Brainspotting
Where you look affects how you feel!
Discovered in 2003 by David Grand, Ph.D. Brainspotting (BSP) locates points in the visual field that help to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain.
“Brainspotting was voted the most effective trauma treatment by the parents and survivors of the Sandy Hook massacre after a five-year study comparing over 25 therapeutic modalities. The parents ranked it first in its effectiveness in treating the traumatic loss of their young children.”
How Does Brainspotting work?
BSP works through accessing your limbic system and taps into and harnesses the body’s natural self-scanning, self-healing ability. When a Brainspot is stimulated, the deep brain appears to reflexively signal the therapist that the source of the problem has been found.
Based on neurobiological findings that the brain can heal itself, with Brainspotting, many people experience relief from traumatic experiences such as:
accidents,
early attachment difficulties,
childhood abuse,
loss of loved ones,
bullying,
unexpected life changes, etc.
anxiety,
flashbacks,
chronic pain,
chronic illnesses,
hopelessness,
depression,
mood swings,
dissociation.
Designed as a therapeutic tool, BSP can be integrated into many healing modalities.
Why Choose Brainspotting
Brainspotting can not only heal the past, but also enhance performance, creativity, and spirituality!
What is a Brainspotting Session like
In a typical talk therapy session, the client usually shares about whatever they’re experiencing, with the therapist asking questions, supporting them in enhancing self-insight, reframing perspectives, or teaching new skills. However, the benefits of talk therapy can be limited if the client gets so emotionally triggered outside of session that they forget whatever they learned in session.
Brainspotting Therapy involves the therapist intentionally giving space for the client to process out emotional reactions as they come up in session, instead of just talking about them.
For example, if the client is feeling a knot in their stomach at the thought of giving a presentation, the Brainspotting therapist asks them to notice what thoughts, emotions, and body sensations they’re feeling now, then prompts them to find a specific Brainspot/eye position where the client feels it all more directly.
Once the Brainspot is found, the client directs their full attention on whatever is happening inside of them, while the therapist directs their full attention on the client from the outside. The Brainspotting process continues until the client has fully processed the issue or until session time comes to an end.
Since Brainspotting is a subcortical, deep-brained rapid processing method, the client may feel emotionally exhausted afterwards (think of each Brainspotting experience as equivalent to 10+ talk therapy sessions!). The client’s body will also likely be continuing processing for whatever else is left. In the following session, the therapist checks in on what emotional residues seem to remain with the topic, and continue Brainspotting as needed or desired.