Thank you for sharing. I’m a EMDR therapist that has not seen the need for getting trained in this modality but your explanation is making me consider the training.
They complement each other so beautifully. BSP has become my go-to when EMDR feels too structured or when clients need that more fluid, body-led approach. The training is worth every penny if you're curious about expanding your toolkit.
Thank you for this. Great explaination. My therapist is a skilled Brainspoting practitioner. I am, however, a difficult client. I started BSP with her over a year ago. I was not reluctant and interested in trying something similar but easier than EMDR. We found that I could engage half the time. When I couldn't engage, I would find the music annoying or just the opposite, start analyzing chord progressions and critiquing the artist. Or, I'd find a spot, be activated, then find myself making a grocery list. Last week, both of us determined and invested in all that is Brainspoting, found my recipe. I think my therapist was relieved and I was exhausted. It worked for the entire session. Now we start over. I have a bit, but I don't think it will take long. I'll share this with her.
I’m curious as to what your recipe was? I had a good run with 4-5 sessions with my therapist that I was not expecting to be able to find success with. After each one I was EXHAUSTED and slept the next 2 days after. Since then we’ve really struggled with it and she suggested we just give the EMDR a try to see how I respond to it. I absolutely love my therapist and feel very safe and secure with her. My brain just has a lot to unpack and eventually something will happen again and I’ll respond hopefully!
The fact that you're sleeping for two days tells me your system is processing hard. Some brains need more time to find their rhythm with BSP, and honestly, having EMDR as a backup option with a therapist you trust sounds perfect. Your brain will tell you what it needs when it's ready
My therapist had me find a safe "spot" instead of an activating one. She thought I might disassociate because I didn't feel safe in my body. (My brain feels safe with her. Weve worked together a long time. 😀) So the task was to find a 10 spot somewhere where my body got still, I didn’t feel any activation, and I felt focused. (I have ADHD). We went into the discussion from that angle and tried to keep the score above a 7. We've worked on my history for a while so she can ask specific questions (that I've answered in the past) and watch me. We're wondering if something will come up from a different angle if my body feels safe.
That's such smart clinical thinking, especially when dissociation is a concern. Finding that calm, focused place first can be like building a home base before exploring. The fact that she's watching for micro-expressions while asking familiar questions shows she really gets the subtlety of this work.
This article is so well written and super informative! Brainspotting has completely changed my life- it’s so hard to explain exactly what happens but it has made such a profound difference in my anxiety and the way I move through the world. 💖
Love this, thanks for sharing about Brainspotting! I am also trained in Brainspotting and am always in awe of how profound the work can be. More people (therapists/practitioners and clients) should be aware of this modality, it is so powerful.
Thank you, Ellen! I'm always excited to connect with other BSP practitioners. You're so right that more people need to know about this modality. The profoundness never stops surprising me.
Hello, I am a therapist myself and am drawn to therapies like EMDR and somatic, as well as IFS. Admittedly, I also had some reservations about brain spotting as being just another take on EMDR, but this article helped clarify the differences for me. Personally, I am not trained in EMDR as I think the structured nature of it is not appealing to me. Brainspotting seems to be more fluid. Is this method used alongside talk therapy or in place of it? Would the best way to get introduced to it be to meet with a therapist trained in this modality (if not wanting/able to pay for an expensive training)?
You nailed it about the fluidity. that's exactly what drew me in too. BSP can work alongside talk therapy or be the primary modality, really depends on what the client needs. I'd definitely recommend experiencing it first as a client before training. It's like the difference between reading about swimming and actually getting in the water. Most BSP therapists are happy to talk about the modality during a consultation call too. I believe there are also some facebook groups that are for both emdr and brainspotting and that might be a good place to start.
Thanks. I know more people are aware of EMDR and not as many know about brain spotting, so I imagine it would be helpful to have both certifications instead of just brainspotting in order to attract more clients.
As a non professional, this explanation is so easy to read and understand. Thank you for sharing. I do not know if this is already available in Belgium…
Thank you for sharing and explaining this way! I’ve been working with my therapist who is certified for 2 years now. It’s helped me so much but still have a hard time explaining this to my friends and family. They are just so thankful to see me healing ❤️🩹
This was fascinating! Thank you for sharing about this modality. I might look into it when I get back into the states after this year's nomadic journey is finished.
I have never tried this therapy but I have noticed I find myself holding certain specific eye positions when I am feeling/recalling something or just very emotional. I can definitely tell a connection with eye positioning and a certain place of activity or activation within my brain. I am fascinated by this modality and want to learn more and perhaps find a practitioner to experience it for myself.
Thank you for explaining and introducing us to this method
You're so welcome! I'm glad it helped introduce you to something new.
Thank you for sharing. I’m a EMDR therapist that has not seen the need for getting trained in this modality but your explanation is making me consider the training.
They complement each other so beautifully. BSP has become my go-to when EMDR feels too structured or when clients need that more fluid, body-led approach. The training is worth every penny if you're curious about expanding your toolkit.
