Beyond Physical Training – Exploring The Psychological Edge Of Brainspotting In Sports
- Dec 4, 2023
- 3 min read
Written by: Bree Sutton, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
In the world of sports, where physical strength takes center stage, a groundbreaking psychological technique quietly reshapes the landscape of athletic performance. Historically, the focus of training for athletes is on their physical body and skills work. In the 1960’s the field of Sports Psychology emerged and acknowledged that the mind plays a large role in athletic performance. Since then, athletes have worked with psychologists and therapists to enhance the body-mind connection. Brainspotting, a cutting-edge approach to mental health, is a game-changer that provides athletes with a new avenue to unlock their full potential. As a Mental Health Therapist, I have seen the power of Brainspotting for sharpening focus, reducing performance anxiety, fostering mental resilience, and accelerating injury recovery. Brainspotting has the potential to revolutionize the way anyone from the weekend warrior to a seasoned professional trains and competes.
What is brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a therapeutic technique that taps into the connection between eye movement and the brain's processing of emotions and trauma. Developed by David Grand Ph.D., a psychotherapist, Brainspotting involves identifying and focusing on specific eye positions, or "brain spots," that correspond to an emotional or psychological trigger. This method allows us to access the deep brain and neurological system where memories and traumas are held, then process and release that which is holding you back from achieving your athletic goals.
How brainspotting enhances athletic performance sharpened focus
When an athlete is injured or experiences feeling stuck, has “the yips” or has performance anxiety, they are functioning from the sympathetic nervous system and in gamma or beta brain waves. This is the state our body is in when we are in fight or flight mode, and the body and brain are trying to protect themselves. Unfortunately, staying in this state is unhelpful and causes brain fog, poor cognitive functioning, and a host of other issues. Brainspotting supports the brain and nervous system to return to the parasympathetic state and the brain to be in alpha waves which are calming and encourage peak performance.
Reduces performance anxiety
The pressure to perform at a high level can lead to performance anxiety, hindering an athlete's ability to showcase their skills. Brainspotting helps clear the memory networks in the brain that are telling the body that there is something to be nervous about which manifests as anxiety. We want to keep the excitement and energy that help motivate the athlete while reducing or eliminating the buildup of stress and trauma memories causing anxiety.
Fostering mental resilience
Athlete life is full of challenges, setbacks, and unexpected events. Brainspotting equips athletes with the tools to navigate this by fostering mental resilience. By processing and releasing unhelpful emotions and trauma, athletes can bounce back from setbacks or losses more effectively.
Accelerating injury recovery
Physical injurie scan have a profound impact on an athlete's mental state. An abrupt stop in regular exercise can cause a drop in dopamine, directly impacting our mood. Brainspotting has been proven effective in expediting the emotional healing process associated with injuries.
When the trauma of an injury occurs, the brain goes into “protection mode” where it holds onto the memory of the injury and uses muscle guarding to help protect the injury. This is helpful in an acute injury situation. However, as the athlete is healing and recovering, if the brain doesn’t let goof the trauma memory and continues to muscle guard, it can cause slower healing time and a reduction in flexibility and movement throughout the body. Brainspotting is the tool to access the memory in the deep brain or subconscious brain and allow it to be released to encourage a full recovery.
Brainspotting is versatile. Whether you're a weekend warrior aiming for personal bests or a professional athlete competing in front of thousands, this technique can suit individual needs. Its holistic approach to mental well-being extends beyond traditional sports psychology, offering a comprehensive toolkit for athletes at all levels. Learn more here.
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Bree Sutton, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Bree Sutton, a Licensed Mental Health Therapist and Mindset Coach, leads a thriving private practice located in Spokane, WA. Bree specializes in empowering and guiding healing for athletes and high-achievers, using cutting edge neuroscience techniques like Brainspotting and biofeedback as her primary modalities. She is not only an expert in her field but also a dedicated advocate for mental health awareness, actively serving on the Washington State Mental Health Association board and Chairing the Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion committee. Bree's passion lies in fostering mental well-being and enabling peak performance among her clients. To learn more please contact her at info@hellobree.co, 509-818-6819,
