Trauma
Ready to address the trauma with more than just talk therapy?
The Difference
There are 3 things that make Joyful Horizons different from others.
Discover how trauma is held within the body and why it's crucial to remain connected to it. Learn techniques to reconnect with your body, strategies for staying grounded when triggered, and gain insight into how our body responds to perceived threats.
1. Mind - Body Connection
2. More than talk therapy
Healing from trauma requires more than discussing the past and learning techniques to manage triggers. We use Brain Spotting, which bypasses the logical brain to target and release the emotions stored in your body, promoting deeper healing.
3. Safety and Trust
Trauma survivors often struggle with feeling safe in their bodies or surroundings. One of our main focuses is earning the client’s trust by ensuring they feel secure both in the therapy space and within themselves. Addressing trauma is much harder in an environment where safety is not established.
Brainspotting
Brain Spotting therapy is an alternative therapeutic approach that uses specific points in a person’s visual field to help process trauma. It targets trauma stored in the subcortical brain, the area responsible for movement, emotions, consciousness, and learning.
Developed in 2003 by Dr. David Grand as an extension of his work with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Brain Spotting emerged when Grand observed a client becoming "stuck" in one spot. While focusing on that spot, the client went deeper than before, leading to the creation of this technique.
One key advantage of Brain Spotting is that it allows trauma to be released without the need to “relive” the traumatic experience.
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When beginning therapy with the goal of Brainspotting, it's essential to establish a foundation of trust and safety. This is achieved over several sessions focused on building a strong therapeutic relationship. Doing so helps the client feel secure and enables them to engage in Brainspotting without the distraction of additional stressors.
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Once trust is established and the client feels comfortable and open with the therapist, they can begin identifying the areas they wish to address through Brainspotting. This process may also involve exploring family history and other methods the client has used to cope with or address the trauma.
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At this point, we will begin the Brainspotting process. This may involve bilateral sounds, though it can also be done without them. The focus will be on how emotions are experienced in your body, as this can feel unique to each individual. Once the client is able to identify the emotions within their body the client is considered “activated”.
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Once the client is activated, the therapist will use a pointer to help locate the specific spot in the client’s vision. After identifying the spot, the therapist will create a safe space for the client to process the event and/or emotions. This process varies for each person—some may remain completely silent, while others may talk throughout. There is no right or wrong way to process during this time.
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As the session comes to a close, the therapist will gently guide the client out of focus on the spot by asking specific questions. This process is done with care and intention. During the remaining time, the therapist will debrief with the client, discussing self-care and any potential experiences they may have in the weeks ahead.
How Sessions Go
What can Brainspotting Treat?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD
People with unhealed childhood wounds
Religious and Post Cultic Traumatic Experiences
Anxiety and Phobias
Grief and Loss
People who struggle with relationship and their attachment to others
Depression and negative self-talk
Anger and triggers
