Tapping In: A Step-by-Step Guide to Activating Your Healing Resources Through Bilateral Stimulation

by Laurel Parnell

Never has it been so effortless to activate your inner power and resilience than with the remarkable technique known as "resource tapping." Tapping In makes available for the first time a self-guided program for learning this revolutionary EMDR-related method.

With step-by-step instruction in bilateral stimulation (a core component of EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Tapping In teaches you a clinically recognized system for tapping both sides of the body to overcome trauma, boost confidence, calm the body on a deep, physiological level, and to respond better to stress.

Join world-renowned EMDR expert Dr. Laurel Parnell as she shares a series of easy-to-learn exercises to access your "latent positive resources"―your neurological foundation for internal resilience and stability.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Counselling, Health, Social Work

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Tinea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have written about this book in a three-part blog post on Do-It-Yourself EMDR.

Preliminary Report || Initial Reportback 1 || Initial Reportback 2

excerpted from Reportback 1:
In short, as you undergo a traumatic experience, the left part of your brain, the analytical part, shuts down to allow your emotional/sensory and instinctual/movement parts to take over. This is a protective move that allows for quick, reflective action based on rapid assessment of your surroundings.

Unfortunately, this can result in post-traumatic stress symptoms later on if these memories are not integrated into your analytical, narrative left brain. When you come across something that reminds your subconscious of the sensory memories of the trauma, a “trigger,” your brain reacts as if the trauma is still taking place, real time. The left brain shuts down again and one is plunged back into sensory overload and reflexive reaction. When you are not actually in a dangerous situation, experiencing traumatic stress reactions can be everything from embarrassing to unlivable. With time, many people will find ways to reintegrate or “get over” the memory and triggers. But often, and especially with particular forms of trauma (like sexual assault or political repression) or long-term exposure (like abuse or combat duty), the post-traumatic stress symptoms stick with you, turning into post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition that sucks very very much.

Different methods exist to get through triggers and reintegrate traumatic memories, lessening their hold on your body. ... One method that I have been trying lately is Bilateral Stimulation. This is a weirdly technical idea: literally, stimulate both sides of your body by alternately tapping left and right (on your feet, thighs, or shoulders for example) while you think about something. By physically touching or moving both sides of your body, you force both sides of your brain to stay engaged. Your left brain does not check out, and memories are integrated, strengthened, more fully experienced in the present.

[These posts and this book then go into detail explaining ways to apply bilateral stimulation, tapping, to heal from trauma.]

[Alvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another must-read book in my collection of work-related topics. As a budding EMDR therapist, this book provided a lot of practical guidance for resource development that I’ve immediately incorporated into my practice. But this also has great value to the layperson to help develop skills to better deal with feelings of depression and anxiety.

[Maricarmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this all in one sitting. Recommended by my therapist and it’s amazing.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly thought tapping was complete hooey. I loved this book, the narration, the purpose, the tools provided, the ease with which a person can follow, and the potential for peace this information gives.

[Liz Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a relatively new EMDR trained therapist, this book was referred to me by a consultant. I really appreciated the science of tapping explored at the beginning of this book. It helped me to understand EMDR even more. "Tapping in" explores countless resources that can be used by yourself or with clients. Half way through, the book became very redundant as far as the steps of how to tap in. This will definitely be a book I refer to when working with clients.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an easy easy resource! Everyone should do this! Now I will caveat and say that this author’s spiritual guidance is not Christian, so you have to filter yourself. But the practice itself is amazingly easy and accessible for something so effective.

