If you’ve experienced a traumatic event or are otherwise suffering from the lingering effects of a negative experience, it can be difficult to move forward with your life. There is no shortage of therapeutic options available to help people suffering from PTSD, anxiety, or other psychological disorders, but each person is different and there is no one-size fits all approach to treatment. If you haven’t had success with other forms of treatment in the past, brainspotting therapy may be a great option. Brainspotting is an innovative new treatment designed to release stored traumatic experiences from the brain and can help you move past negative experiences you’re holding onto—whether by itself or in combination with ketamine therapy.
What is Brainspotting Therapy, and How Does it Work?
Brainspotting is an innovative therapy that was first developed in 2003 by David Grand, a psychotherapist who had worked with survivors of such traumatic events as Hurricane Katrina and the attacks on the World Trade Center. Brainspotting is based on the idea that the brain stores traumatic memories in specific places and that these “brainspots” can be located and the memories released.
Because this stored trauma can have a strong negative effect on a person’s ability to live their lives, brainspotting aims to help restore an individual to health by purging these harmful emotions that the person has suppressed. To achieve this, the brainspotting therapist, after putting the patient at ease, will wave a pointer in front of the full range of their visual field until the brainspot is located. The therapist will usually be tipped off to the presence of the brainspot by an involuntary signal that the patient gives off when their eyes are positioned in the right place.
Once the brainspot is identified, the patient will hold their eyes in the correction position and focus inward and allow whatever thoughts and feelings may surface to bubble up freely. The patient then works with the therapist to help process these strong emotions. Following brainspotting therapy, a patient may continue with other forms of therapy to continue to work through their psychological distress.
The Benefits of Combining Brainspotting with Ketamine Treatment for Depression
Ketamine therapy is an effective method of treating a variety of psychological disorders, including depression and anxiety. Although ketamine is often administered as a standalone therapy, it can also be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. While research is in the preliminary stages, taking a low dose of ketamine before beginning a brainspotting session may enhance the therapeutic benefits of brainspotting, with both treatments working to process and heal anxiety and trauma.
Try Brainspotting Today
If you think that brainspotting may be a good treatment option for you, Aloha Integrative Health is here to help. We offer a variety of mental health services, including brainspotting therapy, which can be combined with ketamine treatment for depression, which may help you finally overcome past trauma you may be holding onto. Please note that brainspotting is not covered by insurance and requires a cash payment at the time of service.
Reach out today to speak with a patient care specialist and schedule a consultation.