are trying to protect you. By addressing the specific part of you that is hurting, anxious, or overwhelmed, we can resolve internal conflict at its source, helping your various parts work together in a calm, harmonious, and supportive way.
No part is bad. Every part is trying to help, even when its methods cause problems. If “parts” sounds unusual, most people find that the language becomes intuitive within a session or two.
How Parts Work session works
Parts work sessions are conversational. This is generally integrated into other therapeutic approaches, e.g., EMDR and ACT. Your psychologist guides your attention inward so you can notice a part and how it relates to the rest of you, always at your own pace.
What it is not: there is no lying on a couch, no forced re-living of memories, and no hypnosis. Sessions typically run 50 minutes, in an individual format, with in-person and telehealth options and full confidentiality.
What Parts Work Can Help With
- Anxiety and overthinking
- Self-criticism and perfectionism
- Trauma and childhood wounds
- Depression and emotional numbness
- Relationship patterns that keep repeating
- Inner conflict and indecision
- Emotional eating or other coping behaviours
Parts work and Trauma Recovery
Parts work is gentle for trauma because it works with protective parts first and never forces contact with painful material before you are ready. This makes it a natural complement to our broader trauma and PTSD counselling, particularly for complex PTSD, where trauma developed over time within relationships rather than from a single event.
Parts work has a growing evidence base and is used widely in trauma treatment internationally. As with any therapy, results vary by person, and your psychologist will discuss what a realistic pace and outcome might look like for you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
This varies by person and by what you are working through. Your psychologist will discuss a realistic timeframe once they understand your goals.