Brainspotting; A Trauma Processing Method

Brainspotting (BSP) is a powerful therapeutic method that focuses on processing trauma and blockages by targeting areas of the brain that are hidden from our cognitive and verbal awareness thereby stimulating our self-healing capacity.

BSP can also be applied to localize and strengthen our natural physical resources and thereby support us in becoming more resilient.

Beyond Talking and Gaining Understanding

In other words, Brainspotting (BSP) is a tool that starts where most classic talk therapies end. With BSP, it is possible to process experiences and deal with symptoms that are beyond the reach of our conscious mind and mental faculties.

Brainspotting works from the so-called: “Dual attunement frame” which indicates two principles. On the one hand, a safe framework that is created both by the clinical relationship between therapist and client, and by the neurobiological attunement that takes place between the therapist and the client.

Despite possible childhood related trauma, the attachment capacity remains, and the client’s system thus senses the presence of the therapist as a human being. And on the other hand, the starting point is not only the therapist client relationship (the interpersonal), but also the neurophysiology of the client (what happens inside him/her).

Body’s Own Healing Process

BSP works immediately on the deeper structures of the brain and the body without the need to talk all the time about your problem or goal or to analyze your experiences. BSP focuses directly on the underlying somatic (physical) / neurophysiological component of your issue. Once this has been identified, the brain automatically starts a self-healing process that ensures that certain systems that have become unbalanced are liberated and integrated.

What is a Brain spot?

A Brain spot corresponds to an eye position that is linked to the emotional activation of a traumatic or emotionally charged problem in the brain.

In other words, where we look affects how we feel.

The Benefits of Brainspotting:

Accessible and suitable for all ages, including (young) children

Effective on a wide range of conditions both physical and psychological

Emphasis on neurophysiology and less emphasis on cognition and verbal abilities of clients

Deep reach in the conscious and subconscious areas of the brain (pre-cognitive and pre-verbal areas)

No need to be able or need to talk about the problems

Lasting and profound results in quality of life and performance

Any life event that causes physical or emotional harm, where a person feels overwhelmed with pain or grief, powerless or trapped, can develop into a blockage in experience. This trauma is held in the body and in the mind.

How Was Brainspotting Discovered?

David Grand PhD discovered Brainspotting by accident while performing EMDR on one of his clients (a professional ice skater with a performance problem). He noted that when he had the client make slow eye movements, she showed a striking eye reflex at the same point each time. Intuitively, he kept his fingers still at this point (a “brain spot”) and then wondered what would happen. The result was surprising to say the least.

At the end of the session, the client felt that this way of working had changed something profoundly. Strangely enough, the client’s performance problems seemed to have found a final solution.

David Grand developed and refined the method over the years. In the meantime, more than 10,000 therapists have been trained internationally. Not only in Europe, but also in South and North America, Australia, Asia, China and Japan, more and more counselors are working with Brainspotting and the enthusiasm for this method is increasing.

David Grand is a psychotherapist, coach, writer, lecturer and has made many discoveries and developments in the field of trauma processing.

More about David Grand PhD can be found at: https://brainspotting.com