ABSTRACT
Resourcing increases functionality or efficacy across the whole lifespan. It is also the ability to turn one's attention back to, and align with, inner deep-seated core strengths when things become difficult; to re-establish, re-connect, re-source the resilience we were 'given'. Therapy potentially strengthens, restores and repairs connection to this innate capacity through the unique experience of the therapeutic relationship. This chapter considers some of the key processes in the therapeutic relationship which increase core strength, and cultivate a more spacious and less restrictive, insecure identity. Sensitive empathic communication is a key defining and resourcing factor in the therapeutic relationship. Self-awareness is the foundation for self-regulation, and is a significant part of therapy. Self-regulation relates to the capacity to ease, relax/soften turbulences in the feeling and thinking dimensions, and the correlating somatic activations. Love in the therapeutic relationship, is expressed in a number of ways, and is a combining or blending of agape, philia and eros.
