Helpful Answers to Commonly Asked Questions About Brainspotting Services
Despite the fact that Brainspotting was discovered almost 20 years ago, many people have still not heard about it. In this blog, we’ll be going over common questions that people have when they first learn about Brainspotting. Have questions? Feel free to send them our way!
What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a cutting edge brain and body based treatment modality that doesn’t require you to do a lot of talking. A common saying in the Brainspotting world is that “where you look affects how you feel.” Brainspotting therapists help their clients find a location in their visual field where they can best access the information that they are looking to work through. We call these locations Brainspots, and we are able to find them based on observable reflexes in addition to internal feelings and sensations experienced by our clients.
What is the format of a typical Brainspotting session?
At the start of a Brainspotting session, your therapist will ask you what it is that you want to work on. Depending on your therapist’s style and how much you’d like to share, you will share briefly about the issue you would like to work on. Your Brainspotting therapist will check on your level of activation using a Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS), and if you believe that you are activated enough to get started, your therapist will guide you to find a Brainspot where you will stay focused for much of your session. When Brainspotting, you are encouraged to notice the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations that arise without judging them or trying to force them to be something other than what they are. This noticing of the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations you are experiencing is sometimes referred to as mindful focusing.
Prior to ending your Brainspotting session, your therapist will ask you to rate your level of activation again at the end of session. At LifeSpring, we like to leave a little bit of time at the end of each Brainspotting session to allow you time to verbally process any content that showed up during your Brainspotting session. We also like to make sure that you are feeling grounded prior to leaving the session.
What does a typical Brainspotting session feel like?
Each person’s Brainspotting experience is different, and your Brainspotting experiences will likely vary from session to session, even if you are Brainspotting the same topic over time. During a Brainspotting session, you might notice thoughts, memories, images, emotions, and/or physical sensations. These thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations may shift and change in levels of intensity throughout the session. Some people may feel tired at the end of a Brainspotting session.
How is Brainspotting different from regular talk therapy?
Brainspotting accesses a different part of the brain than talk therapy which can be great for helping us access information that is stored deeply in the brain. Traditional talk therapy requires you to talk and share while talking is not necessary to Brainspot. Many people, however, like to share briefly about their observations while Brainspotting, so that the therapist is aware of what is happening. In Brainspotting, we use biolateral sounds, a pointer, and a location in your visual field (a Brainspot) to help you process information. These tools are not used in traditional talk therapy. In traditional talk therapy, your therapist might work with you to recognize unhelpful thought patterns and to reframe them or change them into thoughts that are more helpful, accurate, and true. With Brainspotting, your own body serves as a guide for gaining insight and healing without needing to deliberately catch unhelpful thoughts and change them.
I’ve heard that you don’t have to talk in Brainspotting. How can that be true?
This is true. Think about what it’s like to dream. Your eyes are closed and you are not talking, but your mind is very active. When Brainspotting, your mind is able to quickly process information without the need for talking. By not talking, we are able to process information more quickly than if you had to communicate everything that was happening during the Brainspotting session. Some people find that talking about a situation helps them get activated while others find that talking takes them out of the process. In that way, it’s important to pay attention to what is most helpful for you and your personal Brainspotting experience.
Is it OK to close my eyes during a Brainspotting session?
You can Brainspot with your eyes open or your eyes closed. Some people find that their eyes get tired or heavy while Brainspotting, so they find it helpful to close their eyes.
Can individuals with visual impairments Brainspot?
Yes. Individuals with low vision and/or other visual limitations can still Brainspot. As noted above, Brainspotting can be done with eyes open or eyes closed. It is the eye position itself that helps us access information that is stored in the brain.
What’s with the purpose of the pointer and biolateral musical?
Brainspotting therapists often use a pointer to help you locate a Brainspot. A pointer isn’t always necessary, however, as there are many other ways to find a Brainspot. Biolateral sounds can be used in EMDR and Brainspotting. In using biolateral sounds, we’re accessing both parts of the brain and body. According to David Grand’s book on Brainspotting, he discontinued the use of the biolateral sounds at one point, and it was his clients thatwho asked to continue using them as they found it helpful for their processing.
