What is Brainspotting?
As research advances in the connection between neurology and biology, which means the brain and the body, it is producing new and effective approaches to counseling. Brainspotting, discovered in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, is one type of treatment that focuses on this connection between mind and body.
Therapies that integrate the impact of mental and emotional health on physical symptoms are typically called somatic interventions. In clinical psychotherapy, somatic interventions recognize that the mind and body affect one another. Therapists use specific techniques to uncover “stuck” trauma, memories, fear, or other emotions that manifest as physical pain or discomfort.
Brainspotting specifically uses a spot where someone is looking to identify a physical response, which then leads to uncovering the mental association with it. The available research on Brainspotting has shown that individuals typically feel relief after the initial session, continue to gain relief with ongoing sessions, and do not experience recurring symptoms several months after concluding therapy.
How Does Brainspotting Work?
It is believed that Brainspotting taps into the midbrain area, which is part of the central nervous system. The midbrain is in charge of vision, hearing, sleep, and defensive motor response. In other words, when a person experiences a trauma or high stress situation, the midbrain freezes in order to deliver energy and resources to the parts of the brain and body that need to handle the situation.
When the experienced event has a profound psychological effect, the body can have trouble recognizing its conclusion and may fail to come out of that freeze mode. What Dr. Grand discovered with Brainspotting is that it is possible to use the visual and auditory processing functions in the same area of the brain to help the central nervous system release the body from that frozen state.
Brainspotting certified therapists begin with grounding exercises to help the client become more in tune with their body, then talk about the emotional, thought, or physical symptoms they are experiencing. The client may listen on headphones to bilateral sounds, which is music that alternates from one speaker to the other. Using a pointer or their finger, the therapist will have the client look at specific points in space. Unlike EMDR, where the client will continually move their eyes, Brainspotting involves sustained focus on single points.
When the client identifies that they feel a physical or emotional sensation intensely while looking at a certain point, the therapist holds that focus with the client. This is called the brain spot, which means that the eye has connected to the part of the brain that is controlling the somatic response. As that connection is held, the client may have a memory or recognize a deep-seated belief. The therapist and client will work together to process whatever the client experiences during that time until the client feels a physical or emotional release. While the conclusion of this exercise may cause initial feelings of exhaustion or overwhelm, the client typically begins to feel much better rather quickly.
Additional sessions can be used to reinforce the initial processing, or they may be used to identify and work through other symptoms.
What Is Brainspotting Used For?
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Because it focuses on intense physical and emotional symptoms, Brainspotting is mostly used for mental health concerns that involve a central nervous system response. Clients who have physical symptoms, even if they do not currently associate them with a mental health issue, are typically good candidates for Brainspotting.
Therapists are currently using Brainspotting to treat clients for:
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PTSD and C-PTSD
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Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
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Anxiety or phobias
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Depression
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Complicated grief
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Chronic pain or illness
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Performance anxiety for athletes and dancers
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Eating disorders
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​Like all mental health interventions, the effectiveness of Brainspotting depends on many factors. It is important to have a strong therapeutic alliance between clinician and client so that the client feels safe and empowered to do the work. Additionally, Brainspotting is a technique which requires specific training and certification. Therapists should only engage in treatment modalities for which they are qualified.
Our practice owner Gabby is phase one trained! Learn more about Gabby here!!
Can Brainspotting Be Done With Online Therapy?
Brainspotting therapy can be delivered in an online therapy format. Because it involves physical elements, the client must be on camera for the duration of the session. Research in the National Library of Medicine shows that online therapy is an effective approach with similar success rates to in-person sessions.
Therapy services that operate as virtual practices, and are trained in the Brainspotting technique, are well-equipped to deliver a high-quality experience to clients. Online therapy happens on a HIPAA-compliant platform that the client may join from anywhere they are comfortable. This makes mental health services far more convenient and accessible to individuals who cannot or do not want to travel to an office.
Is Brainspotting Therapy Available Near Me?
Recovered & Restored Eating Disorder Therapy Center offers Brainspotting therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Our services are entirely online and available for clients residing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, South Carolina, and Florida. Gabby Morreale, LPC, who is the owner and Clinical Director of Recovered & Restored, is Phase 1 Brainspotting trained. Gabby is accepting clients for Brainspotting and traditional therapy for eating disorders, infertility, maternal mental health, anxiety, and PTSD.
Contact Gabby to learn more about Brainspotting as a potential treatment option.