Different approaches.
One goal: helping you move forward.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting (BSP) is a highly effective, brain-based technique discovered in 2003 by David Grand, Ph.D. It has been found to be effective in helping a variety of mental health concerns including trauma, anxiety, physical pain, negative emotions, mental blocks and also helps with performance expansion.
What is my role in Brainspotting?
In Brainspotting, you are the expert! The therapist plays a supporting role, helping you access your own self-healing capabilities. Brainspotting bypasses the “thinking” part of your brain and is believed to give you access to the parts of your brain responsible for emotional regulation.
How does Brainspotting work?
A trained practitioner will help you locate a point in your visual field, a “brainspot,” associated with the issue you want to work on. You hold your gaze on the eye position while noticing sensations in your body. Bilateral sound is used to engage both hemispheres of your brain for a deeper level of processing. This allows the brain and body to process the issue organically.
How many sessions will I need, and do I have to talk?
Brainspotting can be more short term with some clients resolving their issues after only a few sessions. Since the practitioner is watching reflexive cues, brainspotting allows for nonverbal processing. You can talk as little or as much as you want!
Brainspotting at work: A client's experience
“Brainspotting: didn’t know what it was or what it was about. However, if you’ve ever been desperate, you’re likely to try just about anything. I was told that I would never get my left arm to be fully functional again. At the time, it had been two years since I’d had my motorcycle accident. Due to my extensive nerve damage and how long it had been, doctors had given up on any hopes of recovery. Additionally, I was informed that any chance of regaining mobility was highly unlikely.
Then I met Mrs. Blackwell, and just after one session, regaining full mobility was an option on the table again. We brainspotted the accident and several other events, and in one month, I gained elbow flexion to my left arm. Basically, I was able to do a bicep curl. She mended the relationship between my brain and my arm and made them one again. Through counseling, she helped me overcome fear and anxiety, and she encouraged the daily use of my left arm.
I am both fortunate and blessed to cross paths with such an experienced and dedicated professional as Mrs. Blackwell. She has the intelligence, drive, and ability to guide anyone through their recovery from physical and mental injuries. Working with her made me feel empowered and anxious to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was one of the most transformative decisions that I have ever made. With her knowledge, guidance, and motivation, I was able to regain my life back. I can tell you today, I have made leaps and bounds due to Mrs. Blackwell and brainspotting.”
— Active Duty Military · Individual experience; results vary.
Safe & Sound Protocol
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) was developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and is a five-day auditory intervention designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience. It’s based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory.
What can the Safe and Sound Protocol help with?
The SSP is a research-based therapy showing significant results in the following areas:
- Social and emotional difficulties
- Auditory sensitivities
- Anxiety and trauma related challenges
- Inattention
- Stressors that impact social engagement
The non-invasive intervention involved listening to music that’s been specifically processed to retune and regulate the nervous system (regulating state). When you have better state regulation you are more socially engaged improving therapeutic outcomes.
How does the Safe and Sound Protocol work?
The SSP uses the auditory system to stimulate the vagus nerve which controls our physiological state. The music trains the auditory pathway by focusing on the frequency of human speech. As the client learns to process these frequencies, they improve the functioning of Cranial Nerve VII (Facial nerve) and Cranial Nerve X (Vagus Nerve). Cranial Nerve VII helps the client focus on human voice, tuning out distracting frequencies and Cranial Nerve X helps with self-soothing and autonomic regulation.
Heart Rate Variability Training
Heart Rate Variability (or “HRV”) is simply a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat. The heart rate speeds up during inhalation and slows down during exhalation. HRV is an important indicator of health and fitness and reflects our ability to adapt effectively to stress and environmental demands.
What influences heart rate variability?
Breathing patterns, physical exercise and even our thoughts influence our HRV. One of the most powerful factors to affect the changing rhythm of our heart is our feelings and emotions. Emotional stress like anger, frustration and anxiety can create heart rhythm patterns that appear irregular and erratic - resulting in an incoherent heart rhythm pattern.
What is a coherent heart rhythm?
Positive emotions like joy, love and appreciation create a smoother pattern called a coherent heart rhythm pattern. When we are in a coherent pattern, the branches of the autonomic nervous system are synchronized, and the body’s system is operating with increased efficiency.
What happens during emWave Pro training?
Using a pulse sensor that’s plugged into a USB port, emWave Pro translates coherence information from pulse data and creates a user-friendly graphic displayed on the computer screen. The emWave Pro helps you achieve coherence and alignment through simple exercises, games and coherence techniques. This helps you build resilience, increase energy, and promotes focus, mental clarity and emotional balance.
MindAlive
Mind Alive Inc. is a Canadian neurotechnology company based in Edmonton, Alberta, that designs and manufactures devices for alternative health and cognitive enhancement.
What technologies does MindAlive use?
They specialize in Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE), Cranio-Electro Stimulation (CES), and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) technologies. Their flagship products, such as the DAVID Delight series, are portable “mind machines” that use synchronized pulsing lights (via specialized glasses) and rhythmic sounds (via headphones) to guide the user's brainwaves into specific states.
Specific technology and features vary by device; ask Katherine which approach is available during your session.
What are the potential benefits of MindAlive?
These non-pharmaceutical devices are designed to help users manage stress, improve sleep, boost mood, and sharpen cognitive focus, and are often used to address conditions like anxiety, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and chronic fatigue.
These are intended uses, not guaranteed outcomes. Evidence and suitability vary by device and condition.
Is MindAlive suitable for everyone?
Some light-based devices use flashing light, which may be unsuitable for people with photosensitive seizures or certain other conditions. Katherine can discuss screening and relevant manufacturer guidance before a session.