Brainspotting

Primarily, the goal of BSP is to access deeply stored and unprocessed trauma so that it can be resolved. BSP utilizes the brain’s natural self-healing capabilities by targeting the neurophysiological origins of various emotional/body pains, dissociation, and more. It is important to remember that traumas can develop in many ways from many situations, and symptoms can vary in severity. Any time a person feels overwhelmed, helpless, or stressed, it might be a trauma response. Within BSP, creating a container for an individual to feel safe and secure in accessing and processing traumas is an integral part. This treatment is not all about identifying these “brain spots,” but it is also hugely dependent on the clinical therapeutic relationship. 

While this is still a relatively new treatment, the theory is that brainspotting taps into the body’s natural self-scanning cycle. Here is an analogy: the body locates and “zones in” on bodily injuries when they occur to adapt and send resources; the brain does this as well. It is constantly scanning to make sure everything is operating in homeostasis. However, it is theorized that sometimes traumatic memories are buried deep in the psyche outside of conscious awareness, and there is a blockage within this self-scanning cycle. The brain and body will adapt to this blockage and settle into a homeostasis that may be maladaptive to proper healing. During BSP, this blockage is identified through eye movements and reflexive signals (eye dilation or constriction, brow furrowing, facial tics, etc.), so the brain can now attend to it properly. This is sometimes referred to as a body-oriented approach since the brain and body are the main targets. This type of approach differs from other talk therapies in which the trauma itself is the main target. 

It is theorized that brainspotting bypasses the cognitive thinking part of your brain, reaching down to the core, and works heavily on the unconscious parts through utilizing the autonomic and limbic systems. The autonomic nervous system works mainly behind the scenes to regulate heart rate, breathing, sexual arousal, pupillary response, etc. The limbic system is responsible for memory, behavior, motivation, regulating hormones, and interpreting emotions. Thus, BSP may access the brain-body connection by utilizing these two systems together. 

BSP was first developed for individuals suffering from trauma. David Grand has worked with 9/11 survivors, Hurricane Katrina survivors, and mass shooting survivors, to name a few. Throughout the development of BSP, it was quickly realized that BSP could be used to treat various conditions (e.g., injury recovery, creativity enhancement, sports performance, fatigue syndromes, anger problems, anxiety, chronic illness management, stuttering, asthma, dissociation, and more). People of all backgrounds can potentially benefit from this treatment.

Process

BSP is a flexible approach that is entirely dependent on the reactions given by the client; however, there is a general flow to how the sessions will go. 

As with most types of therapy and healing, the first step is identifying an objective. This objective can be anything ranging from writer’s block to a pinpointed physical or emotional trauma. As with the figure skater example given above, you will be instructed to focus on the objective intently identified and rate various descriptors (e.g., stressful, overwhelming). You do not necessarily have to talk about it verbally. 

Your therapist will then use a pointer to guide your eyes back and forth while you focus, which can be done with one eye or two.

From here, there are two techniques: Inside Window and Outside Window.

Inside Window:  When using the Inside Window technique, the client determines which point in their visual field physical and emotional reactions are felt the most (i.e., the “brainspot”). Additionally, clients are encouraged to describe their subjective experiences with comments like “you just passed it,” “go back to the left,” “I’m feeling very stressed right here.”

Outside WIndow:  When using the Outside Window technique, the therapist identifies the brainspot by attuning to and observing any reflexive signals or comments the client makes. These reflexive signals usually are outside of the client’s conscious awareness.

With both techniques, the therapist will then proceed to go along the vertical axis, trying to pinpoint the brainspot.

Through holding one’s gaze in the identified brainspot, unconscious contents (e.g., thoughts, feelings, sensations, memories) are brought into conscious awareness, either verbally or internally. These associations are then processed so that more profound healing can occur within the brain. Turning back to the bodily injury analogy, if you have tension somewhere, it takes about 30 seconds of pressure for the body to realize the target that needs to be released and release it. It is theorized the brain works in similar ways. However, instead of physical pressure, it is mental pressure, and this signal can be triggered through the eyes. 

Resource Model

BSP can be, inversely, used for severely wounded, anxious, and/or dissociative clients. In such cases, the resource model is utilized. Instead of locating brainspots that can trigger uncomfortable feelings and distress, the goal is to identify spots that bring about calmness. 

Biolateral Sound 

As with EMDR, brainspotting is most effective when paired with Biolateral Sound. Biolateral sound is the alternating of noises in the left and right ears in order to activate both hemispheres. The premise is that this induces a meditative, hypnotic state conducive to allowing conscious and unconscious processes to freely flow (it is worth noting only a few studies are researching this). If an individual is highly sensitive or dissociative, biolateral sound can be added later when the individual feels more comfortable and grounded.

Many times, after an individual has reached a distress rating of 0 surrounding an issue, another breakthrough can occur, leading to multidimensional healing.