Integrating Brainspotting into Work with Addictive Adaptations and Other Unwanted Behaviors

Join us for a deeply engaging three-day workshop designed to help you confidently and compassionately use Brainspotting (BSP) to support clients struggling with addictions and other unwanted behaviors. In this experiential training, you’ll discover how Brainspotting works with the body and brain to release the underlying emotional and neurobiological roots of compulsive patterns. Through a blend of teaching, live demonstrations, and supported practicums, you’ll learn to help clients access the healing potential within their own nervous systems—transforming painful wounds, addictive energies, and roots of addiction into regulation and self-connection.

Throughout our time together, you’ll be immersed in a warm, supportive learning environment that values presence, curiosity, and authenticity. We’ll explore the powerful connection between trauma, attachment, and addiction, and how Brainspotting offers a gentle yet effective pathway toward lasting change. Each day combines neuroscience insights with hands-on practice, allowing you to experience both the client and practitioner perspectives. You’ll leave with a robust toolbox to use with clients along with growing confidence in Brainspotting techniques to help clients find freedom from the cycles that keep them stuck.

By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to integrate Brainspotting into your therapeutic practice to enhance recovery, emotional regulation, and personal growth. Whether you have been working with addictions for many years or recently exploring this path this training will help. 

Brainspotting is an integrative method that can fit well with various clinical situations including working with various addictive adaptations such as:

• • • Substances of abuse

    • Food

    • Cigarettes and other nicotine types

    • Sex

    • Relationships

    • Technology and gaming

    • Other Unwanted Behaviors

Completion of online or in-person Phase One BSP training is required to attend.

Course Objectives: 

Increase skills for preparing and stabilizing clients for deeper Brainspotting work

Specific Brainspotting Frame Set-Ups for working with activation connected to Addictive adaptations or unwanted behaviors including: 

Working with avoidance behaviors

Foundations work at roots of addictiveness

Urges or Cravings work

Using Vergence Therapy with Cravings or Urges along with other High states of activation

Relapse prevention skills to help support deeper Brainspotting Work

Course content level: Appropriate for Introductory and Intermediate level professionals

Audience: Psychologists, Social Workers, MFTs, and Counselors

Location: Online Training through Zoom – Recorded and Available for 60 days after the training (CEs only available for attendance of the entire live training)

Continuing Education Credits:

Continuing Education Credits have been applied for this training.  Will update  information once it has been accepted by the authorizing agency.

If you would like to sign up for Continuing Education credits then please click to link to pay $35 processing fee which will register you for CEs. Click Here

Agenda for the Training:

Friday – February 6th

9:00 – 10:00 Course Overview and Introductions (Lecture)

10:00 – 10:10 Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

10:10 – 11:30 Neurobiology of Addiction (Lecture)

• Discovery of neurobiology of addiction

• Trauma as root lens of addiction

• Koob/Dr. Lembke models

11:30-11:40 Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

11:40 – 12:30 Foundations of Brainspotting with Addictions (Lecture)

• 3 Stage model of treatment overview

• Preparation phase

• Resolution phase

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

1:30 – 2:00 Question and Answer (Group Discussion)

2:00 – 2:30 Preparing for Brainspotting (Lecture)

• Using somatic information for assessment

• Exploring BSP Set Up to assess readiness

• Toolbox of bottom up coping skills

2:30 – 2:45 Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

2:45 – 3:45 Demonstration of Preparing for Brainspotting (Experiential Learning Activity)

3:45 – 4:30 Debrief Demonstration of Preparing for Brainspotting (Group Discussion)

4:30 – 4:45 Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

4:45 – 5:30 Practicum – Practice Dyads with Preparing for Brainspotting (Experiential Learning Activity)

5:30 – 6:00 Debrief Practicum of Preparing for Brainspotting (Group Discussion)

Saturday – February 7th

9:00 – 9:30 Question and Answer (Group Discussion)

9:30 – 10:00 Applying Brainspotting with Addiction Work(Lecture)

• Introducing of Brainspotting and Addiction Work

• Understanding neurophysiology of avoidance

• Working with avoidance

10:00 – 10:15 Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

10:15 – 11:15 Demonstration of Working with Avoidance (Experiential Learning Activity)

11:15 – 12:00 Debrief Demonstration of Working with Avoidance (Group Discussion)

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

1:00 – 2:30 Practicum – Practice Dyads – Working with Avoidance (Experiential Learning Activity)

2:30 – 2:45 Debrief Practicum of Brainspotting Roots Works (Group Discussion)

2:45 – 3:00 Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

3:00 – 3:30 Foundations of Addiction Work (Lecture)

• Understanding the roots or foundations of addiction

• How to uncover foundations

• Choosing where to begin

3:30 – 4:30 Demonstration of Brainspotting – Foundations of Addiction Brainspotting Work (Experiential Learning Activity)

4:30 – 5:30 Practicum – Practice Dyads – Foundations of Addiction Brainspotting Work (Experiential Learning Activity)

5:00 – 6:00 Debrief Practicum of Foundations of Addiction Brainspotting Work (Group Discussion)

Sunday – February 8th

9:00 – 9:30 Question and Answer (Group Discussion)

9:30 – 10:00 Doing Urges or Cravings work (Lecture)

• Nature of working with cravings

• Identifying cravings

• Stabilization after cravings work

10:00 – 10:15 Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

10:15 – 11:15 Demonstration of Brainspotting Cravings or Urges (Experiential Learning Activity)

11:15 – 12:00 Debrief Demonstration of Brainspotting Cravings or Urges (Group Discussion)

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

1:00 – 2:30 Practicum – Preparation and Stabilization Role Plays (Experiential Learning Activity)

2:30 – 2:45 Debrief Practicum of Preparation and Stabilization Roles Plays (Group Discussion)

2:45 – 3:00 Break (Not included in CE credit hours)

3:00 – 3:30 Vergence Therapy  (Lecture)

• Understanding Vergence and Vagal Driven Technique

• Vergence Set Up

• When and where to use Vergence with High Activation States

4:30 – 5:00 Demonstration of Vergence with High Activation (Group Discussion)

5:00 – 5:30 Debrief Vergence with High Activation (Group Discussion)

5:30 – 6:00 Final Question and Answer (Group Discussion)

Accommodations for the Training

Please email Jeff Ryan, the Organizer and Trainer, with any needs or accommodations that are needed to make the training suitable for you to train.