What is brainspotting and how to know if it's the right fit for you

What is Brain Spotting? 

Brainspotting is a specific therapy that uses a person’s visual field as a way to help process information. Brainspotting was developed out of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which was specifically designed to treat trauma through bilateral stimulation (ex. tapping hands, moving eyes laterally, etc). However, unlike EMDR, brain spotting focuses on fixing your eyes on certain spots. 

How does staring at “spots” address trauma or emotional distress? 

The idea behind brain spots is based on the hypothesis that our memories are connected to our eye movements.  For example, have you ever tried to recall something and noticed that you were looking up at the ceiling? Brainspotting is a systematic way of getting into the subcortical space, which is a network of neural connections where memories and emotions are stored. It is within the subcortical space where healing can take place. Your brain is actually wired to heal itself. However, when we experience something traumatic, those experiences can get trapped in the subcortical space and within our bodies. Through identifying a brain spot, we are able to unlock and process the memory. This processing can allow the body and brain to break way from the associated trauma. 

“WHERE YOU LOOK AFFECTS HOW YOU FEEL."

Brainspotting therapy makes use of this natural phenomenon through its use of relevant eye positions. This helps the brainspotting therapist locate, focus, process and release a wide range of emotionally and bodily-based conditions.

What to expect from a brain spotting session: 

As you think about a particular issue (traumatic or otherwise), the clinician will ask you to notice what is happening in your body. They might draw your attention to notice a tightness in your chest or tension in your shoulders. If being attuned to your body is difficult for you, your therapist might have you think of an issue and observe the bodily reflexes that occur as you think about the issue. Your body signals brain spots naturally through blinking, dilating of the pupil, twitching, etc.). Once you identify the brain spot(s), your therapist will guide you to internally or externally process. At Spaces, we have several different certified brainspotting therapists. 

Resources: 

Brainspotting: The Revolutionary New Therapy for Rapid and Effective Change by David Grand PhD. 

https://brainspotting.com/about-bsp/

 https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/subcortical-structures-anatomy