What is the Difference Between EMDR and Brainspotting?
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting therapy is a specific form of therapy that utilizes “brain spots” that can be activated through a person’s eye to help a patient process trauma or negative memories.
Brainspotting was discovered by Dr. David Grand as he was utilizing EMDR therapy to help survivors of 9/11 work through their trauma. During one session, he discovered that his patient’s eye movement was repeatedly getting “stuck” in the same spot. When he had the patient intentionally focus on the spot, the patient was suddenly able to dive deeper into their emotions and trauma than they ever had before. This prompted Dr. David Grand to develop the practice.
At the same time, Dr. Grand was able to determine that the patient did not seem to be reliving the trauma like they did during EMDR. In addition, they were still able to process the emotions that had been buried, allowing the brain to essentially “reset” itself.
What is the Difference Between EMDR and Brainspotting?
Brainspotting and EMDR are both types of therapy that work by practicing bilateral stimulation of a patient’s brain. In both therapies, the therapist will use outside stimulation to focus on a patient’s eyes to activate hidden emotions, memories, or trauma that have been buried deep in a person’s subconscious. The difference between EMDR and brainspotting when it comes to eye focusing is that in EMDR, a patient will be asked to move their eyes from side to side during the exercise.
In brainspotting, the therapist will concentrate on the specific locations that the patient’s eye moves to and focuses on by itself. If this does not occur naturally, the therapist will use an object, such as a pen, to help guide the patient’s eye to a specific focus spot to help unlock and process certain trauma.
Is EMDR better than brainspotting?
They are both good therapies, and Brainspotting might be less invasive than EMDR:
- Deeper Access to Trauma: Brainspotting allows for more profound access to the brain’s emotional and physical processing centers by focusing on specific eye positions linked to distressing memories or experiences. This technique can target deeply rooted traumas that might be harder to reach with EMDR.
- Less Structured Approach: While EMDR follows a more structured protocol involving bilateral stimulation, Brainspotting offers a more flexible, client-centered approach. This flexibility can be beneficial for clients who might find the rigid structure of EMDR overwhelming or not suitable for their unique needs.
- Integration of Body and Mind: Brainspotting emphasizes the connection between the body and mind, helping clients to process trauma not only cognitively but also physically. This can lead to a more holistic healing process, addressing somatic symptoms that may not be fully resolved through EMDR.
- Simplicity and Accessibility: Brainspotting can be simpler and more intuitive for some clients, as it relies on the natural connection between where you look and how you feel. This can make it more accessible and easier for clients to engage with, especially those who might struggle with the cognitive demands of EMDR.
- Focus on the Client’s Experience: Brainspotting places a strong emphasis on the client’s internal experience and allows them to guide the session, which can be empowering and lead to a more personalized healing process. This contrasts with EMDR’s more therapist-directed approach, which may not resonate with every client.
Overall, while both Brainspotting and EMDR are effective trauma therapies, Brainspotting may be preferred by those who seek a deeper, more client-centered approach to healing.
Is Brainspotting Evidence Based?
Brainspotting is considered an evidence-based therapy, though the research is still emerging compared to more established methods like EMDR. It has shown promise in treating trauma and various psychological conditions, with some studies and clinical reports indicating positive outcomes. However, because Brainspotting is relatively new, the body of research supporting it is not as extensive as that for older therapies.
That said, many therapists find it to be an effective tool, particularly for clients who haven’t responded well to other forms of treatment. As more research is conducted, Brainspotting is likely to gain further recognition in the scientific community.
Brainspotting Therapy Steps
Only thirteen thousand therapists are fully trained and licensed to be brainspotting therapists. These therapists must follow a specific brainspotting protocol in order to properly perform brainspotting therapy.
Although a therapist is present, brainspotting is largely a patient-led and fairly hands-off form of therapy. The therapist is there to guide the patient by encouraging them to practice deep breathing and to remain as relaxed as possible during the session.
In some situations, the therapist may utilize bilateral sounds, such as music, to help stimulate certain parts of the brain. The patient then identifies the part of their body that they are feeling the most tension or strain in, and the therapist will help them locate the brain spot that correlates with that part of the body.
Eventually, as their body and brain work through the emotions that are uncovered through the brain spot, the patient should feel a sense of relaxation and should be less stressed at the end of the session. For this reason, it is believed that brainspotting for trauma relief is beneficial.
Brainspotting Side Effects
Everyone’s experience with brainspotting will be different. In general, there are no long-lasting or harmful side effects to brainspotting. Some people may experience some discomfort after their session however, including symptoms such as:
- Crying
- Mental fog
- Emotional or irritable
- Uncontrollable yawning
- Being overly tired for a few days
These side effects typically only last for a day or two at the very longest, and some patients may not experience any discomfort after their session. It is important to rest and relax after brainspotting sessions in order to allow the brain time to process the treatment. 4
