Brainspotting (BSP) is fairly new to the general public as a form of mental health therapy. It has proven effective in a variety of trauma situations since its inception in 2003. The therapy’s name originates with the term “brainspot,” which refers to the eyes’ position that stimulates emotional responses to an event or issue. David Grand, Ph.D., who discovered it, determined that where you look affects how you feel.

One of the first people to benefit from brainspotting is a former Mets baseball player, Mackey Sasser, who ended up struggling to release the ball when throwing it because of an inability to act on reflex due to unprocessed memories of childhood traumas. One in which was his father, who struggled with rheumatoid arthritis and alcoholism and his inability to throw Mackey the ball overhand.

A case study showed that brainspotting helped eliminate PTSD in a veteran who experienced an inability to focus, dissociative experiences, and act violently.

Troubled teens in various situations – physical or emotional abuse, depression, social anxiety, and disastrous events, just to name a few can find healing and resolution through brainspotting. Some of the most notable brainspotting results include reports of student survivors of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 and their success with this modality.

Brainspotting continues to gain popularity, as it proves a trusted form of therapy. Deschutes Wilderness Therapy employs the brainspotting method in its treatment programs for teens and young adults alike. Learn more about brainspotting and its origins at https://brainspotting.com.

About Deschutes Wilderness Therapy

Deschutes Wilderness Therapy, located in Bend, OR, offers an intensive, individualized, and thorough healing process. Our nationally recognized, individually tailored wilderness program leads in relational model wilderness therapy. This program is designed for struggling youth and young adults needing immediate treatment and combines a challenging wilderness experience with an intensive clinical immersion. We continuously strive to provide better, accessible, quality care to families and struggling students. You can learn more about Deschutes programs at www.deschuteswildernesstherapy.com.