Brainspotting Therapy for Addiction Treatment
Brainspotting (BSP) is a new therapeutic modality developed by David Grand in 2003 to treat a patient by locating the points (spots) in their brain’s visual field that are stimulated because of unprocessed trauma. BSP therapy has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues that are caused due to underlying trauma and hidden wounds.
Clinically Reviewed by: Charee Marquez, LMFT
Brainspotting is often used as a tool in talk therapy to uncover a patient’s untreated traumas by having them focus on specific eye positions, each linked to a specific brainspot, thereby triggering the brain activity in the subcortical brain that is linked to that eye position. By doing this, the therapist can make use of the patient’s body-scanning ability to discover, process, transform and release their repressed traumatic emotions, thereby healing the mental and physical conditions associated with them.
In a BSP session, the therapist moves a pointer to different points in the patient’s visual field, while noticing the reflexive responses. When a brainspot is activated, it indicates an area of the brain where a traumatic or emotionally charged issue has been triggered. BSP therapy can then be used to maintain the focus on the patient’s body’s response to the trauma, helping the body and mind process, integrate and heal itself subconsciously and subcortically, while bypassing the conscious neocortical processes.
Many Brainspotting therapists also use biolateral sounds to enhance the patient’s processing abilities by using their auditory nerves to stimulate specific areas of the brain.
BSP Therapy has been shown to be effective in treating patients with physical or emotional trauma, and other conditions triggered by unprocessed trauma such as:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) |
Anxiety | Phobias |
Depression and Depressive Disorders | Chronic issues such as pain and fatigue |
Addiction and substance abuse disorders | Co-occurring Disorders |
Brainspotting is mainly used as a tool in addiction therapy to diagnose the hidden triggers of the patient’s addiction, such as unprocessed traumas. Stimulated brain spots are indicated by the patient’s distress levels, using their reflexive signals such as rapid blinking, twitching, dilation and/or constriction of the pupils, coughs, sniffs, sighs, nods, tics, and others.
BSP may sometimes be used in combination with other evidence-based therapy modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help patients reprocess and heal their mental and physical behaviors and addictions.
Because BSP therapy is used in subconscious healing of the brain, the benefits may not be specific, however studies have shown that patients can become aware of their mental processes and learn to overcome them.
Some benefits of BSP may include:
If you are seeking treatment for addiction and correlated disorders, brainspotting provides a valuable tool in your therapy sessions where you may not have had success with other modalities.
Because BSP therapy is still considered fairly new, the difficulty might be in finding a therapist who is knowledgeable and experienced in using brainspotting. At California Prime Recovery, we take pride in using the best treatment practices available for our clients, and our licensed, certified and experienced therapists provide exceptional care and compassionate treatment.
Interested in learning more about how we use brainspotting therapy in our addiction treatment? Call us at 866-208-2390
Get More Info By Filling Out The Form Below
Verify Your Insurance Benefits today.
Start at John Wayne Airport, 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707.
Head southeast for about 0.2 miles.
Keep left at the fork and follow signs for Rental Car Return. Continue for 0.7 miles.
Use the left lane to turn slightly left onto N Airport Way. Continue for 0.2 miles.
Use the left lane to turn slightly left to stay on N Airport Way and proceed for 0.1 miles.
Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto MacArthur Blvd. Drive for approximately 0.5 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto the I-405 N ramp towards Long Beach. This will be a 0.2-mile drive.
Merge onto I-405 N and travel for about 2.9 miles.
Take exit 12 for Euclid St. Drive for approximately 0.2 miles.
Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Euclid St N and merge onto Euclid St. Continue on Euclid St for 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto Newhope St. and drive for about 1.1 miles.
Turn right into the plaza, and you will find your destination on the left: 17330 Newhope St. Unit A, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
Start at Los Angeles International Airport, 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
Head west on World Way toward Vicksburg Ave. Continue for 0.2 miles.
Use the 2nd from the right lane to turn slightly right onto S Sepulveda Blvd (signs for I-105). Drive for about 0.4 miles.
Use the right lane to take the I-105 E ramp. Merge onto I-105 E. Continue for approximately 17 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to merge onto I-605 S towards Long Beach. Drive for about 2.2 miles.
Take the exit onto I-405 S toward Long Beach. Continue on I-405 S for approximately 18.5 miles.
Take exit 12 for Euclid St. Drive for about 0.2 miles.
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Euclid Street S, and merge onto Euclid St. Continue on Euclid St for 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto Newhope St. and drive for about 1.1 miles.
Turn right into the plaza, and you will find your destination on the left: 17330 Newhope St. Unit A, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
Start at San Diego International Airport, 3225 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101.
Head east on N Harbor Dr toward McCain Rd. Drive for about 0.7 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto W Grape St. Continue for 1.5 miles.
Use the left 2 lanes to take the Interstate 5 N ramp. Merge onto I-5 N. Travel on I-5 N for approximately 76 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 92B for CA-73 N toward Long Beach. Continue onto CA-73 N (Note: This is a toll road). Drive for about 16.8 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 18A to merge onto I-405 N toward Long Beach. Continue on I-405 N for approximately 6.5 miles.
Take exit 12 for Euclid St. Drive for about 0.2 miles.
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Euclid Street S, and merge onto Euclid St. Continue on Euclid St for 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto Newhope St. and drive for about 1.1 miles.
Turn right into the plaza, and you will find your destination on the left: 17330 Newhope St. Unit A, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
Start at Riverside Municipal Airport, 6951 Flight Rd, Riverside, CA 92504.
Head southwest on Flight Rd. Continue for 0.3 miles.
Turn left onto Arlington Ave and drive for about 1.5 miles.
Use the right lane to take the ramp onto CA-91 W. Merge onto CA-91 W. Travel on CA-91 W for approximately 20.5 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 34B to merge onto I-15 S toward San Diego. Drive for about 4.7 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 96 to merge onto CA-91 W toward Beach Cities. Continue on CA-91 W for approximately 8.7 miles.
Merge onto CA-55 S via the ramp to Newport Beach. Travel on CA-55 S for about 14.3 miles.
Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 5B to merge onto I-405 N toward Long Beach. Drive for 4.2 miles.
Take exit 12 for Euclid St. Drive for about 0.2 miles.
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Euclid Street S, and merge onto Euclid St. Continue on Euclid St for 0.8 miles.
Turn right onto Newhope St. and drive for about 1.1 miles.
Turn right into the plaza, and you will find your destination on the left: 17330 Newhope St. Unit A, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.