You might be wondering, “What is Brainspotting?” Brainspotting (BSP) was discovered in 2003 by David Grand. In David’s words: “Where we look affects how we feel”. BSP makes use of this natural phenomenon through its use of relevant eye positions. This helps the BSP therapist to locate, focus, process and release a wide range of emotionally and bodily-based conditions. BSP is also a brain-based tool to support the therapy relationship. We believe that BSP taps into and harnesses the body’s natural self-scanning, self-healing ability.
When a Brainspot is stimulated, the deep brain appears to reflexively signal the therapist that the source of the problem has been found. BSP can also be used to find and strengthen our natural resources and resilience. BSP is designed as a therapeutic tool that can be integrated into a many healing modalities. BSP can also be used with performance and creativity enhancement. BSP is even more powerful when used with the enhancement of bilateral sound.
How was Brainspotting Discovered?
David was working with a client who was a professional ice skater and was having trouble landing a move called a triple axle. They were doing EMDR. In EMDR where visual stimulation is being used , if a client’s eyes get stuck in a position, the therapist shifts the pattern of stimulation. In this instance, David decided to try something different. Instead of shifting the pattern of stimulation, he held this finger in the place his client’s eyes had stopped. A lot of information was processed from that spot (later called a “brainspot”). The next day, the ice skater landed a triple axle. This session was the impetus to the refinement of BSP.
“It’s not that I don’t care; it’s that I don’t have the burden of caring about everything!”
-Brainspotting client
More About Brainspotting
BSP is an ever-evolving practice that depends on the attunement (connection) of the therapist to the client. With all of the training I have done, I have many ways of altering the process to enhance the experience of the client so that you get the most you can out of the experience.
If you are interested in learning more about Brainspotting as a treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), you may read this research paper that compares Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) EMDR, and Brainspotting. The paper concludes that Brainspotting and EMDR “must considered as therapies of choice for the management of GAD.”