Brainspotting

Brainspotting (BSP), found by revising aspects of EMDR, is effective for a wide variety of emotional and somatic conditions. Brainspotting is particularly effective with trauma-based situations, helping to identify and heal underlying trauma that contributes to anxiety, depression and other behavioral conditions. It can also be used to enhance performance and creativity. Brainspotting gives the therapist access to both brain and body processes. Its goal is to bypass the conscious, neocortical thinking to access the deeper, subcortical emotional and body-based parts of the brain.

In traditional talk therapy, verbal communication is the primary method of exploring and addressing psychological issues. However, brainspotting operates on the principle that trauma and emotional experiences are not solely stored in the verbal or cognitive parts of the brain. Instead, they can also be deeply ingrained in the sensory and emotional parts of the brain.

Brainspotting leverages the connection between eye movements and the brain's processing of emotions and memories. By focusing on specific eye positions (brainspots) associated with distressing emotions or memories, individuals can access deeper levels of processing and release.

Talking isn't always necessary in brainspotting because the therapy relies more on the individual's internal processing and the therapist's guidance rather than verbal communication. While verbal communication can be helpful and may be incorporated into some brainspotting sessions, it's not always essential for achieving therapeutic goals.

Still unsure about Brainspotting? Try this…

Who was your best friend in 6th grade?

Without realizing it, when you were trying to access that memory, you likely moved your eyes. This is a great illustration of the concept, ‘where we look affects how we feel’ (and what we have access to in our brain).