I googled therapists but they are all online. This doesn't seem like something that can be done online. Can it?
yes it absolutely can be done virtually!
i'm curious to try
Thank you for this. Great explaination. My therapist is a skilled Brainspoting practitioner. I am, however, a difficult client. I started BSP with her over a year ago. I was not reluctant and interested in trying something similar but easier than EMDR. We found that I could engage half the time. When I couldn't engage, I would find the music annoying or just the opposite, start analyzing chord progressions and critiquing the artist. Or, I'd find a spot, be activated, then find myself making a grocery list. Last week, both of us determined and invested in all that is Brainspoting, found my recipe. I think my therapist was relieved and I was exhausted. It worked for the entire session. Now we start over. I have a bit, but I don't think it will take long. I'll share this with her.
I’m curious as to what your recipe was? I had a good run with 4-5 sessions with my therapist that I was not expecting to be able to find success with. After each one I was EXHAUSTED and slept the next 2 days after. Since then we’ve really struggled with it and she suggested we just give the EMDR a try to see how I respond to it. I absolutely love my therapist and feel very safe and secure with her. My brain just has a lot to unpack and eventually something will happen again and I’ll respond hopefully!
The fact that you're sleeping for two days tells me your system is processing hard. Some brains need more time to find their rhythm with BSP, and honestly, having EMDR as a backup option with a therapist you trust sounds perfect. Your brain will tell you what it needs when it's ready
My therapist had me find a safe "spot" instead of an activating one. She thought I might disassociate because I didn't feel safe in my body. (My brain feels safe with her. Weve worked together a long time. 😀) So the task was to find a 10 spot somewhere where my body got still, I didn’t feel any activation, and I felt focused. (I have ADHD). We went into the discussion from that angle and tried to keep the score above a 7. We've worked on my history for a while so she can ask specific questions (that I've answered in the past) and watch me. We're wondering if something will come up from a different angle if my body feels safe.
That's such smart clinical thinking, especially when dissociation is a concern. Finding that calm, focused place first can be like building a home base before exploring. The fact that she's watching for micro-expressions while asking familiar questions shows she really gets the subtlety of this work.
This article is so well written and super informative! Brainspotting has completely changed my life- it’s so hard to explain exactly what happens but it has made such a profound difference in my anxiety and the way I move through the world. 💖
This comment made my day! Thank you for sharing that it's made such a difference for your anxiety.
Love this, thanks for sharing about Brainspotting! I am also trained in Brainspotting and am always in awe of how profound the work can be. More people (therapists/practitioners and clients) should be aware of this modality, it is so powerful.
Thank you, Ellen! I'm always excited to connect with other BSP practitioners. You're so right that more people need to know about this modality. The profoundness never stops surprising me.
Hello, I am a therapist myself and am drawn to therapies like EMDR and somatic, as well as IFS. Admittedly, I also had some reservations about brain spotting as being just another take on EMDR, but this article helped clarify the differences for me. Personally, I am not trained in EMDR as I think the structured nature of it is not appealing to me. Brainspotting seems to be more fluid. Is this method used alongside talk therapy or in place of it? Would the best way to get introduced to it be to meet with a therapist trained in this modality (if not wanting/able to pay for an expensive training)?
You nailed it about the fluidity. that's exactly what drew me in too. BSP can work alongside talk therapy or be the primary modality, really depends on what the client needs. I'd definitely recommend experiencing it first as a client before training. It's like the difference between reading about swimming and actually getting in the water. Most BSP therapists are happy to talk about the modality during a consultation call too. I believe there are also some facebook groups that are for both emdr and brainspotting and that might be a good place to start.
Thanks. I know more people are aware of EMDR and not as many know about brain spotting, so I imagine it would be helpful to have both certifications instead of just brainspotting in order to attract more clients.
It’s been life changing for me
Some wounds live too deep for language, buried in the body’s unspoken archives, lodged in the places thought can’t touch.
Brainspotting listens there.
It meets us in the silence beneath story, in the stillness where eyes find the thread back to what was frozen.
We stay with that thread until the body exhales what it’s held for years, and the mind doesn’t need to explain to be free.
As a non professional, this explanation is so easy to read and understand. Thank you for sharing. I do not know if this is already available in Belgium…
I’ve never heard of this. Very interesting.
Thank you for sharing and explaining this way! I’ve been working with my therapist who is certified for 2 years now. It’s helped me so much but still have a hard time explaining this to my friends and family. They are just so thankful to see me healing ❤️🩹
This was fascinating! Thank you for sharing about this modality. I might look into it when I get back into the states after this year's nomadic journey is finished.
BSP will still be here when you're ready to explore it. Safe travels!
I have never tried this therapy but I have noticed I find myself holding certain specific eye positions when I am feeling/recalling something or just very emotional. I can definitely tell a connection with eye positioning and a certain place of activity or activation within my brain. I am fascinated by this modality and want to learn more and perhaps find a practitioner to experience it for myself.
That connection you're feeling is exactly what BSP works with. I'd love to hear about your experience if you do end up trying it.
Definitely! Thank you!
As a long-time EMDR therapist, I'm intrigued to learn more about this.....
I think you'd find the similarities and differences really interesting. They're like cousins - related but with very different personalities.