Brainspotting

Brainspotting Therapy (BSP) is a powerful treatment method used within therapy which simultaneously assesses for and treats neurophysiological sources of emotional distress, trauma, and body pain. It is also used to enhance creativity and performance. Brainspotting can be used to treat both children and adults.

Brainspotting therapy is mind-body approach which accesses the body’s autonomic and limbic system through eye positioning. By locating and focusing on eye positions which are tied to the client’s goal (whether distressing or resourcing), the body is able to release or enhance feeling-states to process events or physiological symptoms. BSP is similar to EMDR in several ways but less structured and more responsive to the client. Dr. David Grand, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDR-trained psychotherapist, discovered BSP in 2003. While using EMDR to treat a client with past trauma and a mental block in sports performance, Grand noticed the client’s eyes wobbled at the same location each time she completed a set of bilateral eye movements. Grand decided to have the client hold her eyes at this fixed location for an extended period of time. Through this modification, the client healed from past trauma and resolved her sports performance issue. Grand continued to experiment with having other clients and noticed the same results—deeper or accelerated processing of issues, emotions, and trauma (2013).

Brainspotting, like EMDR, is a “bottom-up” processing intervention. This means that instead of reasoning through the experience logically by using our upper brain, the subcortex is allowed to process the trauma and discharge the trigger using the body. Van Der Kolk found in his research that merely talking about trauma is never as effective as allowing the body to process the trauma experientially (2014).

Brainspotting is so versatile in how it can be used. In his book with Sports Psychologist Dr. Alan Goldberg, Grand shares how Brainspotting is not simply for processing trauma but is also effective in improving performance and creativity, especially for top tier athletes, performers, and artists (2011). Brainspotting has been useful in helping actors, singers, athletes overcome mental blocks and expand their talents. Clients can increase confidence, competence, and excellence in their natural talents with BSP. As a therapist, I love that this tool is not only used to heal but also used to help clients flourish.

What Does BSP Treatment Entail?

Brainspotting does not replace therapy, but is used in conjunction with therapy. The therapeutic relationship is essential to establish client-therapist attunement before BSP can begin. Brainspotting will look different depending on the client’s goals. First the client will be asked to rate his or her level of emotional activation. With the use of a pointer, the therapist will help the client locate the eye position where the emotion feels the strongest. After determining the focal point, the client will hold the position and allow the body and mind to process and release trauma, pain, memories, etc. Throughout processing, the therapist checks in for the client to report what is happening internally. The client and therapist may experiment with other eye positions or movements as needed. At the end of the session, the client will rate his or her emotional activation again, regulate to the present moment, and discuss the processing that took place to plan for the next session. . If the event was not resolved during the session, the client and therapist will continue treatment as needed.

Common Issues BSP Has Been Used to Address:

• Anxiety

• Attachment issues

• Chronic illness/pain

• CPTSD/developmental trauma

• Creativity enhancement

• Depression

• Dissociation

• Emotional overwhelm

• Grief and loss

• Performance anxiety

• Performance enhancement

• Phobias

• PTSD and trauma

• Repetitive sports performance problems (RSPPs)

• Substance use

• Sports performance

• Sports trauma stress disorder (STSD)

Research has shown that with BSP, less sessions are needed than with traditional talk therapy, and clients continue to have decreased levels of activation on follow-up sessions months after treatment has been completed (D’Atoni et al., 2022). Brainspotting has been useful in treating grief, chronic pain, trauma, PTSD, sports traumatic stress disorder (STSD), repetitive sports performance problems (RSPPs), anxiety, depression, attachment issues, creativity, OCD, to name a few.  

Resources:

For more information on BSP therapy, see the following links:

Brainspotting.com covers more details and descriptions of the treatment.

Video, “What is Brainspotting?” with founder, Dr. David Grand

Video, “Who Does Brainspotting Work With?” with founder, Dr. David Grand

If you experience any of these symptoms or want to expand your creativity and are interested Brainspotting Therapy, please reach out.

References:

D’Atoni, F., Matiz, A., Fabbro, F., Crescentini, C. (2022). Psychotherapeutic techniques for distressing memories: A comparative study between EMDR, Brainspotting, and Body Scan Meditation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(1142). doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031142

Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: The revolutionary new therapy for rapid and effective change. Sounds True.

Grand, D., & Goldberg, A. S. (2011). This is your brain on sports: Beating blocks, slumps and performance anxiety for good! Dog Ear Publishing.‌

Van Der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.