Anyone Have An Opinion On "Brain Spotting" Therapy Techniques?

[user27357]

I am seeing a counselor (Psychologist) that is using a therapy he calls "brains potting". It involves a lot of EMDR similar techniques with the addition of letting my eyes wander from left to right slowly with guidance and seeing where a particular thought or emotion or memory feels the strongest. As we work through the "tell me what you are feeling as you think about X" part of therapy he watches my eyes and steers me back to where I feel the strongest reactions. It is backed up with conventional bilateral stuff, maybe possibly later tappers or clickers in my hands but for now just bilateral sounds in a headset and eye motions guided by the counselor. also using aroma therapy as a way to get back to grounding and as a way to access the session between visits more readily.

Does anyone have any experience with anything like this? I mean, EMDR and bilateral stimulation aside, anything like the eye motions and the term "brain spotting?"

 

[joeylittle]

Does anyone have any experience with anything like this? I mean, EMDR and bilateral stimulation aside, anything like the eye motions and the term "brain spotting?"

Basically, it was developed as an offshoot of EMDR, by Dr. David Grand. He trained in EMDR, and then (like many practitioners) found himself modifying the Shapiro protocols (Dr. Francine Shapiro, who created EMDR) based on his own observations, experience, therapeutic style...

It differs from EMDR in protocol and philosophy, but as far as anyone knows, the mechanism of action is the same. Supporters of Brainspotting would say it's a little less rigid, a little more following the client's lead. Detractors would say it's just a twist put on EMDR by a guy who wanted to sell books and trainings. EMDR was in 1999, and Brainspotting about four, five years after that. There are other offshoots of EMDR (EFT is the one that comes to mind) - the scientific community is kind of split on whether EMDR is actually a novel treatment, or whether it's prolonged exposure therapy in a different package. There are good statistics backing up its efficacy - but the data on the details (how to go about bilateral stimulation, how rigidly to adhere to the protocol in general) is scant.

with the addition of letting my eyes wander from left to right slowly with guidance and seeing where a particular thought or emotion or memory feels the strongest.

There's interesting science behind this as a neurological phenomenon, and not just for traumatic memory.

I think bottom line is - whatever works. It's very likely your psychologist is also EMDR certified - or, if not, that will have been a deliberate choice on their part. I'd encourage you to ask them more about why they like to use brainspotting - they will have an opinion on that, and really, the thing that matters is the strength of their experience with it, and why they choose to use it.

It's (I think) not quite as time consuming to get certified in brainspotting vs EMDR? Or possibly, less expensive....but in my experience, trauma therapists don't just pick their tools based on cost and availability, they tend to be quite well-versed in the various options, and have good reasons why they use what they use.