Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a mindful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms. Brainspotting is a simultaneous form of diagnosis and treatment that can be enhanced with bilateral sound, which is deep and powerful yet focused and containing.
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Brainspotting gives us a tool, within the clinical relationship, to neurobiologically locate, focus, process, and release experiences and symptoms that are typically out of reach of the conscious mind and its intellectual and language capacity. It works with the deep brain and the body through its direct access to the autonomic and limbic systems within the body’s central nervous system. Brainspotting is a healing physiological tool/treatment which has profound psychological, emotional, and physical consequences.
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It is possible to release trauma from either a distressed or calm place in the body. The power of Brainspotting is that you do not necessarily have to relive the traumatic event at the same level of intensity as the original trauma. Because of this, it is possible to resolve the trauma in a more contained manner. Trauma and stress can often overwhelm the nervous system. With my support, Brainspotting helps you discharge the trauma and calm the nervous system.
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The symbiotic relationship between our brain and body is foundational to the Brainspotting process. When trauma occurs, it’s not just our cognitive centers that are impacted; our body retains the imprint of those events. By focusing our gaze, Brainspotting connects to this bi-directional system, targeting the neural pathways that store both emotional and somatic experiences. This allows for the release of not just psychological traumas, but also physical constraints that may have arisen from them.
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“Where you look affects how you feel.” Specifically, a Brainspot is a relevant eye position chosen either by you or with my assistance, as you slowly scan your field of vision while thinking about the emotionally charged issue. Often, you can locate a Brainspot by noticing an increase of emotions or body sensations in a particular visual location. I may find Brainspots by observing reflexive responses in your phyisiology, such as changes in you eyes, facial expression, breathing, or body position. A Brainspot gives access to the activation of the emotionally charged issue in the brain. Staying on that Brainspot invites processing from the bottom up and from the inside out. As attention is given to your processing of the issue, the charged material moves in a direction of discharge and healing. This is not just an exploration of your mind but also a physical journey, unlocking your body’s potential for healing and rejuvenation.
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​How Bilateral Music Enhances Brainspotting
Our auditory senses play a crucial role in the Brainspotting journey. If you have dual speakers/headphones in your telehealth setting where you meet with me for therapy, we can incorporate bilateral music, a technique that alternates sounds between the left and right ears, creating a therapeutic rhythm. In person, we use headphones to achieve the same effect. This auditory experience aids in the harmonization of the brain-body system, facilitating a deeper connection and amplifying the healing potential.​​
Brainspotting as a Resource
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​Do you need assistance with:
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Enhancing your performance for important sports events or games
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Preparing for a major artistic performance, presentation, or exam
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Needing to calm yourself in preparation for a surgery
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Improving your day-to-day functioning
Brainspotting can also be used to identify and strengthen inner resources. I use the Brainspotting "Inside Window" technique to find the "Resource Spot" by asking you to scan your body for a place that's grounded, strong, relaxed, and peaceful. We check to see if the place and the feeling are stronger while looking through the right or the left eye, while looking up, down, or straight out, and to the right, left, or straight ahead. When we find your "Spot", I play bilateral music until the feeling is strong, or incorporate other bilateral stimulation if dual speakers/headphones are not available. Once strengthened, this "Spot" resource can then be retrieved and used whenever you feel stressed or anxious.
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Brainspotting extends its therapeutic reach beyond cognitive healing. It addresses the unrealized physical imprints left by traumas, enabling the alleviation of emotional burdens and the release of physical limitations. Creative types, athletes, and professionals alike can benefit. From the artist’s creative flow to an athlete’s physical performance, Brainspotting offers a holistic approach that enhances both mental acuity and physical excellence.
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“Brainspotting is based on the profound attunement of the therapist with the patient, finding a somatic cue and extinguishing it by down-regulating the amygdala. It isn’t just PNS (Parasympathetic Nervous System) activation that is facilitated, it is homeostasis”
—Robert Scaer, MD, “The Trauma Spectrum”
Brainspotting Intensives
Are you making progress in your weekly therapy but yearning for an accelerated breakthrough? Brainspotting Intensives are designed for those who are ready to fast track their growth and achieve a significant shift in their life, as well as for those whose schedules or lifestyles don’t easily accommodate regular therapy sessions. Intensives are ideally in-person but can be done over telehealth.
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Intensives provide dedicated and intentional time to immerse yourself in your healing and fully process deep wounds or issues without the distraction of a time limit and other commitments that tend to be part of our day to day. If you're looking for a fresh perspective and a deeper dive into your personal development, these customized intensives offer the perfect opportunity to propel your progress forward.
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Choose from the following tailored options:
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half-day - three hours
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full-day - six hours plus a lunch break and shorter breaks as needed
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two-day - two days of six hours each plus a lunch break and shorter breaks as needed
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Each intensive is crafted to provide an immersive and dynamic experience, propelling you toward your goals with renewed energy and clarity. If you travel from outside the Denver, CO, area for an in-person intensive, I can recommend accommodations nearby.
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Contact me to discover how our Brainspotting Intensives can ignite your transformation.