I have been a Clinical Social Worker officially since 2011, but have been practicing in the field of Social Work since 1995. When I began working with people in need, the focus was placed on the thinking process. There also was an emphasis on teaching clients skills that again required a cognitive process. When clients would come back still with the same issue or behavior, the thinking was "what are you not getting?" This emphasis being placed on cognitive processes can lead to judgment, apathy, stress and exhaustion. Ultimately, the client and therapist become frustrated to the point where both can give up on the process.
What I have found in the last few years is a shift in clinical work away from focusing on the cognitive process and moving toward working with the body first and then connecting the body to the head process. Because we have become aware of the impact of trauma on mental health, we are looking at how the body experiences trauma first. There are several body based techniques, Sensorymoter psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing are two of these body based therapies. The intent is to help the client connect with their body to unravel trauma and release it. Also, our knowledge of how the body works and in particular how the autonomic nervous system is impacted by trauma we are realizing that the body and head are connected. Trauma impacts both, but the body systems experience this way before we have any cognitive awareness of what is going on.
I am making the case for the use of Brainspotting. I am trained in both phase I and II of BSP and have been using this with many of my clients. I was first exposed to Brainspotting when I was in training to become an Adoption Competent Therapist and found that BSP was one of the techniques being used with clients who had experienced trauma as a result of the attachment process. I had debated for a long time if I should go train in EMDR or Brainspotting. I finally made the decision to go with BSP after carful consultation with trusted folks in the field. BSP is focused on the development of attunement and safety with clients. The premus of BSP is to "notice everything and assume nothing". The clients visual field is tracked and "activation" is looked for. This means that any sound, body movement, eye movement and so on is looked at as being a place where the brain may be going to access trauma, pain and so on. The beauty of this, is that I as the therapist am just following the client. I am there as a reference point for them. What I have found is that there is a transaction relationship occurring between myself and the client. I may speak, but when I speak it is at a time so that I do not interrupt the clients process What develops is synchronicity, the client knows they are safe and can release what is inside and I am able to be there as a net to catch what is coming out and contain fear. I will go on further in future post, but if you are interested please go to www.brainspotting.com to learn more.
What I have found in the last few years is a shift in clinical work away from focusing on the cognitive process and moving toward working with the body first and then connecting the body to the head process. Because we have become aware of the impact of trauma on mental health, we are looking at how the body experiences trauma first. There are several body based techniques, Sensorymoter psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing are two of these body based therapies. The intent is to help the client connect with their body to unravel trauma and release it. Also, our knowledge of how the body works and in particular how the autonomic nervous system is impacted by trauma we are realizing that the body and head are connected. Trauma impacts both, but the body systems experience this way before we have any cognitive awareness of what is going on.
I am making the case for the use of Brainspotting. I am trained in both phase I and II of BSP and have been using this with many of my clients. I was first exposed to Brainspotting when I was in training to become an Adoption Competent Therapist and found that BSP was one of the techniques being used with clients who had experienced trauma as a result of the attachment process. I had debated for a long time if I should go train in EMDR or Brainspotting. I finally made the decision to go with BSP after carful consultation with trusted folks in the field. BSP is focused on the development of attunement and safety with clients. The premus of BSP is to "notice everything and assume nothing". The clients visual field is tracked and "activation" is looked for. This means that any sound, body movement, eye movement and so on is looked at as being a place where the brain may be going to access trauma, pain and so on. The beauty of this, is that I as the therapist am just following the client. I am there as a reference point for them. What I have found is that there is a transaction relationship occurring between myself and the client. I may speak, but when I speak it is at a time so that I do not interrupt the clients process What develops is synchronicity, the client knows they are safe and can release what is inside and I am able to be there as a net to catch what is coming out and contain fear. I will go on further in future post, but if you are interested please go to www.brainspotting.com to learn more.
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