Brainspotting

Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic tool that I utilize in my coaching practice. Don’t let the name scare you- it’s nothing like the Matrix, though it can be a little “woo”. In a nutshell, it’s a tool to liberate your body/mind from the negative beliefs, thoughts, patterns and loops it gets stuck in. For a more comprehensive look at it, read on!

When something traumatic, wounding or deeply distressing happens, the emotional “charge” or memory from that event becomes stored or trapped, showing up in your body. The issues are literally in your tissues. Often, you are not consciously aware that it has occurred, but your brain is altered as a result.  It can cause problems on all levels – emotionally, mentally and physically. Brainspotting is designed to reveal, reprocess and ultimately release that trapped energy so that it no longer causes problems in your life.

Brainspotting uses where you look to affect how you feel. As you hold your attention your “brain spots”, it allows for deep processing to safely reprocess and release the trauma from the mind/body.

As a Brainspotting practitioner, I listen to your words and body experiences, observing the eyes, face and body, watching for cues. We work together to find eye positions based on these cues that allow you to access healing. I believe that the brain is self-healing and my role is to set and hold a space that empowers your self-healing abilities.

Coaching with Kim

What Now?

We start with a free 30 minute Discovery Zoom Call so that we can get to know each other a little bit better. These calls are all about you. I want to know what’s not working in your life, what you have tried to change it and what vision you have for your life. Then I will share about how I can work with you to achieve this desired state and vision, if it’s a good fit for us both.

Then we get going by scheduling your first session. This is a 90 minute session where we will go over your intake questionnaire and talk through what your markers of success will be, how to utilize your support system and do a little Brainspotting. We book out the next few sessions and I follow up with you a few days later to check in on you.

All of my clients have unlimited email access to support from me. I believe that most of the work happens in between sessions and I want you to feel fully supported in your healing process.

FAQ

• What is the investment for individual sessions?

I utilize the Green Bottle Model for payment scaling.

• Do you accept or bill insurance?

I am unable to bill insurance or accept HSA payments at this time.

• What is the difference between Coaching and Talk Therapy?

  Great question and I will do my best to give my own opinion in a nutshell as this can be a complex topic. As a Certified Brainspotting Practitioner and Coach, I provide space for my clients to do therapeutic work that falls within my scope of practice. I utilize tools such as Brainspotting, Parts Work and some EFT to support you in expanding your nervous system capacity for the feelings you desire: peace, contentment, love, happiness etc. During Brainspotting, talking is minimized in order to support the brain in accessing the Subcortical space where trauma is stored. We use time before and after Brainspotting to talk, strategize, improve coping skills and make a plan for in-between sessions. Talk therapy can be very expansive and typically involves talking for the entire session. Tools like CBT, DBT, IFS etc can be used to help you gain clarity and understanding around what you do and how to change it. It can be very focused on behavior modification and keeps the focus on the Prefrontal Cortex part of the brain. I love Brainspotting because a lot of the work is done in the Subcortical space which allows for getting to the root of beliefs and behaviors allowing for a more natural cessation of unwanted behaviors and deeper understanding of yourself.

  Want to discuss it further? Schedule a free 30-minute Discovery Call and I am happy to do so.

• What is Brainspotting?

  Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by revealing, re-processing and releasing core sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, numbness or negative beliefs. You can learn more here.

• How many sessions a month do clients usually need?

It depends on the client’s individual needs and goals, but I generally see clients 2-3 times a month. I also offer Deep Dive sessions where we work together for 2-4 hours at a time. This provides an opportunity to see alleviation of symptoms and to go deeper than a regular length session.

• How long do clients usually work with you?

  Each person’s story and history is unique and complex. Brainspotting and coaching together are very effective, however, the more complex the trauma/emotional roots, the longer it can take. It also depends on the level of work you have done with a therapist/counselor or coach prior, support and financial abilities. I generally tell clients to plan on 6-12 months or longer.

• How do you see clients?

  Most of my clients are seen virtually using Zoom. I also offer in-person sessions once a month in my Portland, Oregon office or outdoor sessions (weather permitting).

• Do you offer group Brainspotting?

  I do! Group Brainspotting is wonderful for team building and accelerated healing. I also offer annual Brainspotting retreats.

• What is your training and background?

  I have been a Certified Brainspotting Practitioner since May 2020. I have completed Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 4, Expansion, and am currently a Consultant in Training (CIT). I have been a client of Brainspotting with my own therapist since 2019. I started my own coaching practice, Captivatingly Confident, in 2017. I went to school at Multnomah University to study Psychology.
  

Green Bottle Model

I have always wrestled with what rate to ask for in exchange for the service I provide. In the therapeutic space, it is common practice to ask for $150+ per 50 min. session. My base rate is lower than most as a way to offset the inability to accept insurance. Since all of my clients are cash paying clients, I absorb the fees associated with collecting payments and reduced the base rate to one that felt supportive to me as a working mother and wife. After years of serving and seeking service from others, I decided that the way that felt most aligned with my values around equity and compassion were to have a rate that was scaled to meet people where they were at. Enter the Green Bottle Model.

The Green Bottle Model is an economic justice tool and helpful graphic created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk to guide decision making surrounding sliding scale options. This empowers you as the client to feel more comfortable and confident about the rate you are investing for the services given by me. I never want anyone to feel financially stressed and my hope is that this scale alleviates or mitigates that stress and allows you to feel more present and confident in our sessions together.

Use the graphic and the points below to gauge where you might sit on the scale.

• The Flourish Rate represented by the first jar is the true cost of the service.

• I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic* needs

• I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs

• I own my home or property OR I rent a higher-end property

• I own or lease a car

• I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs

• I have regular access to health care

• I have access to financial savings

• I have an expendable** income

• I can always buy new items

• I can afford an annual vacation or take time off

  $125/55 min. session

• The Fulfillment Rate is represented by the second less full jar.

• I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them

• I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs

• I own or lease a car

• I am employed

• I have access to health care

• I might have access to financial savings

• I have some expendable income

• I am able to buy some new items & I thrift others

• I can take a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden

  $100/55 min. session.

• The Foundation Rate represented by the third nearly empty jar.

• I frequently stress about meeting basic needs & don’t always achieve them

• I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs

• I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing

• I do not have a car and/or have limited access to a car but I am not always able to afford gas

• I am unemployed or underemployed

• I qualify for government assistance including food stamps & health care

• I have no access to savings

• I have no or very limited expendable income

• I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them

• I cannot afford a vacation or have the ability to take time off without financial burden
  $75/55 min. session.

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When applying this framework to my offerings please consider what is suitable for you and also honors the energy and work that I bring to this space. The top end of the scale ensures that I am being paid for the work that I do, while also sustaining those who may only be able to access the services at the lower end of the scale. In this way, those with more economic privilege are directly supporting other folks within their community to have better access essential care.