When therapists take Phase 1 Brainspotting training, they learn how to do the outside window set up without the biolateral sounds to communicate the point that the sounds are not necessary to Brainspot. In general, it is recommended that the sounds are used at a low volume. While some individuals find the sounds helpful for their processing, others find it distracting. When Brainspotting, we always go with whatever is most helpful to you personally.
I’m a (insert your faith tradition). Brainspotting sounds kind of woo. Does it go against my faith tradition?
Brainspotting is not affiliated with any one religion or spiritual affiliation. Generally speaking, some people get nervous about things that are new or unfamiliar to them. There is no need to fear that Brainspotting will go against your faith or spiritual beliefs.
How can I learn more about Brainspotting?
One of the best places to start would be by reading David Grand’s book, Brainspotting: The Revolutionary New Therapy for Rapid and Effective Change. Another book that covers a variety of topics that can be addressed through Brainspotting is: The Power of Brainspotting: An International Anthology. If you are looking for a faster introduction to Brainspotting, you can check out this resource page for the Baltimore Brainspotting Collective. Here, you’ll find videos, biolateral sounds, and even podcast interviews about Brainspotting. At LifeSpring, we also have several different blogs where you can read about Brainspotting.
How can I find a Brainspotting therapist?
At LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland, we have several Brainspotting therapists who offer online Brainspotting Services to people who live in Maryland. Our office accepts Cigna, Evernorth, CareFirst, BlueCross BlueShield, and Johns Hopkins EHP health plans. Appointments can be scheduled by calling our office at 410-497-8451 Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm, by speaking with our Administrative Assistant. Appointments can also be scheduled from our website.
If you are located outside of Maryland, you can search for Brainspotting providers in your state here. You can also contact the number on the back of your insurance card and ask for a list of Brainspotting therapists who accept your insurance. Popular directories such as PsychologyToday and TherapyDen are other places where you can search for Brainspotting therapists.
How do I know how much Brainspotting experience a therapist has?
Some therapists will advertise their level of training and experience on their website. If this information is not advertised on their website, you can always ask a therapist about their level of training and about the extent of their Brainspotting work with clients.
There are 4 primary phases of Brainspotting training, so you might see therapists advertise that they have completed Phase 1, 2, 3, or 4. Certified Brainspotters have completed Phases 1 and 2, and they have completed a certain number of consultation hours and sessions with clients. Melissa Wesner, LCPC and Alice Zhao, LCPC at LifeSpring, for example, are both Certified Brainspotters.
Can Brainspotting be done online?
Absolutely. This is really great because it can be challenging to find therapists who are trained in Brainspotting. With online Brainspotting services, you can access Brainspotting services even if there isn’t a trained provider in your immediate area. At LifeSpring, for example, we provide online Brainspotting services to individuals across the state of Maryland whereas, we were previously only providing in-person Brainspotting Services to individuals who were located in the Greater Baltimore area.
If you’re reading this article, my guess is that you’re curious about Brainspotting. If that’s the case, I would encourage you to give it a try. One of the best ways to discover Brainspotting is to try it out for yourself! If you’re located in Maryland and interested in giving Brainspotting a try, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at LifeSpring!
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Interested in Online Brainspotting Services for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, PTSD, or Grief and Loss?
If you’re a Marylander who knows that counseling is the direction you need to take, the therapists at LifeSpring Counseling Services are here to help. We offer online counseling services for mindfulness, depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief and loss. We also offer Brainspotting as a specialized service, and Brainspotting can be done online, too!
Here’s how you can get started! Online Brainspotting services for anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, and grief and loss aren’t the only services offered at our Maryland office
The counselors and social workers at our Maryland office also offer counseling services for trauma, grief and loss, boundary setting, communication skills, and difficult life transitions. We also offer specialized counseling services including Brainspotting and spiritually-integrated counseling. Because we are located next to several local universities, we also work with college students and international students.
Disclaimer
Please know that some of the books and resources on this page are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Of course, there’s no additional fee for you if you choose to make a purchase from one of these links. All of these books have been added to this list because they have been read and recommended by at least one of our Maryland-based therapists. Any commission received will be added to a fund to go towards our staff members’ training.
Written by: Melissa Wesner, LCPC
Melissa is the Founder of LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland, and she is a Certified Brainspotter and Brainspotting Consultant who specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and sex therapy.
