Sensory Experience Memory / Intellectual Memory
There are two types of memory and understanding the nature of these is key to understanding how Resource Therapy techniques work.
- A Sensory Experience Memory is one that, when experienced, the person emotionally re-experiences the original event.
- An Intellectual Memory is one that when recalling an occurrence the emotional experience is not relived.
A Sensory Experience Memory is most normally experienced only closer in time to the event. For example, immediately after experiencing something emotional, good or bad, it is common to relive the emotional experience during recall. As time passes, most Sensory Experience Memories are transformed into Intellectual Memories. Sensory Experience Memories may only be experienced in the longer term when the Resource State that had the original experience is holding the Conscious.
How Sensory Experience Memories relate to Pathology
When a Resource State becomes Vaded the Sensory Experience Memory (SEM) is not transformed over time into an Intellectual Memory (IM). The Vaded State maintains the SEM, probably in an attempt to gain a resolution to the anxiety filled experience, and each time that state comes into the Conscious again, even years later, it re-experiences the SEM. This causes the client to feel out of control and emotionally distraught, often without understanding why. It is most normally the case that the unwanted emotions are experienced without a connection to the Intellectual Memory, therefore the client can feel anxiety, fear, or not good enough without understanding why.
Resource Therapy techniques assist the client to transform the unresolved SEM into an intellectual understanding of safety, support, and empowerment. The SEM is experienced by the Vaded State as if the original occurrence is still happening, so that state needs to gain the emotional calmness that it receives from ‘Emotionally’ understanding that it is now safe and supported. RT Actions are designed precisely to foster this understanding.
How Sensory Experience Memories can be used to Resolve Pathology
Sensory Experience Memories may be used in therapy to:
A SEM can help a State Vaded with Rejection understand that it is lovable.
During the RT Action 5, Introject Speak, the client is asked to take on the persona of the rejecting person from the past and is asked a series of questions about its ability to share unconditional love. The Introject of a person who was seen as rejecting will show a poor ability to share unconditional love, and that is why it is viewed as rejecting by the client. Next, the client is directed to immediately return to the state Vaded with Rejection. The State Vaded with Rejection brings back with it the immediate SEM, the feelings of the rejecting introject with its incapacity to share unconditional love. It becomes clear to the client not feeling loved was not because of being unlovable, it was because the rejecting introject was not good at sharing unconditional love. Using a SEM in this way provides a positive enlightenment to the client.
A SEM can help a Resource State Vaded with Confusion gain an understanding about the dynamic of a relationship. This improved understanding can stop the unwanted rumination.
When Resource States are Vaded with Confusion there is an inability to gain an understanding about the dynamic of a relationship. There is an inability to let something go. The client has an inability to understand how someone my think or feel. By using RT Action 9, the Changing Chairs Introject Action, the client can sit in the chair of the Introject involved in the confusion, then upon returning to the client’s chair, the SEM fosters a better clarity and enables the client to feel less confused.
A SEM can help a Resource State that has Retro Behavior decide it can be appreciated by taking on new non-Retro behavior.
Retro States behave in a manner that other states do not like. When speaking directly with a Retro State it will often say it will not change, cannot change, or it could never be liked by other states no matter what it might do. The Retro state does not have an experienced of being liked and appreciated by other states and believes it could never be. The following sequence can help a Retro State want to change unwanted behavior to desired behavior.
- Decide on a new behavior where the purpose of the state can be achieved in a manner that all other states will appreciate.
- Speak with the state that brought the client to therapy and make sure that state approves the new behavior and speak directly to the Retro state saying it will like that state if it takes on the new behavior.
- Speak again to the Retro State, and at this time it will be willing to change its behavior because it will hold the immediate SEM of being liked by the other state. This proof of being appreciated is very compelling to a state that has not been liked, so it becomes willing to take on the positive behavior, thus becoming non-Retro, as it no longer carries out behavior that other states do not like.