Holistic Athlete Development – The Integration Of Brainspotting Into Training Programs
- Jan 24, 2024
- 5 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.
Athletic training programs are becoming increasingly aware of the need for tools that train the physical body, mind, and mental aspects of being an athlete. As a licensed mental health therapist in Washington state with a unique fusion of expertise in massage therapy and specialized training in brainspotting, I can speak to the power of attending to the various aspects of our being beyond physical skills and excellence.
Brainspotting, a method rooted in eye movement and mindfulness, offers a profound avenue for accessing the deep brain. This tool helps to unlock an athlete's full potential by addressing not only the physical demands of their sport but also the interplay of the mental and emotional self. Learn more about the benefits of Brainspotting for athletes in this article: Beyond Physical Training - Exploring the Psychology Edge of Brainspotting in Sports
Why is holistic training necessary?
We have all seen an athlete at the top of their career who, seemingly out of nowhere, gets the "yips" and can't pitch a strike, can't catch the ball, slips on the beam, or plateaus and begins losing to those who are continuing to develop. It is crushing and potentially career-ending.
The causal observer or fan might think the athlete isn't training enough, has burned out, or is just "off their game." Occasionally, that is the truth, but in many cases, the athlete has experienced one major or a series of less impactful traumas that start to block the neuropathways that previously allowed them to perform seamlessly. Any athlete who has gone through this can tell you they can't get past this by training harder, taking a break, or even using imagery to imagine themselves getting back on track. They must work through and release the traumas.
What counts as a trauma?
Surprisingly, trauma is anything that causes a strong adverse reaction. So what, you're saying that if I fall during a choreographed routine, that can be a trauma? Yes. If I miss a catch, I should have easily caught, that could be a trauma? Yep. The brain doesn't differentiate between things like physical abuse and a highly embarrassing moment. Both register as trauma, and both begin to clog the neuropathway which that experience travels through. Now, I am greatly simplifying this process. When we get into things like chronic negative experiences or physical trauma like concussion, other things at play make the issue far more complex.
In my intake with athletes, I have them list every traumatic experience, fall, or hit to the head that they can recall. The list usually starts pretty short. When I explain what a trauma is and what counts as a "head trauma," the list begins to grow and grow. Athletes train to get back up again, toughen up, try again, shake it off, and stop complaining.
They prepare to ignore the trauma and practice the skill until it is perfect.
I remember in 8th grade, volleyball practice ended, but we had to hit 100 serves over the net before we could leave the gym. I was an outside hitter, so my shoulder and wrist were already shot by the end of practice, but 100 serves over the net did me in. I asked Coach to let me slide with 50, and she responded by making my number 150 before I could leave. By the end of the 8th grade volleyball season, I had torn a ligament in my wrist and was headed in for surgery, which ended my volleyball career. These are on my list of traumatic sports experiences, even though the general public might not count them as traumas. Heck, until I learned about neuropathways, I wouldn't have considered them traumas either. We learn, we grow, we heal.
How does brainspotting add to a holistic training program?
Remember those clogged neuropathways I just talked about? When our neurons can't flow freely, all the natural skill and training in the world can't push someone into improved performance. The interesting thing is that with one traumatic event, the athlete can quickly get back into their flow state; with two, they can get there with a bit of work; with every additional trauma, the neuropathway gets more clogged, and it becomes harder to achieve peak performance.
When trauma in the neuropathway builds up, we see athletes that develop anxiety, "the yips," increased injuries, lack energy, muscle guard, and can't move their body with as much ease. They enter the mental state known as "fight, flight, or flee." You can't physically train your way out of this situation.
Brainspotting is the tool that allows traumas to be released and moved through, thereby opening the pathway for the athlete to get back into their performance based on skill and training. Imagine summer construction on a highway that drops it from 3 lanes to 1. Traffic drips through and gets backed up for miles. Construction ends one day, and the lanes open one at a time. Traffic starts moving, and before you know it, the highway is free-flowing without any delay. That is what Brainspotting does. It allows each lane of trauma to open up so the neurons can easily shoot through, which is how athletes achieve a flow state.
When an athlete's neurological system is impacted by injuries or physical, mental, or emotional traumas, the trauma enters into a network in the brain. One strong negative experience can trigger the whole network of traumas because they are all connected. This is why a pitcher, for example, may have a fantastic season, throw one bad pitch, and never recover. It wasn't that one bad pitch that took them down; it was that the pitch triggered a whole network of lifetime traumas that have not been released or processed from their neurological system.
If this pitcher were my client, I recommend Brainspotting intensives – several sessions back to back or several hours all at once until networks become clear. Maintenance Brainspotting would follow the intensives to avoid rebuilding the trauma network. Many athletes have benefited from including Brainspotting in their training routine, and serious athletes should consider this part of their routine.
As a Licensed Mental Health Therapist trained in Brainspotting with a Sports Specialty, I believe Brainspotting is an important aspect of athletes' overall training program and can be used for acute performance issues or injury, as well as maintenance to keep neuropathways clear. Youth athletes should receive Brainspotting work to support healthy physical, mental, and emotional growth as they develop in their sport.
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Read more from Bree!
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,
