Brainspotting
"Where we look affects how we feel" --David Grand, Ph.D.
Brainspotting (BSP) began as an offshoot of EMDR and was developed by David Grand, Ph.D. This exciting, highly effective treatment approach integrates with other psychotherapy approaches and is used with adults and children. BSP is a non-invasive way of accessing both distress and coping strengths held within oneself. We all have the experience of our eyes moving into certain positions when we are thinking about something, figuring out a problem, or feeling overwhelmed, or even to gather our resources in preparation for a task. Brainspotting harnesses that naturally occurring phenomenon to allow the brain and nervous system to "unwind" and then resolve the problems keeping us stuck.
Accessing both the distressed and calm places in the body, BSP stimulates the nervous system's brilliant manner of healing itself to resolve distress in a contained and lasting manner.
Simply finding and holding gazing points in the context of the therapy relationship facilitates mindful focusing, and can help dramatically decrease depression, anxiety, overwhelming anger, phobias and addictions. BSP is used with all areas of trauma--developmental trauma, natural disasters, and events of community violence. BSP is also being utilized to address pain and suffering stemming from multiple medical conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, fibromyalgia, headaches, and preparation and recovery from surgery.
Generally, the "brainspot" is located by finding an eye position that correlates to where a target issue is being held in the brain. The therapist supports a client to locate where the distress or calm feelings are most strongly felt in the body. Pinpointing the exact eye position is done through a combination of the client's mindful awareness of activation in the body and the therapist noticing subtle reflexive eye or body movements. This perfect storm of attunement between therapist and client, use of eye position, body location of activation/intensity allows for deep processing, relief, and new awareness around even long-standing issues.
I have completed several trainings in Brainspotting (BSP):
Phases 1 & 2 (Led by Dr. Pie Frey of Boulder, CO)
Phases 3 & 4 (Led by Dr. David Grand)
Advanced 5-day Intensive with David Grand, Ph.D.
Resource & Attunement Brainspotting (currently named Comprehensive Resource Model)
with Lisa Schwartz, LCSW (Developer of this model)
“Brainspotting is based on the profound attunement of the therapist with the patient, finding a somatic cue and extinguishing it by down-regulating the amygdala. It isn’t just PNS (Parasympathetic Nervous System) activation that is facilitated, it is homeostasis.” Robert Scaer, M.D. The Trauma Spectrum
For more information, please visit
http://www.goodtherapy.org/brainspotting-therapy.html
www.brainspotting.pro/page/what-brainspotting,
For a great watchable, thorough introduction, please enjoy a 24 minute video of Dr. David Grand. This video details the approach, and multiple uses and applications, including trauma resolution, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, as well as uses in sports performance and arts performance enhancement.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm3Plvaf3UE
Brainspotting (BSP) began as an offshoot of EMDR and was developed by David Grand, Ph.D. This exciting, highly effective treatment approach integrates with other psychotherapy approaches and is used with adults and children. BSP is a non-invasive way of accessing both distress and coping strengths held within oneself. We all have the experience of our eyes moving into certain positions when we are thinking about something, figuring out a problem, or feeling overwhelmed, or even to gather our resources in preparation for a task. Brainspotting harnesses that naturally occurring phenomenon to allow the brain and nervous system to "unwind" and then resolve the problems keeping us stuck.
Accessing both the distressed and calm places in the body, BSP stimulates the nervous system's brilliant manner of healing itself to resolve distress in a contained and lasting manner.
Simply finding and holding gazing points in the context of the therapy relationship facilitates mindful focusing, and can help dramatically decrease depression, anxiety, overwhelming anger, phobias and addictions. BSP is used with all areas of trauma--developmental trauma, natural disasters, and events of community violence. BSP is also being utilized to address pain and suffering stemming from multiple medical conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes, fibromyalgia, headaches, and preparation and recovery from surgery.
Generally, the "brainspot" is located by finding an eye position that correlates to where a target issue is being held in the brain. The therapist supports a client to locate where the distress or calm feelings are most strongly felt in the body. Pinpointing the exact eye position is done through a combination of the client's mindful awareness of activation in the body and the therapist noticing subtle reflexive eye or body movements. This perfect storm of attunement between therapist and client, use of eye position, body location of activation/intensity allows for deep processing, relief, and new awareness around even long-standing issues.
I have completed several trainings in Brainspotting (BSP):
Phases 1 & 2 (Led by Dr. Pie Frey of Boulder, CO)
Phases 3 & 4 (Led by Dr. David Grand)
Advanced 5-day Intensive with David Grand, Ph.D.
Resource & Attunement Brainspotting (currently named Comprehensive Resource Model)
with Lisa Schwartz, LCSW (Developer of this model)
“Brainspotting is based on the profound attunement of the therapist with the patient, finding a somatic cue and extinguishing it by down-regulating the amygdala. It isn’t just PNS (Parasympathetic Nervous System) activation that is facilitated, it is homeostasis.” Robert Scaer, M.D. The Trauma Spectrum
For more information, please visit
http://www.goodtherapy.org/brainspotting-therapy.html
www.brainspotting.pro/page/what-brainspotting,
For a great watchable, thorough introduction, please enjoy a 24 minute video of Dr. David Grand. This video details the approach, and multiple uses and applications, including trauma resolution, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, as well as uses in sports performance and arts performance enhancement.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm3Plvaf3UE
