Brainspotting Therapy in North Carolina and Colorado

You don’t have to live in constant state of survival.

Our traumatic memories or painful experiences can often leave us feeling "stuck." These feelings, thoughts, memories, and emotions can further create distress, leaving us disconnected from ourselves and others, increasing anxiety, depression, hypervigilant, untrusting, shamed, angry, and living in a constant state of survival.

What if you could remember a traumatic event or experience but no longer have the same emotional or physical response?

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a gentle, non-invasive way to begin to release physical pain and emotional trauma stored in the brain's deeper parts, which traditional talk therapy cannot always access. Brainspotting relies on the body and brain's healing self-healing capabilities. It is a safe somatic-based healing approach that reduces the need to talk. For some, this is valuable as you do not have to verbally speak about a particularly traumatic experience, decreasing the risk of re-traumatization.

Brainspotting is a technique that David Grand, Ph.D., unintentionally discovered. The method has roots in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing). EMDR is a heavily researched, integrative form of therapy designed to treat trauma and post-traumatic stress symptoms initially. Brainspotting includes not only aspects of EMDR but relational psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing. While Brainspotting is a relatively new approach, an increasing amount of literature points to the effectiveness of healing trauma and other related concerns. For instance, Brainspotting was after the Newtown- Sandy Hook school shooting in 2014 and found to be one of the most effective treatment approaches.

How Does Brainspotting Work?

The idea behind Brainspotting is that "Where you look affects how you feel." Brainspotting works to directly tap into the deeper areas of the brain, the autonomic and limbic systems located within the central nervous system, is where our memories are stored. Because Brainspotting is body-brain based, it considers a physiological treatment; it can provide physical benefits as well as emotional and psychological.

What is a Brainspot?

We have multiple brainspots. The brainspot is the eye position that connects to the area of the brain containing the traumatic experience and brings it into explicit (conscious) awareness where it can be processed and healed. As the brainspot is found and sustained with focused mindfulness, the information can start to be released, and the body and mind move towards greater equilibrium. As our unconscious memories are released, they can be brought into conscious awareness, where they can be dealt with and moved into a part of the brain that allows us to move us forward- from “stuck to unstuck.”

Brainspotting Therapy

In the short video, Dr. David Grand and other colleagues explain what Brianspotting is and how it works.

Brainspotting has been proven effective to help individuals presenting with physical and psychological symptoms, including:

  • Grief and Loss

  • Addictions and substance misuse

  • Stress from life transitions and circumstances

  • Sports performance issues and creative blocks

  • Anger issues

Begin Brainspotting in Fayetteville, NC and Online in North Carolina and Colorado at The Virtual Couch

As a brainspotting therapist, I help individuals process their traumatic experiences that have impacted their life. Brainspotting is a non-oppressive approach, as it does not require diagnosis of the client and works from the individual's privacy and discretion. In therapy, I will be fully tuned with you and present during our Brainspotting sessions. Our relationship is the utmost crucial neurobiological tool to support your healing. During our time, I will create a safe and trusting relationship where are you feel heard, accepted, and validated. At my Fayetteville therapy practice, I offer online therapy in North Carolina. If you are ready to feel a sense of safety and support with The Virtual Couch, follow these easy steps:

1.         Contact The Virtual Couch.

2.         Schedule a free consultation with Patricia Duggan, a brainspotting therapist.

3.         Start your journey towards healing and creating the life you are destined.

Other Counseling Services at The Virtual Couch in Fayetteville, NC and Colorado

Brainspotting therapy isn’t the only service I offer at my Fayetteville, NC counseling practice. Other areas of focus and mental health services at The Virtual Couch include depression counseling, grief and loss therapy, chronic illness and pain counseling, and disability affirming care. These services are available via online counseling in North Carolina from Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Wilmington, Greenville, Charlotte, and Winston- Salem, Greensboro, and Asheville.

Are you still curious?

You can learn more about me and my Fayetteville, NC counseling practice here! This is where you can find out more information about my approach to therapy and my values and beliefs when working together. If you are still curious to learn about online counseling, I encourage you to visit my page about what to expect during a session.