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Brainspotting

“Where you look affects how you feel.” Dr David Grant

Brainspotting is a brain based, adaptive and bilateral therapy, [[1]] which was uncovered by accident by Dr David Grant in 2003, Dr Grant was a versed EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprossessing)[[2]] and SE (Somatic Experiencing, in is therapies however he noticed that the client seemed to have certain involuntary responses during the therapy, thus the therapist slows down the movement to let the client work through the glitch.

Initially BSP shared aspects of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and hypnotherapy, it’s foundation rest in the theory that the eye position stimulates brain spots, which are able to raise psychological assimilation processes of memories of trauma. It hypothesizes that eye position can have a direct correlation which is pertinent to traumatic emotional experiences. When these spots are situated, and keeping eye fixation leads to resolution and healing of these traumatic memories which are are located in the areas of the neurophysiology which are non-cognitive and non- verbal.

What is Brainspotting

• It is Psychotherapeutic. • Works by observing the field of vision. • Spots significant gaze locations (this is where the name comes from). • Proposed that these had a correlation to the specific trauma (in some cases these could relate to other issues).

Glitches

Responses to Brainspotting therapy

• Tilt of the head • Rapid eye movement (not REM related to sleep) • Eye freezes • Eye twitch • Squint • Widening of the eyes

Types of responses

• There are 3 different ways of locating eye position or brainspots. • 1) Outside window (where the therapist finds the spot), • 2) Inside window (where the client finds the spot), • 3) Gaze spotting (when the clients gaze does is not responsive or interactive).

Brainspotting can be used in conjunction with any other therapy as CBT, or with a combination of therapy and medication. Brainspotting stemmed out of EMDR, it was discovered by Dr. David Grant, it is potentially more flexible and powerful then EMDR, and because it is more flexible it may have different results with each and every client.

Brainspotting uses intuition to tackle uses that could either be dormant or active on the mind of a client.

How it works

As with EMDR the therapist uses an object or the finder to guide the gaze of the client, the object will move from side to side however in this case the movement will be much slower allowing the client time to be able to express any underpinned issues. • The client is required to be a relaxed stated (almost like a hypnosis state). • Dr Grant calls it focused activation. • It spots irregular eye movement. • This is due to psycho-trauma, emotional or somatic symptoms.

Brainspotting explained: This type of therapy requires that both the client and therapist cooperate with each other to locate the brainspots. In the other words locating the eye position that relates to a particular emotional trauma, incident and therefore becomes a response. When this focus is found the client is advised to allow this connection established between the gaze and the spot in the brain to work through the trauma, to process the traumatic occurrence. As it differs from client to client the results also differ however it is fluid enough to allow the therapist to use resources during sessions if needed to help the process and the client.

Brainspotting Vs EMDR

• Brainspotting is more flexible • Brainspotting used the fixed gaze and EMDR uses the eye movement. • In brainspotting no talking therapy integration is required however it can be used. • Brainspotting can be used to help with performance enhancement. • More adequate for use with children and teens. • Brainspotting can be used on its own or in conjunction with other therapies. • It works through trauma and other dysfunctional emotion on a deeper level.

Compared to EMDR Brainspotting is less known because it has not been around as long, however it is found to be more popular regarding working with children and adolescents. As it is less likely to over-stimulate it is arguably more suitable for clients of any age. Additionally it is not required to be accompanied with talking therapies, it can either be done is conjunction or on its own. The amount of talking, which takes place in sessions, is entirely the choice of the client, therefore they can chose to talk or not through brainspotting.

Negative aspects of Brainspotting

• Strong relationship (in tune with client could affect the boundaries) • Transference • Manage emotional responses • Environment has to be suitable for the therapy and client (too clinical vs non clinical) • Clients could experience unique powerful “break-throughs”.

Evidence gathered

There have been some studies that have used brainspotting to help people that have gone through traumatic events like the terrorist attack in Paris the Batacaln, BSP was used and results have shown there was a positive outcome, the victim was able to show improvements and even though further testing is required it results exhibited were favourable (Masson, et al., 2017).

It has been proposed that the ability to heal traumatic events or psychological issues in general with BSP happens in the midbrain at the level of the The emotions and memory and body sensations link is linked to connections between the periaqueductal gray which is an anatomic and functional interface the forebrain and the lower brainstem with the superior colliculus which is a paired structure of the mammalian midbrain (Corrigan & Grand, 2013). There could also potentially be that the brainspot engages a retinocollicular pathway to the medial pulvinar, the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, and the intraparietal sulcus, which has connectivity with the insula.

Brainspotting has had some positive results regarding treating children and young people with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), due to online sexual abuse, BSP is thought to be beneficial helping deal with and overcome the trauma (Hanson, 2017).

References

Corrigan, F., & Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: Recruiting the midbrain for accessing and healing sensorimotor memories of traumatic activation. Medical Hypotheses, 80(6), 759-766. Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: The revolutionary new therapy for rapid and effective change. Sounds True. Hanson, E. (2017). 7 Promising Therapeutic Approaches for Children, Young People and their Families Following Online Sexual Abuse. Online Risk to Children: Impact, Protection and Prevention, 123. Hildebrand, A., Grand, D., & Stemmler, M. (2017). Brainspotting–the efficacy of a new therapy approach for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in comparison to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 5(1). Masson, J., Bernoussi, A., & Moukouta, C. S. (2017). Brainspotting Therapy: About a Bataclan Victim. Global Journal of Health Science, 9(7), 103