 For clients looking to process deeply rooted psychological and emotional challenges, Brainspotting can be an incredibly healing, restorative experience. Developed by Dr. David Grand (2003), Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic tool that taps into your brain’s natural ability to process and heal trauma. Whether you're new to therapy or a seasoned client, understanding Brainspotting can help you determine if it's the right approach for your healing journey. Brainspotting Can Be More Effective at Treating Trauma than Traditional Talk Therapy Talk therapy, while helpful, isn’t always the most effective treatment strategy. Sometimes, when we use talk therapy to help process traumatic or painful events, the nervous system’s stress response is reactivated as if the trauma is occurring again in real time. Talk therapy relies on the client’s ability to access the part of the brain that allows for critical thinking, reasoning, and problem solving. This is the prefrontal cortex. The issue is, when you’re under emotional distress and are suffering from the dissociative effects of trauma, your brain’s ability to reason takes a backseat to the need for safety. Ever tried to solve a math problem while under extreme stress, or take on a big project at work when something highly upsetting is happening in your personal life? That’s your prefrontal cortex being overridden by your reptilian brain, who’s number one priority is detecting danger and ensuring your safety. Your reptilian brain (AKA your limbic brain, consisting of the amygdala, brain stem, and limbic region) can’t tell when an event is happening in the present vs in the past. When you attempt to process a highly traumatic, emotionally charged event that happened in the past, your limbic brain reexperiences the emotions and bodily sensations that you felt as the event was unfolding. When the traumatic event took place, it may not have been safe for you to feel and fully process the emotions and bodily sensations of stress you were experiencing at the time. To ensure your survival and protect you from overwhelm, your nervous system may have caused you to dissociate from your internal emotional and physical experience. This is how trauma becomes stored in our bodies, and manifests as physical, mental, and emotional symptoms later in life. Talk therapy may not be enough to get to the root of your trauma and it’s impact on your brain and nervous system. When talk therapy is used to process trauma without any prior work to help soothe and regulate the nervous system, your limbic brain can become reactivated and reexperience the bodily sensations and emotions that it felt at the time of the traumatic event. This is why many trauma survivors report that talk therapy, while beneficial, didn’t seem to address the root of the issues they were experiencing. Why is Brainspotting Effective? Brainspotting uses what is known as a bottom-up approach, where your therapist helps you tune into your body to process and release the sensations that have been stored in your nervous system. When the nervous system is allowed to release these stored sensations and is soothed with effective coping strategies, cognitive interventions (talk therapy!) can be more effective if still needed. What to Expect in a Brainspotting Session If you’re considering Brainspotting, it’s natural to have questions about what to expect. Here’s a framework for how a typical Brainspotting session might be conducted! 1. Initial Consultation: Before your first Brainspotting session, your therapist will likely conduct an initial consultation to discuss your history, goals, and any concerns you may have. This is also a good time to ask any questions about the process. 2. Setting Intentions: During the session, your therapist will help you set an intention or focus area for the session. This might be a specific trauma, emotion, or physical sensation you want to explore. 3. Creating a Safe Space: Brainspotting can bring up intense emotions, so it’s important to feel safe and supported. Your therapist will work with you to create a comfortable environment, both physically and emotionally. 4. Post-Session Care: After a Brainspotting session, it’s common to feel a range of emotions. Your therapist will provide guidance on how to take care of yourself afterward, which may include journaling, resting, or engaging in calming activities. Questions? Interested in Brainspotting Therapy? |
Hi, I'm Hazel!I'm an Associate Licensed Counselor in Birmingham, Alabama and provide Trauma Recovery Coaching worldwide!
I earned my M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Montevallo. My special interests include trauma healing, abuse recovery, and attachment work.
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Disclaimer: All content is for informational and educational purposes only. The opinions stated within my content are mine and they do not represent the ACA, APA, any other individual, therapist, institution, or organization.