Today you’ll learn all about brainspotting risks and side effects.
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is an innovative therapy that combines aspects of EMDR, and brain and body-based therapies. (*)
Brainspotting therapy is based on the belief that certain eye positions can access specific ‘brainspots’ where traumatic memories are stored and help you process emotions related to those memories. (*)
Brainspotting therapy is used to treat issues like PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, etc. (*) (*)
Typically, Brainspotting treatment lasts for about six sessions.
Related: Brainspotting Vs EMDR (Which One Is More Effective?)
How Does Brainspotting Work?
Brainspotting developed out of an EMDR session in 2003, when Dr. David Grand noticed his client’s trauma emerged when their eye position was fixed in a specific position.
Dr. Grand looked for this pattern with other EMDR clients and discovered that each patient had a specific eye positions where they could access traumatic memories and emotions.
Dr. Grand, believes that eye position correlate to certain places or ‘spots’ in the brain that store traumatic memories.
Each person’s brainspot is different, so the therapist needs to first locate the spot using eye movement (right and left; up and down).
Once the brainspot is identified, brainspotting uses mindful awareness to process these memories and emotions.
Brainspotting Risks and Side Effects
Brainspotting therapy is considered safe and highly effective in treating a wide range of disorders.
However, one risk of brainspotting is the possibility that you may experience intense, overwhelming emotions related to traumatic experiences during the session.
Because Brainspotting is a subcortical, rapid processing method, you may also feel emotionally and physically exhausted, as if you had a powerful release, after the session is over. Some describe that feeling as a feeling of peace and calm.
Related: How to Practice Self-Brainspotting Safely?
References
- Brainspotting Therapy: Definition, Techniques, and Efficacy (verywellmind.com)
- Research and Case Studies – Brainspotting
- Recognition of the neurobiological insults imposed by complex trauma and the implications for psychotherapeutic interventions – PMC (nih.gov)
- Brainspotting – the efficacy of a new therapy approach for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in comparison to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing | Hildebrand | Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology (unime.it)
