What To Expect in a Brainspotting Therapy Session

Brainspotting therapy is not your usual psychotherapy/talk therapy. It was discovered by David Grand, Ph.D., in 2003. It’s a therapy type in which spots in your visual field help you process trauma.

Our brain’s subcortical area is responsible for emotions, motion, consciousness, and learning. When trauma gets trapped in this area, it can be hard to identify and process it. With brainspotting therapy, this trauma can be accessed

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What Happens During a Brainspotting Therapy Session

When you reach out to your therapist for brainspotting, they’ll first want to learn more about you. You can have to engage with them briefly and talk about why you want this therapy. As the therapist learns more about you, they’ll understand why you need help and what for. You can share your concerns with them and ask them about the results.

Activation In Your Body

Your therapist will check different areas in your body where you might feel tension, pressure, or tingling sensations. You will be asked to rate the intensity of this sensation. This will work as a baseline for your therapist so they know where to start.

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Activation isn’t always easy for some people. If someone has complex trauma, they might find it too overwhelming. So, instead of activation, your therapist will ask you about the most grounded or calm area in your body. They will ask you to scan your body and find areas of relaxation and calmness.

Looking For the Brainspot

In this step, your therapist will help you find the brainspot. Using a pointer, they will scan and test your visual field. The pointer will be moving up and down, so your horizontal and vertical visual field is tested, along with your eye movements, body movements, and facial expressions.

These cues will help your therapist find the spot where your brain is the most heightened and activated. Then, your therapist will ask you to focus on this spot and keep your eyes on the pointer as you process.

Music

Often, therapists also use music to stimulate processing. Your brain can be activated with music, and specific music types help a person’s brain process things better. This is optional but great for enhancing the overall experience.

Benefits of Brainspotting Therapy

Brainspoting therapy helps reduce negative patterns and symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. It’s a great alternative to Anxiety counseling or depression therapy. Some other benefits are increased energy, better sleep, reduced pain, and less pain when thinking of past experiences.

If you’re looking for a PTSD therapist in WI who can provide you with EMDR or brainspotting therapy, visit KB Psychotherapy. We also have a team of trained DBT and CBT therapists in Wisconsin who offer depression therapy, Anxiety counseling, and ADHD counseling in Kenosha.

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