Brainspotting Therapy

EMDR Therapy and Brainspotting (BSP) top EMDR therapist NYC

“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

Brainspotting was discovered by David Grand, Ph.D. in 2003. Since then, Brainspotting has developed into an in-depth therapeutic process that can be integrated with psychotherapy sessions in either individual or couples therapy. Dr. Grand believes that “Brainspotting taps into the body’s natural self scanning and self healing abilities”.

Brainspotting is a new and powerful method of healing developed from EMDR. Brainspotting as a technique is used in psychotherapy and trauma resolution therapy to help release depression, fear, anxiety, grief, loss, phobias and addictions. It is possible to release the trauma or traumatic event from either a distressed or calm place in the body. The power of BSP is that one does not necessarily have to relive the traumatic event at the same level of intensity as the original trauma. Because of this, it is possible to resolve the trauma in a safe and contained manner. Trauma and stress can often overwhelm the nervous system. With the support of an experienced Brainspotting therapist, BSP helps the client discharge the trauma and calm the nervous system. BSP helps clients identify, process, and release core neurophysiological sources of emotional or physical pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging psychiatric and somatic symptoms.

Brainspotting (BSP) functions as a neurobiological tool to support the therapeutic relationship in which the therapist’s mature, nurturing, presence and ability to engage the client creates a healing space. It is theorized that Brainspotting, like EMDR, triggers the body’s innate self-scanning capacity to process and release focused areas (systems) which are in a maladaptive homeostasis (frozen primitive survival modes). This may also explain the ability of Brainspotting to often reduce and eliminate body pain and tension associated with chronic physical conditions.

Generally, the brainspot is located by finding an eye position where the emotion is most strongly felt. A brainspot can also be located from the calmest place in the body. Pinpointing the brainspot is done through noticing an increase in reflexive eye or body movements, such as blinking, swallowing, yawning, head or body twitches. Neurologists state that the location of the brainspot “is related to the area or region of the patient’s experience or perception of the traumatic event and represents procedural memory for that somatic experience”.

Brainspotting can be accompanied by the use of biolateral sounds. Biolateral sounds can be music, tones or even nature sounds that move from ear to ear alternately in order to activate each hemisphere of the brain. Dr. Grand developed a series of biolateral CDs that can be used during a Brainspotting session.  They were initially developed for use with EMDR. These sounds help to calm the sympathetic nervous system (which is the fight or flight response), and engage the calmer parasympathetic nervous system.

Brainspotting is unique from other therapeutic techniques in that it is being used not only in trauma and healing work, but also in the areas of performance enhancement. Therapists are utilizing BSP with professional athletes, actors, writers, musicians, as well as with clients who experience stress during public speaking. Meditation practices can also be enhanced through the use of Brainspotting.

Brainspotting can be an effective and efficient treatment tool for:

• Physical and emotional trauma
• Eating, body image and weight issues
• Stress
• Performance issues, including sexual dysfunction, sports, public speaking, etc.
• Creative and performance enhancement
• Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions
• Addictions (especially cravings)
• ADD and ADHD
• Phobias
• Asthma
• Migraines
• Preparation and recovery from surgery and recovery from medical intervention trauma
• Recovery from injury and accidents
• Anger and rage problems
• Anxiety and panic
• Childhood abuse

David Grand, PhD, the developer of Brainspotting, is an internationally recognized trauma expert. He has devoted his life to advancing, expanding, and communicating about state-of-the-art tools available for healing trauma and enhancing performance. He is the author of Emotional Healing at Warp speed: the Power of EMDR and trains health care professionals around the US, Europe, South American and the Middle East.