Jesus Came to Set the cAptives Free, Not for us to just coPE

Discovered in 2003 by David Grand, PhD., Brainspotting is a powerful Body/Brain therapeutic tool.  

It works by identifying, processing, and releasing neurophysiologic pain and trauma which has been held in the body and in the brain. 

Physical trauma influences (and is influenced by) the brain. 

Emotional trauma influences (and is influenced by) the body. 

The mind and the body are not separate.

Unresolved physical or emotional traumatic events can cause a variety of symptoms from migraines to muscle loss, from depression to a decrease of coordination.  

All these limitations can have roots in the musculoskeletal tissues themselves, and a major component of those tissues is controlled by the unconscious brain through the autonomic nervous system. 

This part of our brain is the limbic system and is responsible for the flight or fight response to danger or to a traumatic event.

There is a part of our unconscious brain, an entire system, whose job is to keep us safe. 

This is called the Limbic System, and it is vital... But, sometimes, in keeping us safe, it causes unwanted effects such as increased pain signals or bracing and guarding muscles.

Trauma is any experience which is an assault to our sensibilities. 

It is very individualized and personal. This personalization explains why one individual who experiences a mugging, for instance, is left quite traumatized while another, in the same situation, is left unfazed.

One key component which changes a threatening event into a traumatic event, is the component of helplessness.  

If we feel helpless in a dangerous situation, it can become traumatic for us. However, if we are able to have some control and are able to distance ourselves from the danger, the chances of that event becoming traumatic lessen.

Another component that changes a threatening incident into a traumatic one, is who we are the moment before that incident occurs. 

If we are someone who has experienced multiple traumas in our lives, the chances of the oncoming incident becoming traumatic increase. 

The inverse is true. If, in our lives, we have had few experiences of being helpless in dangerous situations, we possess more resilience and are able to handle a threatening situation with less  lasting effect.

Physical trauma creates a cascade of reactions in the body and in the brain. 

Emotional trauma creates a surprisingly similar cascade of reactions in the body and in the brain. 

Regardless of whether the trauma is experienced in the body or experienced emotionally, the end results are experienced in the mind and in the body.

Bracing, apprehension, fear, pain, avoidance – these can all be used to describe both an emotional state and a physical state. 

When a traumatic event has occurred, these descriptions are often appropriately used to describe our emotions and our bodies. 

As an example: A car accident can leave us apprehensive to drive again but, also, our bodies can demonstrate physical apprehension in the form of decreased range of motion or bracing against movement. 

The physical injuries to tissues, of course, are there. But, when the normal physiologic window of time for tissue healing has closed, yet there is still pain or decreased motion within our musculoskeletal system, this can be caused by bracing and apprehension within our brain and our unconscious mind. 

In summary, for those of us who do Brainspotting we know that sometimes our clients come to us with somatic/physical problems that are actually from trauma!

 With careful support by the Brainspotting Practitioner and precise use of eye position, we access memories around the traumatic event. 

We bring those stored memories into awareness, giving the limbic system the chance to receive new information about that traumatic event in the here-and-now- in the present time, together with someone who is present and attentive- the limbic system receives new and non-threatening information about the event and THAT provides a new pathway for healing. 

This gentle, supportive experience tames down the impact of the trauma. It adds new information to the limbic system – through this current experience of safety around that past traumatic event, allowing the brain and body to gain a new perspective that was not accessible before the brainspotting. 

Therefore, from now on, any time that memory surfaces, it includes this new, non-threatening information, and even the ability to see the "upside" of that event in a new way! 

 In an often surprisingly short time the trauma surrounding an event is eased the person is left with the memory which does not include the traumatic feelings and fear that "got stuck" to that memory! 

The benefit then, is that the unconscious brain no longer needs to hijacks the mind to protect us from a non-existent threat! So things that used to register as a threat no longer do! It is just "information" without the "charge" (aka trigger!)

Brainspotting and EMDR access similar parts of the brain, where traditional "talk therapy" cannot reach or help. 

However, each method specializes differently for each client’s unique needs. 

Brainspotting (BSP) allows clients to guide themselves through their own subconscious or deeper brain layers. 

They choose what issue they’d like to start with.  Then, they explore in and around it with only light guidance by their Practitioner. 

This method often uses fixated, steady eye positions. Bilateral Music is optional. 

Whereas, (EMDR) Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing also works by accessing the deep parts of a person's brain, it is more complex in the "setup" of questions and process to get started. The "flow" of the sessions are also very different. 

EMDR usually uses rapid, repetitive eye motions or tapping back and forth rapidly to stimulate the bilateral stimulation. (Only licensed therapists can practice the modality of EMDR)

Having been trained in both, and a recipient to both EMDR and Brainspotting, I find Brainspotting works more rapidly, and is more intuitive. In my experience, it lends itself more to allowing a Spiritual Connection since there is less talking and "starting and stopping" then with EMDR. 

I think both are very very powerful modalities to allow a full body. mind, spirit healing. I personally prefer using Brainspotting and sought Certification for Brainspotting, investing many many hours (and dollars!) into this approach and on the track now to become a Consult for other Practitioners! 

Brainspotting is as effective virtually as in person. You may prefer one or the other. 

I have had clients resolve an issue in just 15-20 minutes of time! For example, a client who I worked with after a car accident, where she was having fear of being in the car and nervous on the road- after 1 session of brainspotting, she was completely free of that anxiety and no longer felt herself "bracing" when she got into cars. Bringing in the new information to her brain that "she was ok" , helped to stop the brain hijacking her system because cars registered as a "threat".

For others, where something may be more "tangled up" and not a "single incident" stress event, it may take multiple sessions.

There are many layers to our human experience and doing this kind of work continues to bring more and more insight and freedom to the many layers with each time building on the former. It's a beautiful, incredible process for me, both as a recipient of the process and a practitioner of it! 

I wrote a few Blog Posts on this. I recommend you check it out if this is a question you have! Check out the Blog Here! 

Yes! The breakthroughs that are attained will not be lost. There may be more work needed, but what is gained is maintained!

Yes! 

Check out my Testimonials (Below) to read how my clients have experienced this! I was asked to share a magazine article on this question and my clients were gracious to share their experience! 

They say it best! 

The question is more easily answered by "What can't brainspotting help with"! I will let you know when I come across that. 

But so far, it has been helpful for each client I have used it for:

• Unexplained Medical Symptoms 
• Betrayal Triggers
• Feeling Confused
• Feeling Alone
• Shame
• Grief
• Confusion
• Feeling Stuck
• Identifying Patterns 
• Sports Performance Issues
• Religious Trauma or Confusion
• SO SO MUCH MORE!