[Azure · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept with some smart science behind it; however, it's a painfully redundant book. Positive visualizations and bilateral tapping of the legs is basically the method of each chapter

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great overview of using bilateral stimulation techniques for better mental health. The author provided useful clinical information and guided meditative exercises with many examples of how to use these techniques in real-life situations. I participated in counseling using EMDR about a year ago, and this book was a great addition to that positive experience. I thought the author did a great job of explaining how the techniques in the book are similar to and different from EMDR therapy. I don't usually listen to audio books, but this one worked really well in that format. It was easy to follow and actively listen.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have said, this book is more of a reference book once you get the gist of it. Read the first bit then find what resources you want to tap in, doing those meditations, and then move onto whatever calls to you next in the book. Some of it was very repetitive with a step by step followed by a guided meditation. I'm glad she stopped doing that very quickly, but it was unnecessary from the beginning, I think. All told, I look forward to turning to this book for inspiration when I'm in need of a new resource to tap in. I'm finding the practice very interesting as I try new types of things to tap in as I need them.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Christian, I can't get on board with the author's bent towards Buddhism; however, I don't want to "throw the baby out with the bath water" either. The basic principles of resourcing can be applied regardless of one's religious beliefs. Though this book is a bit repetitive, I believe it will be useful in helping clients to reduce anxiety. As a Christian counselor, I plan to incorporate the Bible as I guide clients through activating their resources.

[Andrew Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource and companion to my EMDR Therapy. This gave me a lot of great ideas for resourcing and I will be marking up this book with all sorts of Post It Notes for quick reference. Being that I only meet with my EMDR Therapist once a week, this will allow me to bolster that work in between sessions, making my actual sessions more productive and diverse. Highly recommend for anyone considering or currently working with EMDR.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75- I enjoyed the first half of the book and thought her writing of various resourcing activities with tapping was great. The second half of the book was ridiculously redundant and could certainly have been shortened. I have been trained in EMDR and love tapping and bilateral stimulation and have seen how helpful it is in the therapeutic setting.

[Rose Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to learn how to teach one's self in bi-lateral stimulation by the use of resource tapping. In this book one creates resources such as protective figures, guardian figures and so forth. The skills learned in this book can help one with many problems and help people to gain a sense of balance and stability.

[Roben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important concept shared. Tapping is a technique I now use - effective. Use the book as a resource. The content is redundant, but after reading it over a year, I realize that repetition is needed to integrate as a habit. Chapter Seventeen was most helpful to me.

[Annika Seitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great self-help book for anyone who is looking to develop coping skills or resources for EMDR therapy, as well as a great resource for clinicians to use with clients, whether you move on to EMDR reprocessing or not.

[Cathy Olson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, repetitive with the tapping in instructions. Could have provided the instructions and then just talked about the different subject matters. A couple helpful tidbits obtained, but not really worth the time.

[Bri Crist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would probably be closer to a 3.5/5. Great resource especially if someone wants to learn more about EMDR. Gets very redundant with its guides although the guides are very helpful and shows people the vast amounts of uses for resource tapping.

[Lyda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful step by step guide into Resource tapping with bilateral stimulation. I only knew tapping through the EMDR technique and now I have more resources and ways to utilize tapping into my healing journey! I recommend reading it.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one for learning resourcing and better understanding using protective figures. I think this would be a good coping skill book for clinicians and non clinicians that want to feel more peaceful.

[Mary Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read most of it. Generally helpful.

[Linda Yan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good although a bit basic reference for EMDR resourcing. But I enjoyed the audiobook version and like the fact that I could recommend the audiobook to clients as self-guided resourcing.

[Jill Sumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful

[Joclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great guide, but still need a professional therapist to walk me through it! It's great so far.

[Rebecca]

Really interesting. I don’t know how it works but it does.

[Jillybb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derived from hypnosis but doesn’t acknowledge this.” Still, a good read.

[Tianjiao Dai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the Audiobook. It was okay. Now I don’t quite remember everything it talked about, only that it reminded me of Harry Potter a lot - like surrounding yourself with good memories etc.

[Mayra Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Highly redundant. Chapters offered very few new information. Not worth finishing.

[Lindsey Hawkins Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a therapist who uses EMDR in my practice, and I got so much out of this book. I've already begun using this technique with some of my clients. I highly recommend this book.

[KS Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many practical and approachable techniques. I can feel that I need much practice but the steps are clear and I have hope.