Introducing Brainspotting
Do you think that traditional talk therapy takes too long? Do you feel like there is something blocking you, but you can’t figure out what it is? Here is another therapeutic modality to consider: Brainspotting.
Where Did This Come From?
Brainspotting was developed by Dr. David Grand while he was working with a figure skater who was struggling with a mental block to complete a triple loop. While the client was undergoing EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), in which the client’s eyes move rapidly, Dr. Grand had the client’s eyes move slowly. He noticed that at a certain position, the client’s eye wobbled. And then he stopped moving his arm. The client’s eyes locked onto Dr. Grand’s fingers, and the client was able to process trauma that she had unconsciously locked away in her body. The same trauma was mentally blocking the client from completing her triple loop. She had no further issues with the triple loop after that session.
Who is Brainspotting Good For?
Brainspotting can be adapted for different purposes. Some include, but are not limited to:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anger
- ADHD
- Creativity
- Phobias
- All forms of trauma
- Sports performance
- And so much more
Why is it Better Than Talk Therapy?
Talk therapy can be unstructured and can take months or years to fully process what the client has come in for. With Brainspotting, issues can be resolved in a few sessions because it is a brain-based therapy. Brain-based therapies access the brain’s ability to heal itself by utilizing the client’s field of vision. Information travels through the client’s eye, through the optic nerve, past the amygdala and hippocampus, into the occipital lobes. The amygdala is the brain region responsible for emotions, and the hippocampus is responsible for memory. Talk therapy may take longer to reach those regions. In other words, clients can heal more quickly and efficiently.
In Review
- Brainspotting was discovered while helping an ice skater get past a mental block.
- Brainspotting can be used for multiple purposes
- While talk therapy can take ages to help clients, Brainspotting can help clients in a matter of a few sessions
About the author
Chris Burgenson is a licensed counselor in Maryland who is based in Frederick. Chris specializes in overcoming performance anxiety, improving confidence in athletes, and dealing with the pressures of being an athlete. Besides working with athletes, he also works with teen and adult clients who struggle with ADHD and anxiety. Need help with your mental health? Book a consultation by calling 240.330.4361.
Until Next Time.
