Brainspotting Therapy
Brainspotting Therapy in Ontario virtually and at our wellness studio in Kincardine, Ontario. Brainspotting for trauma healing, processing past events gently so you can move forward in life with ease.
Brainspotting is the Best Way We Can Use The Hippocampus To Release Traumatic Memories
The hippocampus is in the center of our brain. It is where all of our dreams and visualizations come from. We use the hippocampus to help our clients gently process and make sense of their past lived experiences by allowing space for our brain to create new neural connections. The hippocampus connects to our ocular vision through the 6th cranial nerve. It is very easy to heal stored memories in this way because we don’t need to use our prefrontal cortex to reason or understand the story that comes when we set up a brainspotting session. It is not necessary to feel all of the negative emotions that are commonly felt around trauma. Instead, we can focus on feeling good in our bodies and calm in our minds so that we are able to let go of the burdens we carry.
Brainspotting Is How We Heal Our Memories In Real Time
When we are performing brainspotting therapy in a client session, our brain is actively healing itself. This is because our vision is rooted in our synaptic connections, meaning that when we find the eye placement connected to the physical sensation that is tied to the past experience, we are rewiring how our brain feels about it.
Brainspotting therapy is the perfect modality to use in therapy when clients are not sure what the trauma is or how to access the memories that have been repressed. This is because brainspotting therapy doesn’t require us to think about the memories. It just requires that we are willing to be open to new possibilities.
Brainspotting Therapy in Ontario
Brainspotting therapy is available across Ontario virtually. There is no need to be in-person for brainspotting therapy sessions, as it is possible to set-up therapy sessions for brainspotting in either case. It is very simple to prepare for a brainspotting session. All you need is to have an intention and to be open to trying something new.
During a brainspotting therapy session, there is a lot of space. This is intentional, and the therapist has been trained to know when to speak and when to allow the client to go inward and process. Some clients worry that they will not find the correct eye placement. This is not a concern because the therapist is helping the client to find the best position depending on the client’s capacity to feel. It is also sometimes a concern that there is going to be a lot of traumatic memories to come up. This never happens, because the hippocampus offers us more gentle, dream-like visualizations that we use to process our emotions. The final concern that some clients bring up is that they may feel worse at the end of the session. Typically, clients feel more calm and at ease after they finish processing. Sometimes they may feel really tired, so we highly recommend that clients give themselves time to rest after brainspotting theapy. There may be emotional releases that occur during the brainspotting therapy session. This is to be expected, and a positive sign that the trauma is being processed. We are fully present and attentive to our clients during therapy sessions, no matter if it is a brainspotting session or not.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brainspotting Therapy
Is Brainspotting Used to Treat Trauma Only?
Brainspotting is used for many different things. It was developed originally to help figure skaters and other high-level athletes to enhance their performance. It can be used to help with public speaking, performing sports, becoming more outgoing in social situations, and becoming more at ease being called out in class. Brainspotting is also used to bring clients closer to their core Self. Brainspotting can prepare clients to go deeper into other modalities such as Compassionate Inquiry and Internal Family Systems. It helps to regulate the nervous system by bringing in more positive feelings and letting go of negative associations.
Does Brainspotting Cause Protectors in the Client’s System to Become Threatened?
We all have ways that we cope in life. We develop many different protective layers so that we don’t become triggered every second of the day. Some types of therapy can cause these protective layers to become threatened, resulting in backlash (increased negative sensations and behaviours). This isn’t the case with brainspotting because it is creating more safety in the brain and body. It isn’t trying to disrupt or change anything about the client. Instead, it is helping the client to become more at ease with themselves.Brainspotting is a great tool to use for clients who struggle with shame and self-doubt. It allows them to begin to trust themselves and their bodies more.
Are You Interested in Hearing More About How Brainspotting Can Help? Book a Quick Call With Us to Learn More
FAQ
How long are therapy sessions?
Each session is 60-minutes in length. The intention of our sessions is based upon what you would like to focus our time together on.
How much are therapy sessions per hour?
The hourly rate for therapy sessions is $150/hour, no HST.
Do you take insurance?
After payment is received, an email with a receipt will be sent. You can submit your receipt for private insurance coverage. Coverage is dependent on your employer or union’s insurance plan and the professional designations of your therapist. Please consider calling to confirm with your insurance company before booking your first session to avoid any disappointment.
If you do not have insurance or your company does not cover our sessions, you can save
the receipts and submit as a health expense at tax time.
What therapeutic modalities do you use?
Our approach with couple’s therapy is based on the IFS model for couple’s therapy, called “Intimacy from the Inside Out.” It is based on supporting couples to come together to feel more calm, connected, and curious in their relationship. My primary training in psychotherapy is Compassionate Inquiry, a year-long psychotherapeutic approach that integrates parts work, polyvagal theory, somatics and psychodynamics. This means that together we will be looking at how your body feels, how your mind thinks, what emotions you have, what you believe about yourself & the world, and how your nervous system responds.
Do you work with children?
Yes, we also work with children and youth, ages 6+. We incorporate play into our sessions as needed, as well as gentle trauma processing approaches, nervous system regulation strategies, and relational.
Where do I book a session?
When you’re ready, you can send me an email through our Contact page, or you can book your free 15-minute discovery call on our booking page.
