Brainspotting
Brainspotting (BSP) is a powerful treatment modality developed in 2003 by David Grand, Ph.D., psychotherapist and former EMDR trainer, in his work providing trauma treatment to hundreds of 9/11 survivors. Today, many therapists are using the approach as it is proving to be an effective form of treatment for a variety of mental health concerns, and especially for trauma.
"Where You Look
Affects How You Feel"
David Grand, Ph.D. Founder of Brainspotting
Brainspotting Therapy is a relational and neurobiological approach to healing at the deepest level and in essence, activates the body’s innate ability to heal itself from trauma and negative emotions that might be keeping you stuck. When we feel traumatized, it is normal for the body to want to shut down or repress the feelings, when what it really needs is to actively process through the feelings and sensations so they can then be released.
Over the years there has been increasing evidence that trauma is “stored” in the body and that it can alter the way the brain works and compromise its efficacy. Brainspotting is instrumental in that it reaches parts of the brain that are not generally accessed through traditional approaches by using the visual field to access traumatic memories held within the brain and body. It is a largely intuitive process that eventually will allow your body to release past memories of stress and trauma.
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In Brainspotting, your brain-body activation around a particular issue is paired with a relevant eye and orienting position, called a brainspot. These brainspots are actually holding your emotional and/or physical experiences in an often wordless and felt form of memory. Unresolved trauma affects our nervous systems and contributes to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many of the other challenges you might be facing. Brainspotting can help treat PTSD, panic attacks, unhealthy habits, depression, anxiety, performance anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, anger, low self-esteem, abuse, trauma and any psychological issue that is interfering with your life.
We realize it can be scary to consider a new type of treatment, so as a BSP trained therapist, your provider will first work with you to build trust and explore what your goals are for treatment and anything specific you have in mind to work on. One of the many benefits of Brainspotting is that it is noninvasive, which means you can share as little or as much information as you want or feel is necessary about your trauma. Once we have identified a topic to 'spot' your therapist will help you to position your eyes in ways that will enable them to target the sources of your negative emotions. This process will allow you to access these emotions on a deeper level while at the same time target any physical effects of your trauma. It is a powerful, focused treatment method that easily integrates into individual and couple’s therapy.
