Why Brainspotting?
After 10 years of doing Talk Therapy, I can confidently say there are times when Talk Therapy has limits. I’m still a huge fan of Talk Therapy. Sessions can be rich and vibrant with validation, empathy, and safe spaces for Clinicians to hold grief, powerlessness, joy, and everything in between, with their clients. These moments are powerful. People can feel heard and seen for the first time, feel less isolated in holding their emotions, and find support and guidance in an unbiased, mental health expert.
…and sometimes, after a while, therapy seems to “hit a wall”. In these moments, clients can feel all the support in the world with us therapists, but validation, empathy, learning new coping skills, or “holding space” isn’t enough to create change or relief.
Maybe this is you? Have you had a Great Therapist, but felt stuck in your journey of grief, anger, or desire for change? That’s ok…it doesn’t mean the Therapist isn’t great. It just means it’s time for a different kind of Therapy.
There are so many Alternative Types of Therapy: Wilderness Therapy, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Art Therapy, and Psychodrama…all types that are Research Based and all that I’ve used myself because they are fantastic! But what do we do when we want to create efficient, empowering, lasting neuroplastic change in one to three sessions? …BRAINSPOTTING!
Here are my top 3 reasons for why Brainspotting may be the next best step for you!
It’s Efficient: Talk Therapy requires the use of the Pre-Frontal Cortex, which requires self-awareness, words, and is a part of the brain that holds conscious memory, but not subconscious memories or emotions.
Although it depends greatly on the intensity and longevity of the activating experience/trauma, on average, BSP lasts six sessions, and in some instances can be as short as 1-3 sessions. Traditional talk therapy may last months or even years; where as a handful of brainspotting sessions can be done in weeks or a couple of months.
It’s Empowering: Brainspotting is designed to empower clients to facilitate their natural healing process and promote a sense of agency and control by:
Choosing the starting place and it not having to be a memory. You can start with a feeling, stuckness, frustration, even confusion, and of course, when it applies, a memory as well.
The client decides the pace and depth of their exploration of the distress or experience
Because Brainspotting accesses the brain-body connection, the vehicle healing is happening through, starts and ends with the client’s own feelings or body sensations
The release of stress happens through the body during Brainspotting which releases the client from having to articulate any experiences verbally (making verbalizing their process or memories optional)
Brainspotting’s use of somatic attunement, mindfulness, and the tool of trusting one-self, strengthen’s client’s Inner Resources, fostering self-awareness, resilience, and sense of empowerment.
It builds confidence and self-efficacy by working through performance blocks, fears, and old beliefs that have held clients back. Clients unlock their capabilities and tap into their “most free selves”.
3. Creates Lasting Neuroplastic Change:
Our brains are incredibly adaptable—they’re always changing and rewiring based on our experiences. This ability is called neuroplasticity. Brainspotting taps into this natural ability to help you heal from trauma, anxiety, and emotional pain.
When something overwhelming happens, your brain and body can hold onto that experience—sometimes for years. Brainspotting uses specific eye positions, or “brainspots,” to access those deeper, stuck places in your nervous system where words often can’t reach.
As you stay focused on a brainspot with gentle, mindful awareness, your brain begins to process and release that stored distress. Over time, this helps your brain create new, healthier pathways—so you can respond to life with more ease, calm, and clarity.
It’s not about reliving the past—it’s about helping your brain and body do what they naturally know how to do: heal.
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