Brainspotting Therapy: The Process & How it Works
The world of therapy has encompassed a wide range of different approaches to be suitable for each individual’s needs. When a client seeks support, it is important that we, as therapists, are able to provide a warm and non-judgmental space for a client to process and reflect on their experiences. Brainspotting has been on the rise in Canada, while growing in popularity in Oakville, particularly for clients who are looking to explore something different than traditional talk therapy. Brainspotting can be an effective way of processing deeply embedded traumas, emotional pain, and mental health concerns through a natural healing response.
What Is Brainspotting Therapy?
Brainspotting Therapy was created by David Grand in 2003 and can be described as “Where we look affects how we feel”. When we talk about things that are difficult to relive, our eyes tend to wander. These eye movements are a way of accessing and processing traumatic memories. Brainspotting aids in processing and releasing neurophysiological origins of pain, dissociation, traumatic experiences, and many other challenging symptoms. This can be an incredible form of treatment.
You might be wondering how Brainspotting therapy can be helpful for concerns regarding trauma, anxiety, and emotional regulation. This method can aid in “resetting” traumatic events so clients can fully process them as they would with any other experience, allowing them to heal from these memories and gradually move past them.
When treating anxiety through Brainspotting, therapists focus on the body-mind connection as it plays a crucial role in the root of anxiety. There are often physical symptoms present, such as shallow breathing, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and tension. Brainspotting can help release some of these physical experiences while, in turn, reducing psychological symptoms related to anxiety.
How Brainspotting Works
Brainspotting works through a “brainspot”, an eye position that relates to the emotional activation of a traumatic or emotionally charged issue within the brain, most often located in the orbitofrontal cortex of the limbic system. When a brainspot is activated, the deeper part of the brain appears to reflexively signal the therapist, beyond the awareness of the client’s neocortex, and that is where an area of relevance can be located.
When describing the dynamic between the client and therapist, David Grand likes to use the “comet” analogy where the client is considered the “head of the comet”, leading the way of their healing journey. While the therapist acts as the “tail of the comet”, following closely and supporting without dictating the direction that the client chooses to go. This metaphor provides an emphasis on the client-driven nature of Brainspotting, where the therapist trusts the client to guide their own healing process.
What Happens in a Brainspotting Session?
You might be wondering, “What happens in a Brainspotting session?”. To give you a better sense of what might arise, you can expect the therapist to ask the client to bring up a specific presenting concern.
As the client talks about their issue, the therapist will ask the client to identify where this sits in their body (e.g. in the chest, difficulty swallowing). As the client sits with this physiological sensation, the therapist will ask the client to measure their level of emotional or somatic activation from 1-10. The next step is to find a brainspot that the client and therapist will work with. This can be identified in a few ways, most commonly with a pointer or a long object.
The therapist will share that the client can speak as much or as little as they would like, as some prefer to internalize while others like to articulate things out loud. In cases of using the pointer, the therapist will hold the pointer where the client has identified activation in their bodies, and let the processing begin.
The client’s control over the process is the core of Brainspotting. An important differentiating piece between traditional talk therapy and this approach is that the therapist is not encouraged to ask the client questions as the process is in action.
A simple acronym that some therapists use is WAIT (Why Am I Talking?). This reminds the therapist that being present with the client while encouraging them to keep going is powerful in and of itself. This acronym truly reiterates the idea of the client being the head of the comet, while the therapist is the tail.
Benefits of Brainspotting Therapy
Over many decades, talk therapy has been used to support clients in processing their lived experiences as they find better ways to navigate through their presenting concerns. Although this might not be the case for every individual. Some of us have difficulties putting our feelings and thoughts into words, and that’s okay.
Increased energy has been experienced by some as the client’s body goes through a process of re-balancing, which helps increase the oxygen flow to the brain and body. Many individuals with anxiety or ADHD have trouble sleeping due to obsessive thinking, racing thoughts, or other psychological factors.
Brainspotting therapy can provide effective ways of promoting relaxation, overall calmness, and better sleep quality as a result. Finally, one of the most immediate benefits of this approach is that the client experiences a calmer state of mind.
Brainspotting vs. EMDR – What’s the Difference?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was created by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. EMDR is based on the idea that moving our eyes can help us process unresolved experiences and reduce emotional distress. This approach has many stages to it, usually consisting of a client’s history intake, getting ready, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scanning, closing, and reevaluating.
To support emotional healing and a restructuring of the brain, each phase must be followed to help clients navigate through their upsetting memories.
Here are some key differences that distinguish EMDR from Brainspotting:
Bilateral Stimulation vs. Focused Attention: Brainspotting focuses on locating brainspots, while EMDR uses deliberate eye movements to activate the brain’s adaptive processing.
Eye Movements vs. Static Eye Position: Brainspotting is fixed on the eye position being in a particular location. EMDR uses left-to-right eye movements to process painful memories.
Somatic Processing: Brainspotting focuses heavily on the observation and integration of somatic (bodily) responses. EMDR acknowledges the importance of the body’s responses, but focuses on bilateral stimulation as a way to restructure the client’s experiences cognitively.
The Role of the Therapist: In Brainspotting, the therapist tunes into the client’s somatic reactions. EMDR therapists take on a more observational role.
Both approaches have been proven to be effective in the client’s healing process. Some clients find Brainspotting more appealing due to its flexibility and a greater focus on the mind-body-based approach.
Is Brainspotting Right for You?
To determine if Brainspotting is a good fit for you, please consider some of the following:
Are you frequently experiencing triggers?
Have you tried talk therapy and found it ineffective?
Do you find yourself stuck in your thoughts, emotions, or memories?
Are you comfortable with the idea of experiencing emotional release through processing difficult memories?
Brainspotting Therapy in Oakville can be particularly helpful for individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, and depression. It can also be helpful for those who struggle with emotional dysregulation, performance blocks, or physical symptoms linked to emotional distress. This approach is client-centred, allowing space for the brain to lead the way. It can become an incredibly transformative way of exploring past experiences without necessarily having to verbalize them. This type of therapy can open up a whole new emotional world for the client.
How Counselling & Co. Helps You Heal
At Counselling & Co., there are a handful of Brainspotting therapists who are here to support you on your journey to self-discovery. The thought of revisiting the past might feel frightening and nerve-wracking for some, but it is the path to empowerment. The journey to self-processing might feel discouraging or lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Let us help!
Conclusion
Brainspotting has been found to be a simple, yet effective way of targeting many underlying issues that may have been left unsolved. It’s uniquely effective in healing emotional wounds that can be hard to heal on your own and can provide a new doorway to your world of healing.
You may feel like you don’t know where to get started with the process, but curiosity is the first step! Remember, no issue is too big or too small. We encourage each client to show up as their authentic selves, and we will nourish these parts in the most compassionate way. At Counselling & Co., we believe that it takes a village to heal, and it would be an honour to be a part of your village.
Interested in Brainspotting Therapy?
If you or someone you know may be interested in this type of therapy, visit our Brainspotting Therapy page for more information. If you are facing challenges in your day-to-day life, relationships, or are interested in exploring what might come within the Brainspotting realm for you, contact us and we will connect you with one of our compassionate therapists today. The processing of emotions can be painful and challenging, but the most growth can be captured on the other side.