At My Denver Therapy, we’re passionate about helping individuals find the most effective paths to healing. Two powerful therapies we often discuss with clients are EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Brainspotting. While both are designed to address trauma and emotional distress, they operate in slightly different ways.
Understanding EMDR: Processing Trauma Through Eye Movements
EMDR is a well-established therapy that focuses on processing traumatic memories. It uses bilateral stimulation, most commonly eye movements, to help the brain reprocess these memories and reduce their emotional charge.
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
- Identifying the Target: The therapist and client identify a specific traumatic memory or distressing experience.
- Bilateral Stimulation: The client engages in bilateral stimulation, such as following the therapist’s finger movements with their eyes, while recalling the memory.
- Reprocessing: This process helps the brain integrate the memory in a healthier way, reducing its emotional intensity and negative beliefs associated with it.
- Installation and Body Scan: The therapist helps install positive beliefs and conducts a body scan to ensure the client is feeling safe and grounded.
EMDR is highly effective for addressing PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions.
Brainspotting: Tapping into the Brain’s Natural Healing Capacity
Brainspotting, developed by Dr. David Grand, is a relatively newer therapy that also targets trauma and emotional distress. However, it works by identifying and processing “brainspots” – specific eye positions that correlate with emotional and somatic experiences.
Here’s how Brainspotting works:
- Identifying the Brainspot: The therapist guides the client to identify a specific eye position, or brainspot, that evokes a felt sense of the issue they are working on. This brainspot is often linked to a deep emotional or physical response.
- Sustained Attention: The client maintains their gaze on the brainspot while the therapist facilitates a process of mindful awareness and exploration.
- Deep Processing: This sustained attention allows the brain to access and process the underlying emotional and somatic material associated with the issue.
- Self-Scanning: The brain naturally scans and processes the stuck areas.
- Natural Healing: The process allows the brain to naturally heal itself.
Key Differences
While both therapies aim to heal trauma, they differ in their approach:
- Bilateral Stimulation vs. Brainspots: EMDR relies on rhythmic bilateral stimulation, while Brainspotting focuses on holding a specific eye position.
- Focus on Memory vs. Felt Sense: EMDR often targets specific memories, while Brainspotting emphasizes the felt sense and somatic experience.
- Client-Led vs. Therapist-Directed: Brainspotting is often considered a more client-led process, allowing the individual to explore their experience at their own pace. EMDR has a more structured protocol.
- Accessing Deeper Levels: Brainspotting can access deeper, pre-verbal, or implicit memories that may be difficult to reach with other therapies.
Why Brainspotting Might Be a Good Fit For You
- Dissociative Symptoms: If you experience dissociation or difficulty accessing specific memories, Brainspotting’s focus on the felt sense can be particularly helpful.
- Somatic Symptoms: If you experience physical symptoms related to trauma or emotional distress, Brainspotting can help you connect with and process these sensations.
- Attachment Trauma: Brainspotting can be effective in addressing attachment trauma and early childhood experiences.
- Creative Blocks and Performance Anxiety: Brainspotting can also be used to address creative blocks, performance anxiety, and other non-trauma-related issues.
- People who feel like talk therapy has not been enough. Sometimes people are stuck, and need a deeper more somatic way to heal.
- Those who want a more client led approach.
Finding Your Path to Healing at My Denver Therapy
At My Denver Therapy, we understand that everyone’s healing journey is unique. We offer both EMDR and Brainspotting, and we’ll work with you to determine which therapy is the best fit for your individual needs.
If you’re curious about Brainspotting or EMDR, we encourage you to reach out to us. We’re here to answer your questions and support you on your path to healing.
