What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting Therapy (BSP) is a psychotherapeutic technique that aims to manage past traumas and their negative effects. Brainspotting is an excellent tool for clinicians to use with clients to locate experiences that cannot be reached through the conscious mind. Clinicians can find these experiences, and together with the client process and release symptoms from  traumatic events or memories. Brainspotting is most beneficial when treating clients who have Post Traumatic-Stress Disorder (PTSD), emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and depressive disorders.

What is Brainspotting like for the client?

During a Brainspotting session the clinician will first ask the client what they want to focus on during their time together. The clinician often gives the client headphones with music that is bilateral (sound that moves from one ear to the other). The clinician will then target and locate “brainspots.” Brainspots are the focal point that connect eye position with a neurological activation to a traumatic experience. Brainspots connect clinicians and clients to unprocessed trauma. In order to target these brainspots, the clinician will use their fingers or a stick and move them in different directions. While the clinician is doing this, the client is following the stick/fingers with their eyes while thinking of a memory or traumatic experience. When the feeling is strongest in one eye position, the clinician will help the client work through the emotional memory. Where you look affects how you feel! 

Why use Brainspotting?

When traumatic experiences happen in our lives they do not disappear. These memories are suppressed and added to a reservoir of built up trauma inside of us. Unprocessed trauma and stress can lead to a magnitude of emotional and physical complications. Brainspotting allows clients to locate, process, and relieve dysphoric memories or events so they can lead positive and healthy lives. After a few weeks clients can think back to previous traumatic experiences and no longer feel the pain associated with the memories.