Resiliency
Written by Crystal Yeager
What does it mean to be resilient? Does it mean pushing through even though you are struggling? Does it mean not recognizing your feelings or casting these feelings aside? Resiliency also represents striving to represent and show strength on behalf of giving the space for others to be weak.
The definition of resilience from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. Or the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.”
If we attribute these definitions to the actions and emotions of a person, we see someone who has been through a traumatic event and is able to recover from this event quickly. Most people who are seen as resilient are making or hiding true emotions. A person needs to have the space and support to allow a level of vulnerability to express emotions, to heal. This could look like relying on a support system, allowing help from others, or seeking clinician/therapeutic intervention.
Resilience Therapy is A therapeutic technique that focuses on a person’s strength. “Resilience therapy is a strength-based treatment model of care that applies research on resilience to help clients cope with trauma and challenges. Resilience therapy involves relational psychotherapy, EMDR therapy, somatic therapy, and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Resilience therapy also aims to build rapport and empower marginalized communities with non-traditional, holistic approaches (Schwartz, (2021).
References:
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Resilience definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster.