In the past, resilience was thought of as an immutable trait: something we’re born with that predetermines how well we can tolerate stress. In reality, Linda Graham explains, “resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity.” It’s something that can be developed with training, like a muscle.
So how do therapists go about strengthening their clients’ resilience “muscles”?
“We build resilience from our experience,” Graham says. “When clients learn from experience, they’re more likely to practice and continue to build that muscle. But they’re also learning that they can learn… Clients learn that they can learn new tools, and that they can become more resilient.”
Linda Graham
Linda Graham, MFT, is an experienced psychotherapist in the San Francisco Bay Area, bestselling author and international speaker. She integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness practices, and relational psychology in her worldwide trainings. She is the author of Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being, winner of the 2013 Books for a Better Life award and the 2014 Better Books for a Better World award. She publishes a monthly e-newsletter, Healing and Awakening into Aliveness and Wholeness and weekly Resources for Recovering Resilience. For more information visit www.lindagraham-mft.net
