On Internal & External Resources

Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or unsure how to navigate something hard. Sometimes it’s a big transition, such as becoming a parent, starting over in a new city, or grieving the loss of a relationship or identity. Sometimes it’s the slow, invisible buildup of stress that comes from long hours, isolation, burnout, or trying to hold too much for too long. Sometimes it’s the residue of trauma, still living in the body and shaping how we move through the world.

When I sit with folks navigating these moments, one thing we often explore is resourcing—what supports you when things feel hard?

Resourcing is the set of tools, practices, people, and internal cues that help regulate your nervous system, reconnect you to your body, and bring you back to a sense of steadiness (or at least survivability). You can think of them like items in a metaphorical backpack, things you can reach for when you're feeling activated, anxious, or numb.

We typically categorize these i…