Brainspotting Therapy for PTSD and Trauma Recovery

Trauma is a common term used to describe experiences that are highly stressful. In this article we will answer questions we get regarding the difference between developmental trauma and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We will also explore what it looks like to heal from trauma through the phases of trauma recovery.

Are you experiencing trauma?

Trauma is our response to an experience that is so distressing and frightening that we become overwhelmed and unable to cope effectively.

Symptoms of Trauma

Common symptoms of trauma include:

Diagnosing Trauma: Developmental Trauma and PTSD

How do you know what type of trauma you are dealing with?

If trauma results from a specific event(s) it is generally identified as PTSD or Complex PTSD.
If trauma is rooted in an overall unsafe and harmful childhood environment it is identified as developmental trauma.

Developmental trauma is often used interchangeably with Complex PTSD however trauma experts are working to clarify it as distinct in many important ways.

Developmental trauma is not rooted in one traumatic event like PTSD or stacked specific events like Complex PTSD and does not always lead to meeting all of the criteria for PTSD.
In fact, research shows over 50% of people do not show signs of trauma until they are adults. This can make identifying a specific traumatic event challenging and because of this, individuals with developmental trauma often feel shame, confusion, and frustration with understanding why they feel the way they do.
Developmental trauma refers to a series of chronic traumatic events, habits, and associations causing overwhelming stress during childhood.
A primary component of developmental trauma includes the absence or ineffectiveness of a caregiver to help reduce the stress. This results in a disruption in basic attachment necessary for feeling a sense of safety and security that is critical to healthy brain and body development in childhood. Research studies have discovered the significant toll lack of attachment and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have on our mental health, emotional balance and physical well-being.
Health issues are also a common complaint of individuals with developmental trauma.

The science behind the impact of ACEs and the identification of developmental trauma have been essential for people who:

don’t have specific memories of traumatic incidents
have difficulty pinpointing one major event
didn’t start developing symptoms until later in life

Learn how can we help you on your path of healing

Brainspotting Therapy and Trauma Healing

This is where Brainspotting Therapy has a significant advantage over other therapies given it doesn’t require specific memories, analyzing issues, verbal processing or reference to a specific time frame. It helps access, process and resolve deep seated issues that exist inside and outside of our conscious awareness. Brainspotting’s ability to access where trauma is stored in the brain combined with its sophisticated, intuitive, mindful and attachment based approach makes it highly effective at treating both developmental trauma and PTSD.

Brainspotting and Healing Through the Phases of Trauma Recovery

There are three main phases of trauma recovery that provide a roadmap for healing and improving mental health. Here is how Brainspotting helps heal through each phase.

Safety and Resourcing

Brainspotting helps you cope with the trauma shock associated with traumatic experiences. Trauma shock involves feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from ourselves and others. Grounding, resourcing and self-regulation practices are a core component of Brainspotting and are vital to the first phase of trauma recovery.

Face, Feel, Release, Grieve

Brainspotting allows for the deep processing and releasing of traumatic and emotionally stuck experiences. It gets to the root of issues that feel deep seated, unconscious and self-sabotaging. It helps to unwind the residue of stress and nervous system imbalance enabling the mind and body to feel, release and return to homeostasis.

Integrate and Reconnect

Brainspotting supports the integration and reconnection to oneself and the safety found within. It realigns you with your innate power for self-healing and self-trust. Through dual attunement from your brainspotting therapist the Brainspotting process supports the power of healthy attachment, connection and compassion for healing. This allows the brain to coregulate, open to trust again and rebuild relationships.