Brainspotting

Brainspotting

What is Brainspotting Therapy?

Brainspotting therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses eye positions to access and process core neurophysiological sources of emotional and body pain, trauma, and other related symptoms.

The therapy utilizes the natural tendency for clients to identify one or more intense events locked away in their mind and use this as an inner compass marker on where the held inner experience is located. By focusing on these spots, it allows individuals to process experiences left unresolved from past trauma, leading to greater psychological healing and growth.

What Does Brainspotting Treat?

Brainspotting therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of issues, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Chronic Pain
• Phobias
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Drug Addiction
• Alcohol Addiction
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Anger and Rage Issues

It can also be used as an effective tool in treating physical symptoms linked to deeper emotional issues or trauma memories, such as headaches and stomachaches. Ultimately, it is designed to help people become more aware of their innermost feelings to better manage these intense emotions and ultimately start the healing process.

How Does A Brainspotting Therapy Session Work?

A brainspotting therapy session usually begins with a brief introduction between the client and therapist. During this time, the therapist will assess the stressors present in their life so that they can address them more effectively during the sessions.

The next step is for the client to select an eye position while being mindful and connected to any feelings of distress, physical pain, emotions, or memories that arise from focusing on specific spots around their eyes known as “brainspots”. After selecting an appropriate eye embodiment, clients often report a decreased tension related to the distress, indicative of successful processing, while also verbalizing any insights that arise from processing these feelings.

Finally, therapy concludes with relaxation techniques that allow for deep emotional healing to take place.

Benefits of Brainspotting Therapy in Atlanta

The therapeutic technique of brainspotting in Atlanta has been found to be an effective form of psychotherapy for individuals as young as five years old to adults. Individuals have reported improved moods, decreased levels of depression and anxiety, and increased feelings of relaxation.

Reported long-term benefits also include reduced physical discomforts like headaches, body aches, and stomachaches stemming from unresolved emotional issues. Additionally, it offers the capacity to identify underlying cycles and patterns that trigger unhelpful behaviors like addiction to make sustainable lifestyle changes leading toward a healthier mind and body.

How Do I Know I’m a Good Candidate for Brainspotting?

When a person is suffering from stress, trauma, and emotional distress due to events that have occurred in their life, they can be a suitable candidate for brainspotting therapy. Additionally, people who benefit the most from this psychotherapy are those who struggle with intrusive memories or flashbacks of traumatic experiences, poor concentration or focus, and feeling “stuck” in negative emotions or behavior patterns.

It can also be an effective form of psychotherapy for anyone struggling with mental health disorders brought about from current or past unresolved traumatic experiences. Furthermore, it is especially effective for people struggling with physical symptoms of unresolved trauma, such as insomnia and anxiety. Those seeking personal insight should also consider it because it helps to identify underlying issues causing certain unwanted behaviors.

Our Brainspotting Facilitator

North Atlanta Behavioral Health is pleased to have Raven Rodriguez, LCSW service, as our brainspotting facilitator. Raven is passionate about helping people overcome addiction and develop effective coping mechanisms to resolve trauma and other conditions contributing to alcohol and substance use.

Raven is originally from Cleveland, OH, and graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Master’s in Social Science Administration. Through her education and experience, she has learned how to develop creative interventions using evidence-based approaches to ensure optimal outcomes for her clients.

In addition, Raven believes brainspotting and other forms of therapy sessions should bring relief to the individual while equipping them with new skills, strengths, and tools so they can achieve their goals.