In the world we live in today, research has proven that many folks are struggling with their mental health. People living with mental illness are at a higher risk of experiencing anxiety and depression at twice the general population's rate.
Traditional therapy has been the go-to solution for anyone who has felt like they need professional counseling. Usually, you will get a counselor to agree on a meet-up time and place. You will get a safe and confidential space to air out your problems with a qualified therapist in a counseling room.
However, there are other ways to work through your mental health issues and feel better, such as Brainspotting (BSP). While still relatively unknown to most people, Brainspotting Therapy has become one of the fastest growing areas in mental health because it has proven that it can immediately address issues that traditional talk therapy can take an extended period to heal.
What is Brainspotting Therapy?
Brainspotting therapy is a revolutionary new therapy that promotes mental health, psychological trauma healing, and psychological wellness. Its focus is on identifying, processing, and releasing trauma, mental health imbalances, and residual emotional stress.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which typically specializes in a one-on-one private conversation between a therapist and a client to help a client's mental health, a brainspotting therapy session is an effective treatment procedure that enables people to quickly and ultimately heal from trauma.
Brainspotting helps you understand trauma and eliminates the constraints that trauma leaves behind. It is established on the belief that "where you look affects how you feel" and perceives that eye positions correspond with unconscious emotional experiences.
Brainspotting therapy gets to parts of the brain that are generally not accessible in traditional talk therapy and most other therapy categories.
Brainspotting locates points in the client's visual field that help process unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain. When you focus on an eye position related to a troubling issue, you release emotional and physical stress.
History of Brainspotting
Brainspotting was discovered in 2003 by David Grand PhD. It evolved from his original work - Natural Flow EMDR, which he developed based on EMDR, somatic experiencing, relational and insight-oriented therapy. Dr. Grand discovered brainspotting during an EMDR session with one of his psychotherapeutic clients, a prominent award-winning skater in New York.
She had victoriously pulled off every athletic move except for one particular intricate movement.
As her therapist, Dr. Grand ventured into EMDR Sessions with her. He moved his finger back and forth in front of the client's visual field, as is typical with EMDR sessions, and asked her to follow his fingers with her eyes.
Dr. Grand discovered that her eyes wobbled back and forth at a particular spot. He stopped moving his fingers back and forth at the point in space where her eyes shook and asked her to hold her gaze.
At that moment, she began speaking about a previously undisclosed trauma. She detailed a history of sorrow and pain connected to the event, tears rolling down her eyes and an overflow of emotions. In that particular session, the client offloaded the details of her trauma. A few days later, she managed to successfully perform the movement, which had been difficult to perform - not once but 22 times in a row.
Dr. Grand realized that he had made a discovery - a new psychotherapy technique that was healing and transformative. He immediately tried on his other clients and continued to see tremendous results. He asked some of his colleagues to try the method, giving the same breakthrough. That was the birth of Brainspotting!
What is the Brainspot?
The brainspot is the eye position that connects to the capsule containing the traumatic experience and brings it to light where it can be processed and cured. A therapist helps in identifying your brainspot. By doing this, you target an area of focused activation in your brain directly related to the matter in question.
So you focus on that brainspot and notice your body sensations; you can process negative emotions to help rewire your brain to influence effective change in your thinking and feelings. There are three ways to identify a brainspot:
The therapist scans a client's visual field with a pointer rod while looking for reflexive markers in the eyes, face, and body.
Therapists ask the client where they experience the most stimulation by following the therapist's finger horizontally then vertically.
Therapists observe where a client gazes as they release their emotions.
Brainspotting Therapists
A certified brainspotting practitioner has completed both brainspotting phases 1 and 2 and at least 50 hours of direct brainspotting practice with clients and has completed six hours of individual consultation with an approved brainspotting consultant.
Brainspotting is for everyone! If you are sick of speaking about issues, but are still dealing with symptoms or have tried other therapy approaches with no evident results, brainspotting therapists can take you to the next level. Feel free to seek help through consultation with a therapist trained in BSP to experience life-changing results. To get a trained therapist, you can search online directories of therapists who practice brainspotting.
Brainspotting Trainings
Brainspotting training in intensive - it has four phases:
Phase 1 - Brainspotting Phase 1 is the introductory level where therapists learn the basics of brainspotting, the definition of concepts techniques, and how to apply brainspotting to trauma, dissociation, e.t.c.
Phase 2 - Brainspotting Phase 2 begins with a large-scale review of the outside window and inside window brainspotting and gaze spot, emphasizing how to associate with clients medically.
Phase 3 - Brainspotting BSP phase 3 involves three days of training. The first two days are dedicated to the most recently developed brainspotting approaches, with day three dedicated to BSP and performance and creativity. Master Class, The master class is a chance for brainspotting therapists to learn how Dr. Grand uses this technique in his office.
