Brainspotting seems to be the new buzzword in therapy these days, and everyone is curious to know more.
I’m here to explain in simple terms what Brainspotting is, how it differs from EMDR, and what a Brainspotting session might look like.
My name is Allison, and I’m a therapist at Beyond the Sun Therapy. This past year has opened my eyes to the unique world of Brainspotting, and it has been monumental in my work with clients.
One of the most common questions I hear about Brainspotting is, “Isn’t that like EMDR?”
Both therapy modalities use the client’s line of vision to process deeply. From there, however, things start to differentiate between the two. Where EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (commonly, moving your eyes back and forth), Brainspotting keeps the client’s gaze in a fixed position to access deep stored ideas, trauma, information, and revelations.
EMDR was founded by Dr. Francine Shapiro and has been around since the 1980’s. EMDR stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.” EMDR can help a client access nonverbal information stored in the brain. Some find it to be incredibly helpful, while others find it overstimulating. The eye movement or other methods of bilateral stimulation can become overwhelming for some.
Brainspotting was founded in 2003 by Dr. David Grand. Through his work with EMDR, David realized that clients can actually process deeper and faster compared to an EMDR session. Brainspotting involves a fixed (still) eye position, found by the client and the therapist, to process information in the deep brain. There are several different ways to find a brain spot, making it accessible for clients with different stimulatory thresholds.
As a therapist, I enjoy Brainspotting most because it is client-led.
This is the lens from which I approach my work in general, so Brainspotting fits right into my practice. In my own therapeutic journey, as well as working with clients, I’ve learned that all of the answers are within us. Sometimes we just need to be “pointed” in the right direction.
So what does a Brainspotting session look like?
Well, I’ve learned they all look quite different, though the setup remains the same.
After focusing in on a troubling topic, somewhere one feels “stuck,” the Brainspotting therapist and client will together find a “spot” in the client’s visual field using a pointer instrument. The feeling that comes from finding a spot, as a client, is hard to explain. All I can say is that you have to feel it to believe it. Once a spot is located, the therapist will hold the pointer in that position so that the client just has to focus and process.
Processing can be done internally (to yourself) or externally (verbally processing with the therapist). Either way, my job as the therapist is to hold the pointer, and more importantly, hold a safe space environment for my client while they receive insight from within.
After the client indicates that they’re finished processing, a period of debriefing typically takes place between the client and therapist. This can unlock opportunities to continue Brainspotting in the future, or point the therapist and client in the direction that the client would like to go in traditional talk therapy.
It’s really a beautiful experience. My hope is that if you feel called to do so, you’ll reach out to a Brainspotting therapist to access the healing you deserve.