Brainspotting Therapy

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting (BSP) is a rather new revelation. It was discovered by accident by David Grand, Ph.D. in 2003, while in the process of developing a new form of EMDR, called Natural Flow EMDR. Briefly, EMDR is a psychotherapy treatment approach, also known as, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

This discovery gave David a whole new perspective on the brain-body connection. Brainspotting is used to find points in one’s visual field that help to access unprocessed trauma which is located in the subcortical brain.  The brain activity happening within the subcortical brain organizes itself around this eye position, giving the client assess to these “files”. Files of our past, unprocessed trauma. By spotting these points and these ‘files’, we are able to untangle all the unprocessed emotions contributing to the years of symptoms caused by trauma, PTSD, attachment issues, abuse, and many other trauma-based situations.

How does it work?

Dr. David believes in the body’s ability to do its own self-scanning and self-healing.

Brainspotting is a brain-based tool that helps the therapist-client relationship. The therapist gains access to both brain and body processes with the goal of accessing the subcortical (deep) emotional and body-based parts of the brain and bypassing the neocortical (conscious) thinking part of the brain. It’s the deep brain that we need to access to start digesting all the unprocessed emotions.

BSP through the use of eye positions helps the therapist locate, focus, process, and release a range of emotionally and bodily-based conditions. We call these “brainspots”. When a spot is activated, the deep brain sends a reflexive signal which the therapist and client learn to identify through the use of body-scans. It can also be used with the enhancement of BioLateral Sound CDs.

Brainspotting is a great therapeutic tool and is often integrated with many healing modalities, such as reiki, acupuncture, herbal therapy, chiropractic care, nutrition counseling,

Who can it help?

Brainspotting is extremely effective. It can be used with a variety of emotional and somatic conditions, such as trauma-based situations. It helps reveal the underlying reasons why one may be battling with symptoms of anxiety, depression and/or other behavioral conditions.

It is also good for performance and creativity enhancement.

Does Brainspotting Really Work?

Trauma is often – though not always – related to more than one event. For example, consider someone who has felt repeated abandonment or grew up with a mentally ill parent or addict. They may have developmental trauma from the long-term stress they experienced.

Brainspotting is different from many other forms of therapy because it allows patients to dig deeper into their trauma sources. More traditional treatments – like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – don’t always free patients from chronic symptoms that stem from trauma. Instead, individuals often have to repeatedly work on the same issues, which can be frustrating and difficult. It’s easy to lose hope in this type of situation.

Brainspotting addresses the root of the problem so you can release the trauma and heal from it for good. Your body may remember traumatic events even if your mind does not. Brainspotting therapy can effectively help you release emotions that are stuck and heal from physical pain manifested over time.

BSP is also more flexible than many other therapies, allowing therapists to adapt their techniques based on individuals’ unique needs, leading to faster and deeper results. Another benefit for many patients is that it requires little communication with the therapist.

If you’ve tried other forms of therapy but haven’t experienced the relief you need, consider trying brainspotting. In addition to helping with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, it can be a highly effective way to treat:

  • Insomnia
  • Phobias
  • Chronic stress
  • Fear of public speaking
  • Chronic pain
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Addictions
  • Dealing with an abusive past
  • Self-destructive patterns
  • Attention deficit disorder (ADD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

How Will I Feel After Brainspotting?

During your treatment, you may feel some heaviness as you identify brainspots. But that’s where the healing begins. As you address your trauma and release negative emotions trapped inside you, you’ll feel a weight lifted from your shoulders.

After a session, you may feel tired, have mental fog, emotional, or lightheaded – like you would after a typical therapy session. Everyone’s body and emotional responses to therapy are different, but you will likely feel fatigued as well as relieved.

After you’ve released past traumas, you should feel empowered. You’re no longer a victim of your emotions. You’re in control of them. You should feel confident and resilient. You may also be more aware of yourself – your thoughts and feelings – so you can more effectively deal with stress in your body when facing future stressors.

What are Some Possible Side Effects of Brainspotting?

Fortunately, there are no adverse side effects like there are with many medications. Brainspotting therapy is a healthy way to process pain and traumatic events so you can retrain your emotional responses and heal from past trauma.

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Case Study – Brainspotting Therapy: About a Bataclan Victim