What Is Brainspotting And How Does It Help With Trauma?

After going through a traumatic event, it can be challenging to move on. It is hard to find the relief you need from the symptoms that seem to haunt you at every turn. From panic attacks, nightmares, to avoidance, the aftermath of trauma can be debilitating.

This is no fault of your own. Growing evidence suggests that our minds and bodies have a way of storing and holding on to trauma. Trauma can literally be embedded into your brain. The brain is a powerful and complicated piece of equipment.

Decades ago, it was thought that the brain stopped growing or developing after a certain age. Thankfully through advancements in science, we now know that this is far from the truth. Our brains never stop creating new pathways and connections. Which means that there is always hope for healing past wounds.

What Is Trauma?

You have probably heard of someone being traumatized. While many people jokingly talk about this, trauma is a very real and scary situation that people find themselves in. If someone has gone through a traumatic event, this may be because of:

• Domestic or Sexual Abuse

• Car Accidents

• Witnessing A Crime

• Child Abuse

• Emotional Abuse

Essentially, any event that left a lasting and negative impact on a person's psychological well-being can be considered a traumatic event. But, is there anything that can help someone through this?

What Is Brainspotting?

At first glance, the word brainspotting makes this therapy method seem more complex than it actually is. While it is a newer treatment approach for trauma, growing evidence and studies are showing just how effective it really is.

Most people have at least heard of EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is typically the first choice to help clients heal from a traumatic incident or past. Brainspotting is an offshoot of that.

EMDR relies on rapid eye movements to promote healing. Brainspotting relies on eye movement, as well, but instead of rapidly moving the eyes, you are focused on one specific spot. Brainspotting connects to how the brain will store a traumatic memory.

These traumatic memories will manifest themselves through physiological reactions and responses. In order to trigger these responses in a healthy way is to focus the eye on one specific spot, which is where the term brainspotting even comes from.

How It Works

Most Brainspotting sessions will begin by making sure you feel calm. From there, the therapist observes physical reactions as the eyes move such as:

• Facial twitching

• Small lip movements

• Changes in posture

• Excessive blinking

This how your therapist helps you find your brain spot. Where your eyes focus on when you are physically uncomfortable is the gateway to the deeper brain. Accessing this part of your brain is what helps you begin processing the trauma.

Healing From Trauma Using Your Own Brain

Both the brain and body hold on to traumatic memories. Alternatively, and thankfully, they can also help you heal.

As different brain spots are identified by the therapist, they will work with you to begin processing the traumatic memory that is associated with that spot in the brain.

Identifying these spots can help release the stored trauma that the body and mind has held on to.

Finding The Right Therapist

Working with a therapist who is trained in brainspotting will greatly increase the chance of you healing from past wounds.

While it is a new approach, I am confident that together, we can help you heal from the past for a better tomorrow. Connect with us today to begin this journey.