Brainspotting
"The eyes are indeed the windows to our soul. Where we look affects how we feel."
- Inspired by David Grand, founder of Brainspotting
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing, and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation, and other challenging symptoms. Discovered in 2003 by David Grand, Ph.D., Brainspotting utilizes the brain-body connection to access the brain's natural ability to heal.
This innovative approach is based on the profound connection between our eye positions and the brain. By locating specific eye positions ("Brainspots") that correlate with activated trauma or emotional reactivity in the brain, we can directly access these areas for processing and resolution.
How It Works
During a Brainspotting session:
Identification: We collaboratively identify an eye position related to what you want to work through, whether that's trauma, anxiety, physical pain, or another concern.
Attunement: Using a pointer or an area that you naturally are looking at while speaking about the problem you want to work on, I help guide your gaze to the specific "Brainspot" that activates the neurological material connected to your issue.
Processing: You engage in focused mindfulness on that spot for the remainder of the session, allowing your brain to process the material naturally with minimal intervention.
Integration: Your brain continues processing between sessions, often leading to insights, relief, and healing that unfolds over time.
What makes Brainspotting unique is its deep respect for the brain's natural healing capacity. Rather than imposing techniques, Brainspotting creates the conditions for your brain to process difficult material in its own way.
Benefits of Brainspotting
Brainspotting therapy has shown promising results in helping individuals with:
PTSD and trauma - Process traumatic memories with less emotional intensity
Anxiety - Reduce overwhelming feelings and physical symptoms
Depression - Access and process underlying emotional material
Chronic pain - Address the neurological components of physical discomfort
Performance issues - Release blocks in creativity, sports, or professional performance
Relationship challenges - Process triggers and reactions that affect connections with others
Many clients experience significant symptom relief after just a few sessions. Additional benefits include:
Decrease in the emotional intensity of traumatic memories
Enhanced creativity and self-expression
Improved ability to manage stress
Greater emotional regulation
Deeper mind-body connection
Access to material that talking alone cannot reach
Who Can Benefit?
As a Brainspotting practitioner, I offer this approach to adults and teens dealing with:
Single-incident trauma (accidents, assaults, medical trauma)
Complex developmental trauma
Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
Performance and creativity blocks
Chronic pain with emotional components
Unresolved grief or loss
Self-esteem and identity issues
Emotional regulation difficulties
Why Choose Brainspotting?
As David Grand notes, "Where you look affects how you feel." This profound insight forms the foundation of Brainspotting's effectiveness. By harnessing the brain's natural scanning function through eye positions, we can:
Access material not readily available to conscious awareness
Process trauma without requiring detailed verbal recounting
Work at the neurobiological level where trauma is stored
Honor your system's natural healing capacity
Create lasting neurological change
Unlike approaches that rely heavily on verbal processing or cognitive understanding, Brainspotting works directly with the subcortical brain, the area where trauma is stored and where healing must occur.
Begin Your Healing Journey
If you've tried other approaches with limited success, or if you're drawn to body-based, mindful healing methods, Brainspotting may offer the breakthrough you're seeking.
Contact me today to learn more about how this innovative approach can support your healing journey. Together, we'll discover the power of working with your brain's natural capacity for transformation and restoration.
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