Brainspotting Training

Leading Edge

Discovered is 2003 by David Grand, PhD, Brainspotting has evolved and been developed into a modality that is used to treat a wide array of issues with amazing results.

Brain (limbic) and Body (somatic) Centered

It is theorized that Brainspotting gains direct access to the parts of the brain that are involved in emotional regulation. This allows for deep meaningful healing and recovery resulting in emotional regulation.

Anti-racist and Anti-oppressive

Brainspotting practitioners can seemlessly integrate anti-racist and anti-oppressive pedagogies during sessions permitting true decolonization of their practice.

3 Full Days of training

Lecture via powerpoint
Live demonstrations
Experiential practice sessions (practicums)
Manual
Brainspotting book
Brainspotting pointer
Q & A
2 post training follow up sessions (highly recommended but optional)

Upcoming Brainspotting Trainings

Brainspotting Phase 1 - For mental health and healing professionals
Online via Zoom
February 1, 2, 3, 2024 (Thursday/Friday/Saturday)

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

BIPOC Brainspotting with Children and Adolescents - For BIPOC mental health and healing professionals
Pre-requisite: Brainspotting Phase 1

Hybrid - In-person NYC/Long Island, NY, and Online via Zoom. In-person venue to be determined by November 30th, 2023.

February 15, 16, 17, 2024
THIS TRAINING HAS BEEN CANCELED

BIPOC Brainspotting Phase 3 - For BIPOC mental health and healing professionals.
Pre-requisite: Brainspotting Phase 1
Hybrid - In-person Long Island, NY, and Online via Zoom. In-person venue to be determined by November 30th, 2023.

Brainspotting Training Phases

BIPOC Brainspotting Phase 1

This is the introductory/beginning Brainspotting training. It is reserved for BIPOC professionals only.

Brainspotting Phase 1: Attuning to BIPOC Experiences

This is the introductory/beginning Brainspotting training. It focuses on the experiences of BIPOC professionals and clients. All are welcome both BIPOC and Non BIPOC professionals.

Brainspotting Phase 1 Seminar Overview
Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of challenging symptoms. Brainspotting is a simultaneous form of diagnosis and treatment, enhanced with BioLateral sound, which is deep, direct, powerful yet focused and containing.

Brainspotting identifies activated eye positions designated as Brainspots. Located through either one or both eyes, Brainspots are observed from either the “Inside Window” of the clients felt sense and/or the “Outside Window” of the clients’ reflexive responses (i.e., blink, eye twitches or wobbles, pupil dilation, quick breaths and subtle body shifts). Students will first learn the phenomenological approach that underpins strategies for Brainspotting, followed by strategies for identifying and processing Brainspots. Attention will be given to the utilization and integration of Brainspotting into ongoing treatment, including highly dissociative clients. Brainspotting is adaptable to almost all areas of specialization.

Brainspotting provides therapists with powerful tools which enable their patients to quickly and effectively focus and process through the deep brain sources of many emotional, somatic and performance problems.

Brainspotting Phase 1 Seminar Objectives
Through lecture, live demonstration and small group practice participants will learn to do the following:

Define the components of Brainspotting
Utilize the techniques of “Inside window” and “Outside window”
Define how Brainspotting can be applied to Trauma, Dissociation, Sports psychology, Somatic conditions
Demonstrate the theories and practices of Brainspotting

Brainspotting Phase 1 Learning Objectives

Summarize the standards of care and professional practice of the International Brainspotting Association.
Describe the hypothesized neurological underpinnings of how brainspotting works.
Summarize the research that supports the hypothesized way in which eye positions activate and access midbrain activity.
Explain the uncertainty principle as it relates to brainspotting.
Describe the concepts of simultaneous neurobiological and relational attunement.
Explain the importance of client-therapist attunement during brainspotting.
Explain how the treatment frame is set and held by the therapist.
Explain the role of focused mindfulness in brainspotting.
Discuss the similarities and differences between the activation and resource models of brainspotting.
Explain the concept of limbic countertransference.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the use of the outside window brainspotting technique.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the use of the inside window brainspotting technique.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the use of the gaze spot brainspotting technique.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the use of the resource model of brainspotting technique.
Assess the appropriate brainspotting techniques for the treatment of Post-traumatic stress disorder, including the Dissociative Subtype, and other trauma-related symptoms.
Describe two challenges to assessing and providing evidence-based treatment to individuals with Complex PTSD.

BIPOC Brainspotting Phase 2

This is an intermediate Brainspotting training. It is reserved for BIPOC professionals only.

Brainspotting Phase 2: Attuning to BIPOC Experiences

This is an intermeidiate Brainspotting training. It focuses on the experiences of BIPOC professionals and clients. All are welcome both BIPOC and Non BIPOC professionals.

Brainspotting Phase 2 Seminar Overview

This 3-day Brainspotting Phase 2 training will begin with an extensive review of Outside and Window Brainspotting and Gazespotting, with an emphasis on how to clinically interact with clients.

Trainees will be introduced to several important applications. This includes One-Eye Brainspotting including the use of One-Eye goggles. Also taught is 3 Dimensional Brainspotting using the “Z-Axis” of Brainspotting close and far, this includes Convergence Therapy which expands the Z-Axis to activate the vagus nerve through the ocular cardiac reflex.

