Brainspotting

Brainspotting (BSP) is not a modality, but a Neuroexperiential approach to life with uncertainty in which Culture comes before Science. A relationally attuned, no-assumptions based, anti-oppressive therapy approach that builds effective and noticeable, neurophysiological changes. BSP accesses the circuitries inside the limbic subcortical brain and nervous system, to initiate the conscious shifts in emotional or somatic charges, and thought patterns.

  • Every session is a phenomenon. You may be cued to observe sensations, emotions that arise. We locate your Brainspot, the eye positioning. From here, we collaborate through the simultaneous experiences of:
    - your observations of the emerging emotional, sensorial, somatic and physiological movements inside,
    - while gazing at your Brainspot,
    - and my witnessing, attuning with your process.

    There is no right or wrong way to process as your unique body system takes lead.
    It may take some getting used to, to the symbolic (less explicit) style of therapy, versus traditional talk therapy experiences.

  • A Brainspot is the eye position that is related to the emotional or energetic activation of an acutely charged or traumatizing material in the limbic brain: amygdala, the hippocampus, the thalamus, through the brainstem. Maintaining that eye position, or Brainspot with the internal focus on the body’s “felt sense” around the traumatized memory and emotional charge, stimulates a deep integrating and healing process inside the brain.

  • Your Brain + Body generate new neuropathways that identifies and deescalates your stress responses by activating and strengthening the vagus nerve. This welcomes free flowing processing, expressing, healing. You are able to expand on your capacity of emotional regulation, and experience noticeable changes in degrees of pain, distress or attachment to a given issue and pattern.

Brainspotting, explained by David Grand PhD

Where you look affects how you feel.

Kaori’s nerdie BSP Journey ☺

BSP Consultant, Certified Brainspotter since 2018
Experiential learning through dyad practices. Demo client in multiple trainings. Actively engaged in own BSP therapy and intensives through the year.

  • BSP 5 with David Grand PhD

  • BSP Poets and Writers with Serene Calkin PT & Kristy Snedden LCSW

  • BSP Masters, David Grand PhD (demo client)

  • BSP Generational work and Somatic Archaeology™, Ruby Gibson PhD

  • BSP I, II, III, IV (all in-person). All re-takes in virtual format, except for BIPOC BSP III & IV re-takes in person

  • BSP Attachment and Caregivers, Jen Delany, LPC

  • BSP Children and Adolescents, Monika Baumann

  • BSP Developmental Trauma & Attachment, Steve Sawyer LCSW

  • BSP Perinatal: Connecting the Rainbow, Jana Glass LPC

  • BSP Limbic Counter-transference, Cynthia Schwartzberg, LCSW

  • BSP with Expansion in Creativity and Performance, Lisa Larson LMFT

  • BSP & Imago: Couples Co-Regulation, Cherie Lindberg LPC

  • BSP with Addictions, Roby Abeles PhD

  • BSP Consultations with Tracy Gantlin-Monroy LPC

BIPOC Brainspotting, NYC 2024

BIPOC Brainspotting, NYC 2024 John Edwards LCSW BSP trainer, me, David Grand LCSW PhD BSP Founder, Linnea Swanson LCSW BSP Trainer

Brainspotting Int’l Conference! Denver CO 2021 Long awaited reunion with mentors, friends, artists & scientists that gather for this unique human phenomena that is now accessible via Brainspotting :D