**WHAT IS BRAINSPOTTING?**
Brainspotting as a therapy method is closely associated with Dr. David Grand—a doctor who worked with psychological traumas formed in people after traumatic situations. Grand studied psychoanalysis in the 1980s and the specific EMDR method (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in the 1990s. By combining these forms of therapy and adding his own experience, he created an "improved" version of EMDR at the beginning of the 21st century, naming it "brainspotting."
If we try to explain brainspotting very simply—this is a psychotherapy technique that aims to help people deal with psychological trauma or other issues through eye movements.
Grand asserts that the essence of his method lies in the following axiom: "Where you look affects how you feel." Memory areas that hold remnants of past experiences cannot function normally and maintain a tense state—but this can be corrected.
**HOW DOES THE METHOD WORK?**
Our brain is a kind of "portal," with quadrillions of connections formed between its cells. Any process, whether physical or emotional, inevitably affects brain activity.
The visual organs are closely interconnected with the brain—there are 125 million photoreceptors in one eyeball that transmit electrical signals to the brain.
The new technique claims that the point of gaze directly influences how we feel: the position of the eyes determines the correlation with neural brain activity and accumulated internal experiences. Keeping the gaze in a specific position helps activate the brain's neural activity, which the body directs towards processing outdated processes, relieving nervous and emotional tension.
The revolutionary aspect of the method lies in the understanding that the cause of many taboos and behavioral restrictions is rooted in neuron damage.
It is this imbalance in brain function that serves as a brake, hindering the achievement of comprehensive results in all areas of life. The method allows for the elimination of "brain spots" (areas with damaged neurons) and profoundly changes the perception of the surrounding world.
**TECHNIQUE**
Initially, brainspotting identifies the relationship between a specific eye position acquired during unpleasant past experiences and autonomic reactions (such as skin flushing, excessive sweating, restlessness, sneezing, etc.).
Then, in working with the patient, the therapist identifies the coordination position where such signals manifested most intensely and asks the patient to briefly focus their gaze on these points. This sends a signal to the brain to restore and "heal" the damaged neurons, which essentially are the "scars."
When the eye movement becomes smooth, it signals that the trauma has been deeply processed on emotional, social, and neurophysiological levels, and the "brain spot" has been eliminated along with the consequences of hidden experiences.
It is believed that the brainspotting technique affects the limbic system—a collection of brain structures that plays a crucial role in forming emotions and long-term memory.
This system also participates in regulating cognitive processes and maintaining motivation.
Additionally, it provides control over impulses and is responsible for many other psychological aspects that directly influence a person's well-being.
Although brainspotting was originally developed for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specialists who practice the method assert that it is effective in treating anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and ADHD. Many patients report positive results.
It is also worth noting that the effectiveness of brainspotting is a widely debated topic, and long-term studies in fairly large focus groups are still ongoing. The medical community eagerly awaits the results of a comprehensive study of this new approach. Start your journey today—schedule an evaluation with Larissa Yossefi, PMHNP, and take the first step toward meaningful change.
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