Phase 4 - This is state-of-the-art training in brainspotting! This training presents three video analyses of client sessions conducted by Dr. Grand and those printed by training members.
How Does Brainspotting Work?
Brainspotting is built on the theory that feelings from unprocessed trauma can become stuck in the body leading to physical and mental illness. According to Grand, the brain's memory of a particular trauma is reset in the body and subcortical brain through BSP therapy.
Brainspotting BSP uses a person's visual field to locate clear-cut areas in your brain where you have stored trauma or a negative experience. Together, the client and therapist identify an eye position corresponding to the unprocessed trauma event in the subcortical brain. As the client holds this eye position, it naturally and quickly opens the client's access to their brain's self-healing ability puts together any unprocessed pieces of the traumatic event.
Dr. Grand says that brainspotting BSP lets the therapist and the client participate in the healing process. It allows the therapists to control your brain's natural ability of self-scanning to activate, locate and process the sources of hidden trauma in your body. Eye movements around the client's visual field typically find places that give a feeling of discomfort or anger. Before looking for the eye position, therapists clarify what is being addressed.
"Where you look affects how you feel"
Sounds true because different eye positions hold enormous unconscious information waiting to be consolidated. Attunement in all therapies aids in healing. In brainspotting, there is dual attunement which is both neurobiological and interpersonal. With the help of a pointer, therapists trained in BSP slowly guide the eyes of the client in therapy across the visual field to find a relevant eye position that activates trauma or pain.
Dr. Grand created BIOlateral music designed to be part of brainspotting therapy. Many clients find it calming while intensifying access to the midbrain for deeper clarification. Your therapist will advise if this process works well with your brain during your first session.
Conditions Treatable by Brainspotting Therapy
Brainspotting therapy sessions have proven to be highly effective all-around in issues affecting you personally and professionally. The following conditions are treatable with BSP therapies:
Developmental Trauma
PTSD and Complex Trauma
Athletic and professional performance
Public speaking
Stress
Self-sabotage and unhealthy patterns
Anxiety and depression
Insomnia and sleep issues
Habit change
ADHD and ADD
Substance abuse and addictions
Chronic pain
Chronic fatigue
Anger and emotional regulation
Health issues
History of emotional regulation
Health issues
Phobias and fears
Low self-esteem
OCD
Effectiveness of Brainspotting Therapy Lakewood
Brainspotting is still a new technique undergoing research. However, it is more effective than EMDR and CBT, following that patients have continued to get better even after treatment.
Brainspotting takes up to six sessions instead of EMDR, which takes eight or ten sessions.
Based on Dr. Grand's research, participants have experienced a reduction in PTSD, anxiety, and depression within a few sessions. Clients have also reported reducing pain, less painful memories, increased energy, and better sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions on Brainspotting
Does Brainspotting Work?
Brainspotting is one of the most effective therapies to be studied. It engages your deep-seated drive to let out sensory, residue, and underdetermined experiences. It opens you up to new insights and improved overall health.
What Happens In a Brainspotting Session?
During a brainspotting session, the therapist will work with you to identify an issue you need to be resolved. As you focus on the issue, you will notice how you feel, sense, and react to the issue in your mind and from your body movements. The therapist will identify the eye position associated with the issue, which opens the door to healing.
How Many Sessions are Needed for the Therapy To Be Effective?
Every person and situation is unique. Sessions vary from person to person. Some clients have noticed changes within the first session of brainspotting. Most people notice a change within four to eight sessions.
How Is Brainspotting Different from Cognitive Therapy or Traditional Therapy?
Most traditional therapies use a person's thoughts to change feelings, behavior, and experiences. Brainspotting relies on the upper part of the brain to manage and improve the inner and more primitive parts of the brain. This ensures that there is access to the root of the problem.
As A Client, Why Choose Brainspotting?
Brainspotting gets to work right away. It will give you as much as possible in the shortest time possible. You will always get breakthroughs with this therapy. With the help of a therapist, your brain will figure out things for you and solve your issues in its genius.
Why Would a Therapist Train In Brainspotting?
Brainspotting can help therapists upgrade what they do and help clients more quickly and effectively than with conventional talk therapy. It will give them tools that they wouldn't and will increase their knowledge on how to help their clients as it gives you a breakthrough in understanding things.
Final Remarks
In summary, you will find that brainspotting resolves many issues connected to the deep brain and that brainspotting therapy can be a powerful tool to help you get back on track.
Brainspotting is a powerful treatment that works to identify sources of neuropsychological, emotional pain, trauma and body pain, and many other symptoms. Brainspotting therapy requires specialized training. Change Inc. Counseling Services therapists are highly trained in brainspotting - contact us today and let’s talk about how
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