If you're intrigued by the intersection of psychology, therapy techniques, and professional development, you're in for a treat. In this new episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Audrey Schoen and Jenny Hughes join me for an insightful discussion where we discuss the use of EMDR, Brainspotting, and ART. We touch on the foundational aspects of these therapeutic approaches, including their development, application, and the unique benefits they offer to both therapists and clients. We explore the nuances of each technique, share personal experiences and insights, and discuss the significance of adaptability and intuition in therapy. This episode emphasizes the significance of these therapeutic techniques in processing trauma, the necessity of adapting therapy to individual client needs, and the important role of the therapist's insight and adaptability in the therapeutic process.

“A lot of times I'll tell clients, Brainspotting, is something you get better at as you get to know it. And that's something that there's a learning curve with Brainspotting, if that's not naturally how your brain works. And as a highly cognitive processor, who likes to dissociate from my emotions, it's been even hard for me to make that shift. But it's also really cool, because that's almost one of the benefits of the approach is that it forces me to get out of my cognitive in a way that I can access later. Whereas with the more structured approach of ART, it's so structured that the client doesn't have to think, or they're checking in with their body, but it's very, like, ‘okay, now we're doing this, now we're doing that’. They don't have to wonder what they're doing. And whereas with Brainspotting, I find that it helps me drop out of my cognitive even outside of doing it as a therapy.”- Audrey

Key highlights to dig into:

• Foundation of EMDR: Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, is foundational to the understanding and application of both Brainspotting and ART. It involves bilateral eye movements to help process traumatic memories and stressors more efficiently by engaging different parts of the brain and the body, aiding in trauma processing and healing.

• Introduction of Brainspotting: Discovered by David Grande in 2003, Brainspotting builds upon the principles of EMDR. It focuses on the idea that "where you look affects how you feel," utilizing the discovery of brain spots and specific eye positions related to emotional states to access and process trauma stored in the midbrain and nervous system.

• Overview of ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy): Similar to EMDR in its use of bilateral eye movements, ART is distinct in its structured, protocol-driven approach. It is highly focused on imagery and the reprocessing of painful memories, often achieving significant processing of traumatic events in a single session.

• Therapeutic Flexibility and Personalization: Each technique has unique elements that may resonate differently with both therapists and clients. For example, Brainspotting offers more flexibility and encourages therapists to rely on intuition and client-led processes, while ART is highly structured. EMDR falls somewhere in between, offering a balance of structured protocol and therapeutic flexibility.

• Visual Processing Considerations: The discussion touches on the importance of being mindful of clients' visual processing capabilities, including conditions like aphantasia, and adapting techniques accordingly to ensure inclusivity and effectiveness.

• Therapist Experience and Intuition: The therapists discuss their personal journeys with these techniques, emphasizing the value of experience, intuition, and the therapist-client relationship in guiding therapy and adapting techniques to meet individual needs.

• Neurodiversity and Adaptation: There's an acknowledgment of the need for therapists to be aware of and accommodate neurodivergent clients, adapting techniques to suit their processing styles and experiences.

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