Brainspotting

Brainspotting, discovered by David Grand in 2003, is a modified form of EMDR therapy. It is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation, and a variety of other challenging symptoms. 

 

Brainspotting gives the therapist access to both brain and body processes. Its goal is to bypass the conscious, neocortical thinking to access the deeper, subcortical emotional and body-based parts of the brain. By locating points in the client’s visual field, the therapist is able to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain. The result is processing and releasing a wide range of emotional and body-based conditions.

 

Brainspotting seems to activate the body’s innate ability to heal itself from trauma. It is believed that BSP taps into and harnesses the body’s natural self-scanning, self-healing ability. When a brainspot is stimulated, the deep brain appears to reflexively signal the therapist that the source of the issue has been found. 

 

Additionally, brainspotting can also be used to find and strengthen our natural resources and resilience. It is designed as a therapeutic tool that can be integrated into many healing modalities.

 

One of the most unique aspects of brainspotting therapy is that it can be accomplished with little to no talking on the part of the client. It is also hypothesized that five minutes of brainspotting is equal to a minimum of 4-5 hours of talk therapy, accomplishing substantial healing in less time than traditional therapies.