Additional technical refinements will be presented including “Rolling Brainspotting,” with slow eye tracking stopping briefly on each Brainspot.

Advanced techniques will also include combined Inside-Outside Brainspotting where both reflexive responses and client sense of highest activation are used together to find Brainspots.

Day 3 will be devoted to the second level of the Advanced Resource Model. This will entail combining the resource aspects of One-Eye and Z Axis Brainspotting. This addresses working with clients with Very Complex PTSD and those outside of the Brainspotting Window of Tolerance.

Techniques taught with Power Point lecture, discussion with Q & A, demonstrations and practicums.

Seminar Objectives

Through lecture, live demonstration and small group practice participants will learn to do the following:

Review components taught in Brainspotting (Outside and Inside Window)
Define Frame and Focus Brainspotting Diagnosis and Treatment
Demonstrate 3 Dimensional Z-Axis and convergence Therapy
Define and demonstrate Rolling Brainspotting, Selfspotting and Body Gridwork

Learning Objectives

Through didactic lecture, live demonstration, and dyad practicums participants will learn to do the following:

Participants of this intermediate level course will be able to:

Summarize the research on client-therapist attunement in in-person and online psychotherapy sessions.
Set and utilize the dual attunement frame.
Explain the way in which bilateral auditory stimulation may enhance processing during Brainspotting.
Explain the role of the allocortex and the agranular isocortex in Brainspotting.
Describe the oculocardio reflex and its relationship to the vagus nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the z-axis and vergence therapy techniques.
Explain how the one-eye Brainspotting technique can focus and enhance processing of trauma-related experiences.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the use of the one-eye Brainspotting technique.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the use of the rolling Brainspotting technique.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the use of the advanced outside window Brainspotting technique.
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the use of the advanced resource model of Brainspotting
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the combined inside-outside Brainspotting technique
Demonstrate a basic mastery of the second level advanced resource model of Brainspotting
Assess how specific advanced Brainspotting techniques can be used for complex PTSD and other trauma related conditions.

Brainspotting training is designed for mental health, healthcare and helping professionals. Brainspotting Phase One and Phase Two training course designed by Dr David Grand, PhD Founder and Developer of Brainspotting to teach Brainspotting techniques to practitioners to use with clients within the practitioner’s current scope of training and practice. Brainspotting trainings do not provide basic training in trauma informed therapy or basic counseling skills. Brainspotting is a neuroexperiential modality to add to your existing helping professional skill set.

The Brainspotting Training team presumes participants are competent professionals or students who commensurate relational and interpersonal competency, good communication skills, a working knowledge of therapeutic/counseling frameworks, and sufficient self-regulation skills to manage to remain present through the 3 days of training.

Collaboration and vulnerability are essential to the learning environment for Brainspotting trainings. The Brainspotting trainer(s), facilitators as well as all participants worker together to create and maintain an environment that promotes learning, healing and well-being within the training cohort. If a participant becomes dysregulated we do our best to support the participants return to the training. Participants who demonstrate rude, disrespectful or disruptive behaviors will be removed from the training and will not be permitted to register for any future training with this trainer.

Participants are reminded to use Brainspotting only within their existing profession's scope of practice, both during trainings and in their practice.

Experiential Practice Sessions (Practicums): Brainspotting training includes experiential practice in dyads. Your participation in these practice dyads will help you appreciate the unique power and effectiveness of Brainspotting from both the client and therapist perspective. During demonstrations and practice sessions, as a “client” you will be using your real issues. It is essential that you remain as emotionally regulated as possible by engaging fully in the Brainspotting process. We do not permit "opting out" or “passing” during practicums. However, if you need additional support, one of our facilitators will be assigned to assist you. While we do not recommend that you work on your "deepest or biggest" issue you may find yourself experiences feelings and sensations that you were not aware of before.

Personal Therapy & Clinical Supervision: It is presumed that participants can access supervision and/or therapeutic support if they need it after the training for processing personal matters that may get brought up during course training exercises. Inevitably, when we are working with the subcortical brain, old issues may emerge. It is the participant’s responsibility to avail themselves of appropriate therapeutic support after the training finishes. Please speak to the assigned facilitator if any personal issues brought up during the training become a difficulty.

Brainspotting Training Format: In alignment with all International BSP Training, there is a combination of the following:

Lecture with Powerpoint Slides
live demonstrations with volunteer trainees,
practice of “Set Ups” and techniques in pairs, using real issues (not role play);
debrief, comments and questions.
Demos are meant to demonstrate how Brainspotting works but are not full therapy sessions.

Confidentiality: It is expected that all participants maintain the confidentiality of all private material shared by all participants throughout the training.

The above Policy and Guidelines are adapted and adopted from Brainspotting Canada which extends thanks to Dr Roby Abeles and the Brainspotting Australia Pacific team.

All Brainspotting trainings listed on this site are approved by Brainspotting Trainings, LLC, David Grand, PhD, Founder and Developer of Brainspotting. Brainspotting Phase 1 and 2 meet the requirements to become a Certified Brainspotting Practitioner.