BRAINSPOTTING PHASE 2 - JANUARY

Brainspotting Phase Two introduces students to five additional Brainspotting techniques to broaden the skills of the attendees in treating their more severely traumatized clients. Two techniques are taught for clients who have adaptively dissociated as a result of severe trauma. These “frames” are called “Rolling Brainspotting” and “Inside/ Outside Window” Brainspotting. This allows relevant eye positions to be found for the client outside of their awareness. The clinicians learn to identify reflexes in the body, eyes, and face that are signals from the client’s brain that an area of significance has been found in the visual field. This is groundbreaking for clients who have not been able to heal because of their dissociation or “freeze” response. The next three techniques are aimed at quickly adding layers of additional resourcing for clients who feel overwhelmed in session or find themselves shutting down. These techniques are called, “One Eye Brainspotting”, “Z Axis Brainspotting” with “Vergence Brainspotting” (More rapid Z Axis), and the “Advanced Resource Model of Brainspotting.” Attendees will review key principles and theories from Phase One in addition to learning important tools and techniques in working with Dissociation and the more severely traumatized needing higher levels of resourcing. These five new methods of Brainspotting allow the clinicians to find specific, resourced eye positions to keep their clients within their window of tolerance. The more advanced techniques will engender confidence in the attendees ability to handle more fragile and dissociative clients. 

After taking part in this course, participants will have acquired additional clinical skills to successfully treat those with more complex trauma, such as those who often need techniques that allow the client to  break through their dissociation which often keeps traumatized clients stuck for years or a lifetime. The additional resourcing will allow clients who previously disengaged
or shut down to successfully heal from their complex trauma and their pernicious negative cognitions. Additionally, therapists
will find that their clients unrelenting coping mechanisms of “Flight, Fight, Freeze, and Fawn” will dissipate as they are able to
resolve trauma and disturbing life experiences with additional resourcing tools. 

1. Participants will show the two most important Brainspotting principles of staying in uncertainty and following the
   client by “staying in the tail of the comet” during the client’s mindful processing.  This is imperative for deep and
   positive relational attunement. Any form of certainty on the therapist's part, even if subtle, undermines relational
   trust and attunement.
2. Participants will be able to differentiate between the three of the most common and challenging symptoms of an
   Autonomic Nervous System that is “Stuck On” (Overly Sympathetic) and “Stuck Off” (Overly Parasympathetic).
3. Participants will stay current in the field of brain science by being able to determine the two regions of the brain most involved in regulating a dysregulated nervous system.
4. Participants will be able to explain two of the major benefits for clients whose nervous system is regulated or in a
   state of “coherence”.
5. Participants will be able to identify the nine steps of the “Inside/ Outside Window” Brainspotting Technique and apply
   their knowledge in a practicum as both the therapist and the client. Assistants will help them apply the technique more skillfully.
6. Participants will be able to identify the nine steps of the “Rolling Brainspotting” Technique and apply their knowledge
   in a practicum as both the therapist and the client. Assistants will help them apply the technique more skillfully.
7. Participants will use three techniques to quickly cut the client’s activation or disturbance  significantly with  “One Eye Brainspotting” utilizing a set of blacked out goggles, “Z Axis Brainspotting” utilizing distance in the visual field, and
   “Vergence Brainspotting” moving rapidly close and far to kickstart the vagus nerve to all the Parasympathetic
   Nervous System to kick in.
8. Participants will be able to classify which is the “Activated Eye” and the “Resource Eye'' while learning how to use
   goggles to keep their clients within their window of tolerance while processing difficult emotions, thoughts, or
   experiences.
9. Participants will demonstrate the ten steps of the “One Eye Brainspotting” Technique and apply their knowledge in a practicum as both the therapist and the client. Assistants will help them apply the technique more skillfully.
10. Participants will be able to role-play the ten steps of the “Z Axis Brainspotting” Technique and apply their knowledge
    in a practicum as both the therapist and the client. Assistants will help them apply the technique more skillfully.
11. Participants will be able to identify the two things that happen during the “Vergence Brainspotting” technique to lower
    client activation. (The vagus nerve and the PSN)
12. Participants will experience an exercise to discover how processing feels with eyes open or eye closed and describe
    the difference between the two.
13. Participants will be able to determine two symptoms indicating a client is in Flashback versus one who is outside their window of tolerance.
14. Participants will consider that relational attunement is the most critical part of helping those with very complex PTSD
    and learn that staying present and mindful, moment by moment, is crucial to the safety and trust of the client.
15. Participants will be able to conclude that the most crucial type of Brainspotting for those with severe attachment
    wounding and those in Flashback and apply the “Eye Contact Brainspot” until the client’s flashback is over or the
    attachment wounding is less activated and painful.
16. Participants will be able to demonstrate the nine steps of the Advanced Resource Model for fragile or dissociative
    clients as well as clients with very complex PTSD. Participants will apply their knowledge in a practicum setting as
    both the therapist and the client. Assistants are available to help them apply the technique more skillfully.

DAY 1 - FRIDAY: 

• 8:30-9:00: First day only, Introductions of trainers, staff, and assistants
• 9:00-9:15: EDI Statement
• 9:15-10:30: PowerPoint: Review of Phase 1
• 10:30-10:45: Break
• 10:45-11:30: Powerpoint: Introduction to Phase 2
• 11:30-12:15: Demonstration of “Inside/Outside Window”
• 12:15-12:45: Debrief of “Inside/Outside Window” Demonstration
• 12:45-1:45: Lunch
• 1:45-2:00: Powerpoint
• 2:00-2:45: Demonstration of “Rolling Brainspotting”
• 2:45-3:15: Debrief of “Rolling Brainspotting” Demonstration
• 3:15-3:30: Break
• 3:30-5:00: “Inside/Outside Window” and “Rolling Brainspotting” Practicums
• 5:00-5:30: Debrief of “Inside/Outside Window” and “Rolling Brainspotting” Practicums

DAY 2 - SATURDAY

• 9:00-9:15: Check in, review of previous day 
• 9:15-9:30: Powerpoint 
• 9:30-10:15: Demonstration of “One Eye” Brainspotting
• 10:15-10:45: Debrief of “One Eye” Demonstration
• 10:45-11:00: Break
• 11:00-12:45: “One Eye” Practicum
• 12:45-1:45: Lunch
• 1:45-2:15: Debrief of “One Eye” Practicum
• 2:15-2:30: Powerpoint
• 2:30-3:15: Demonstration of “Z Axis” and “Vergence”
• 3:15-3:45: Debrief of “Z Axis” and “Vergence” Demonstration
• 3:45 to 4:00: Break
• 4:00-5:30: “Z Axis” and “Vergence” Practicum 

 

DAY 3 - SUNDAY

• 9:00-9:30: Check in, Debrief “Z Axis” and “Vergence” Practicums 
• 9:30-9:45: PowerPoint
• 9:45-10:30: “Advanced Resource” Demonstration
• 10:30-11:00: Debrief “Advanced Resource” Demonstration
• 11:00-11:15: Break
• 11:15-12:45: “Advanced Resource” Practicum
• 12:45-1:45: Lunch
• 1:45-2:15: Debrief “Advanced Resource” Practicum
• 2:15-3:45: Small Group Q&A
• 3:45-4:00: Break
• 4:00-5:30: Final Q&A, Closing