Mindfulness involves being fully present in the moment without judgment or the desire to change it. It includes observing one’s thoughts, feelings, and body sensations without becoming entangled in them. The ‘What is Mindfulness?’ info sheet listed below introduces mindfulness, defines it, explains its key elements, outlines its benefits and describes four practice exercises. These exercises include meditation, mindful walking, body scan, and using our five senses to ground ourselves in the moment. Practicing mindfulness daily can help improve mental health, enhance relationships, and build resilience.

Brainspotting (BSP) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes the brain-body connection to address emotional and physical pain, trauma, and other challenging symptoms. Discovered in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, brainspotting involves identifying specific eye positions, called Brainspots, to access and process neurophysiological subsystems linked to emotional and physical experiences. This can lead to the release of stored memories and the re-regulation of the brain-body system. Brainspotting can be enhanced with BioLateral sound and heavily relies upon the therapist’s attunement to the client’s here-and-now experience.

During a Brainspotting session, the therapist and client work together to identify a focal point related to the issue. Using mindfulness and sometimes BioLateral Sound, the goal is to stimulate the brain and body to reorganize and release the material causing disturbance. The therapist follows the client’s lead, allowing them to process the experience at their own pace.

Research has shown that Brainspotting was highly effective in individuals impacted by tragedy, and ongoing studies suggest its effectiveness in promoting better brain-body connection, clearer thinking, and increased creativity. Additionally, Brainspotting therapy is used for disturbing memories, often a symptom of trauma, and is being recognized for its potential to be more tolerable for patients, and more easily integrated into other trauma therapy approaches compared to traditional methods like EMDR.

Research is the foundation of good therapy, although nothing beats the therapist-client relationship. More and more research is coming out to show the efficacy of brainspotting. If you need current research, please see the study below outlining brainspotting’s performance compared to EMDR and body scan meditation. Please click on the below study to learn more.

To learn more about how mindfulness can help you book a free consultation. Let’s get started on a journey towards wellness!

Resources

1. “Therapy Worksheets.” Therapist Aid. Accessed September 25, 2024. https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheets.

2. Grand, David, [PhD]. Brainspotting: The revolutionary new therapy for rapid and effective change. Sounds True, 2014.

3. D’Antoni, Fabio, Alessio Matiz, Franco Fabbro, and Cristiano Crescentini. “Psychotherapeutic Techniques for Distressing Memories: A Comparative Study between EMDR, Brainspotting, and Body Scan Meditation.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 3 (January 20, 2022): 1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031142.