brainspotting

Brainspotting sessions are not like traditional talk-therapy sessions. Prior to session, or at the start, I will ask you to think of a memory, experience or feeling that is distressful. Generally, this is the ‘trauma’ you’ll be processing during that session. You may have a very clear recall of the event, or the trauma may have been experienced over a period of time. It is not necessary to remember any event as a whole, it doesn’t have to be logical, nor does it have to be in chronological order. Whatever feels most accessible, closest to the surface, is the image/memory/feeling you’ll want to focus on.

First I’ll get you settled onto the couch. I recommend wearing comfortable clothing and bringing water. Unless you prefer not to, I’ll have you put on headphones playing biaural sounds. This helps to stimulate your parasympathetic brain waves during processing to help promote deeper focusing.

Next, I’ll ask you to start focusing on the “activating” image/memory/feeling, and I’ll start asking you questions. These questions are designed to help deepen your focus, and don’t require verbal response. At the same time, I’ll use a long pointer stick and ask you to look at it. I’ll move the wand to some various positions while asking you to scale your level of activation (feeling). We will find an eye placement for you that feels most accessible to focusing on the memory you’re using for session, and then I’ll have you hold your gaze there and let your brain go wherever it needs to go.

Without filtering your experience or memories through language and expression, this allows your brain to recall, process, connect and move through the memory without interruption. To simplify, it’s allowing your brain the freedom to process the stuck memory without having to consider your environment, timing or other people. While you’re processing, I check-in occasionally, to redirect you back to focus or check in on your level of activation. When we come to time, I lead you through a grounding guided meditation to return to the here-and-now, and allow you to prepare to transition out of the memory so that you can continue on with your day.

Without any further work from you, you’ll continue processing for another 24-48 hours. When we next meet, I will ask you to recall the event you focused on and we will scale to see how it has shifted in intensity since the Brainspotting session. Most clients report a great reduction in intensity - often having gone from a nearly intolerable experience to recall to now a dull ache. Some clients find they can barely recall the event at all with clarity or emotional impact.