Feel like you have tried everything to address your trauma?
Talk Therapy?
Avoidance?
EMDR?
Physical Exercise?
Meditation?
Substance Use?
Welcome to the healing power of Brainspotting
Brainspotting
Brain Spotting therapy is an alternative therapeutic approach that uses specific points in a person’s visual field to help process trauma. It targets trauma stored in the subcortical brain, the area responsible for movement, emotions, consciousness, and learning.
Developed in 2003 by Dr. David Grand as an extension of his work with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Brain Spotting emerged when Grand observed a client becoming "stuck" in one spot. While focusing on that spot, the client went deeper than before, leading to the creation of this technique.
One key advantage of Brain Spotting is that it allows trauma to be released without the need to “relive” the traumatic experience.
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When beginning therapy with the goal of Brainspotting, it's essential to establish a foundation of trust and safety. This is achieved over several sessions focused on building a strong therapeutic relationship. Doing so helps the client feel secure and enables them to engage in Brainspotting without the distraction of additional stressors.
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Once trust is established and the client feels comfortable and open with the therapist, they can begin identifying the areas they wish to address through Brainspotting. This process may also involve exploring family history and other methods the client has used to cope with or address the trauma.
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At this point, we will begin the Brainspotting process. This may involve bilateral sounds, though it can also be done without them. The focus will be on how emotions are experienced in your body, as this can feel unique to each individual. Once the client is able to identify the emotions within their body the client is considered “activated”.
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Once the client is activated, the therapist will use a pointer to help locate the specific spot in the client’s vision. After identifying the spot, the therapist will create a safe space for the client to process the event and/or emotions. This process varies for each person—some may remain completely silent, while others may talk throughout. There is no right or wrong way to process during this time.
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As the session comes to a close, the therapist will gently guide the client out of focus on the spot by asking specific questions. This process is done with care and intention. During the remaining time, the therapist will debrief with the client, discussing self-care and any potential experiences they may have in the weeks ahead.
How Sessions Go
What can Brainspotting Treat?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD
People with unhealed childhood wounds
Religious and Post Cultic Traumatic Experiences
Anxiety and Phobias
Grief and Loss
People who struggle with relationship and their attachment to others
Depression and negative self-talk
Anger and triggers
Allowing the body to heal like it should!
Brainspotting is based on the idea that trauma-related emotions can become trapped in the body.
Grand referred to this "stuckness" as "frozen maladaptive homeostasis."
Traditional talk therapy is considered a "top-down" therapy, as it addresses problems through the conscious mind.
In contrast, brain-body therapies are "bottom-up," aiming to release physical stress in the body, which in turn helps to release emotional stress.
This IS for you if:
You aren’t sure if this is for you
You want to understand how your childhood affects you now
You can’t let go of the past
You are ready to put effort into changing
You have the financial resources to commit to weekly sessions
You want your self-love and confidence to go up!
You say “should” a lot
You characterize yourself as a people pleaser
You are open to more than talk therapy
You know good things take time
You want to feel more in control of your life
You want to trust and feel safe with your therapist
You are okay with cracking jokes sometimes
This is NOT for you if:
You are not able to prioritize therapy on a weekly basis
You want a quick fix
You want standardized therapy
You are not willing to self-reflect
You are actively using alcohol and substances unsafely
You don’t like the holistic approach
You want to use insurance
You are not willing to talk about your past
You aren’t willing to change yourself
You are not able to take accountability for your actions
You want someone else to do the work for you
You won’t do homework occasionally in between sessions
You don’t want to connect with your therapist
How the Process Works
Consultation
We will connect via phone or video call for 15 to 30 minutes to discuss what you are looking for and how I can help!
2. Schedule an Intake Session
When you choose to move forward with me we will schedule our first session which will be an intake session.
3. Show Up!
The hard part is done! Now all you have to do is show up for session!