Brainspotting vs. EMDR: A comparison of power therapies

To address conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or depression, professionals use various treatment approaches. Traditional therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are commonly used.

Emerging “brain-based” techniques are also available to treat this problem effectively. Two popular therapies are EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and Brainspotting.

Brainspotting and EMDR share many similarities, but if you look closely, you will pick up on crucial differences that make each unique. Delve deep into Brainspotting vs. EMDR by comparing both and choose which aligns better with your specific needs:

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is one of the most common Mental health therapy, and therapists have used it since the 1980s. More research is going on in EMDR, and this treatment has proponents and supporters.

The first technique for bilateral stimulation in EMDR was eye movements, but other methods are now often used. EMDR assists people in accessing areas of their brains that hold nonverbal information. EMDR can be too stimulating for certain people, which can cause other issues like a seizure risk.

BSP, commonly referred to as Brainspotting, is a type of psychotherapy. Brainspotting’s basic concept is getting to the brain’s deepest parts. The therapist uses eye movement therapy to do this. Theoretically, as the client moves their eyes, they focus on specific parts of their brain and delve deeper into those areas.

The client might be able to remember the trauma, process it, and eventually recover if the area of the brain where it is still present is opened up. The therapist uses eye movements to help the brain focus on specific regions before using physical responses to identify the origin of brain damage.

Brainspotting therapy concentrates on the unique roles the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala play in the brain. These brain areas contain unprocessed trauma, which the client can identify and address with the therapist’s help.

The most notable differences in Brainspotting vs. EMDR are:

The instruments used by BSP and EMDR vary because their methodologies vary. Many bilateral stimulation tools can be used for EMDR, such as a device that alternately taps the palms or a light bar that continuously shifts from left to right.

BSP focuses on maintaining eye stability, so a BSP therapist may use a laser pointer to assist in maintaining eye concentration at a particular location.

Both Therapeutic techniques rely on eye movements. However, the kind of movements vary greatly. EMDR takes fast eye movements, and Brainspotting often uses a single-eye position.

When using EMDR, the eyes move continuously and bilaterally back and forth as a painful event is recalled. BSP aims to pinpoint the precise location of the trauma’s block and maintain ocular stability there as the trauma is treated.

It takes at least eight sessions to complete the eight stages of EMDR. Twelve sessions are sometimes needed for some EMDR therapies. At the same time, the short-term mode of Brainspotting may only need four sessions.

Brainspotting therapy was created in 2003 and is still in its early stages. EMDR was created in the 1980s and has now matured into a formal, organized collection of steps. EMDR technique should be performed according to the prescribed procedures, while there is considerable opportunity for therapist discretion.

Brainspotting allows therapists to adapt their treatment plans to comply with the demands of their patients because it is far more adaptable and less focused on adhering to strict procedures. Depending on the circumstance, this may or may not be advantageous.

The most common similarities you should know in Comparison of Brainspotting vs. EMDR are:

Although the method differs, eye movements were used in developing both EMDR and BSP to help in Trauma processing. BSP relies on eye movements, and EMDR, apart from relying on eye movements, may also include bilateral auditory.

Although it is necessary in EMDR and optional in BSP, external stimulation is used in both BSP and EMDR. Bilateral stimulation, tactile, aural, or visual, is essential to EMDR.

It may include tapping the palms alternately or watching a therapist’s finger or dot move across a screen with the eyes. It can also involve listening to noises with both ears at once. Bilateral music is often used in BSP, but it is not a requirement.

Resourcing is the process of teaching a person’s behavior and coping techniques. It might help them manage emotional or physical responses associated with traumatic events. It is a distinct step in the EMDR process used in both therapies.

To feel safe, secure, and at home in one’s body, grounding focuses on reconnecting with the energy of the Earth is essential. BSP and EMDR do this as Effective power therapies, which both want their clients to feel rested at the end of a session.

In the Brainspotting vs. EMDR debate, both are successful therapies for various mental health conditions, including PTSD. Being quicker than EMDR, Brainspotting can produce benefits more quickly. But even if it takes longer, EMDR might have longer results.

Due to its adaptability, BSP may be the best option for trauma clients who don’t respond favorably to EMDR or other treatments. BSP is frequently used as an alternative to EMDR by therapists who prefer it.

Discuss your choices with your therapist if you have PTSD or another trauma-related mental health issue to understand Brainspotting vs. EMDR possibilities clearly.

Based on your symptoms and previous therapy experiences, your therapist can guide you in choosing between EMDR and BSP. EMDR and BSP can both be used in person or online.