Brainspotting experiences?? please?

[UnicornSightings]

ermegerd I NEED to chat with people who are doing this. It's so awesome and it SUCKS to have no one to talk to about it. Please be out there!!

Universe, I don't ask for much (ok that's a lie) but please send me some peeps to relate to about this! And talk about the trippiness that is brainspotting. Amen.

 

[Dashboard]

I've just started this, I've only had one session of it so it's all new to me but I will keep you posted as I go along. First session was intense, didn't expect that. Lots of physical shaking. But it's too early for me to offer any insights yet

 

[UnicornSightings]

I've just started this, I've only had one session of it so it's all new to me but I will keep you posted as I go alo...

Yay!! Thank you for commenting!! Can I just ask you, did memories naturally come up or did you have to really work at them?

 

[Dashboard]

My experience was very body focussed. I was a bit sceptical about the whole thing, but then my heart started racing and I started to feel intense stress and I shook and it was just quite full on. At one point I wanted to shout "I don't like this make it stop" but it felt like being on a ride at an amusement park and like I couldn't get off until the ride was finished.

It felt like a flashback but I wasn't thinking of any specific memories it was all in my body, it felt like my body had a mind of its own and was moving by itself etc. To be honest I found it a bit scary but I'll be interested to keep trying and see how it goes. I'm not sure if this experience was typical though.

 

[Valentino]

I recently started using BrainSpotting technique in small group sessions, a combination of case-study learning but I'm also exploring how group audience can influence the dynamics.

I saw the founder David Grand present at Psychotherapy Networker, and he did 2 live demo case studies, and also recently saw one of his top trainers also do a live session. I've also seen video workshop of David Grand with another 2 live demos.

BrainSpotting caught my attention because of it's simplicity of technique, but also how it seems to bypass the story. Guiding the attention towards raw sensations, is a somatic approach that is naturally bottom-up.

I do wonder how the therapist's ability to hold space and stay non-reactive during the session influences the effectiveness of this technique? They call this aspect 'Dual Attunement Frame', where the therapist has the patient's 'back' with an attuned body to body physical presence. And they use analogy of a comet & it's tail, the therapist stays in the tail section and follows the lead of the patient.

My personal approach is more anchored by spiritual self-inquiry combined with a disciplined zen-like meditation practice. But there were a few times when I had some cathartic type releases, triggered by external interactions. My expanded self-awareness capacity, probably allowed my mind to get out of the way and allow the raw sensations and emotions to flow to the surface. Once things started flowing, it was a bit of an automatic roller-coaster type experience.

So far I have only used BrainSpotting for one person, and in 40 minutes a lot was processed. She had heat come up her face, and then later had heat come up in her upper body along with lots of tension release in her shoulders. These symptoms match cathartic physical response to Anger based on Thomas Scheff's theory & personal experience.

I do think there are probably limitations with BrainSpotting, it seems like a very good technique to deal with memory reconsolidation. But doesn't really address interpersonal dynamics, communication, and life skills. Internal Family Systems might help fill in some of those gaps.

 

[JadeE74]

Yes, battery brainspotting for around 8or 9 months already. At dust I only felt feelings, I was so angry I could never see what I was processing. But now I get pictures. Once for 7 weeks straight, my mind brain spotted my mother's 2 days of passing away, then sometimes I get the sane glimpses for weeks, but no order to them, just intense small glimpses of my horrible past. I can try all I want to pick something, but my mind always is the one to really choose.
I have near panic attacks, my body involuntarily will jump, but bc of my own embarrassment of try to control it, probably not the best choice to try to control it. I wish I could let whatever is suppose to happen, happen.
I will feel anger, sadness, every emotion at some point. Sometimes tears come but I never cry, again probably me controlling out.
I have seen changes in me, but not way I expected, it's more line I can talk in groups easier, I feel more assertive, easier fur me in general to talk to general public, but the triggers are still there. Maybe I just have lots to process through.
I'm glad there are people on here who are doing this, bc the internet is vague on what I may experience. I felt alone during this process, and when I bring up to T my feelings about brainspotting, she says tigers really no way to tell what will happen during it. Then my mind goes to, my experience must be nothing she has ever seen.

 

[JadeE74]

My experience was very body focussed. I was a bit sceptical about the whole thing, but then my heart started racing...

Yep, this! Except I see pictures now. Still trying to figure out if that's better or not.