As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its progression through our society, it has become clear to me and my Brainspotting colleagues that we will be holding sessions via telehealth, exclusively, for the foreseeable future.

The disappointing news is that the nature of Brainspotting does not translate to pandemic-times for in-person safety. Masks make it impossible for the practitioner to see the varied and subtle reflexive cues from the client’s face. The risk of potentially aerosolized particles lingering from upwards of 6-18 hours makes cleaning between sessions impossible, even with my HEPA air purifier. Plus the very nature of deep subcortical processing and release – deep long sighs, sometimes crying or yelling or laughing, coughs, sneezes, burps, all are counter-indicative to a closed space in-person setting during these times. And finally, the 60-90 minute length of sessions does not correlate with the currently recommended 10-minute closed-space timeframe.

The GREAT news is how incredibly effective Brainspotting is via telehalth! We have been holding ALL sessions online as well as ALL TRAININGS online with high quality and outcome. Clients are getting the relief and support they seek, we as practitioners are doing our jobs that we love so very much, and safety is maintained along the way.

So until there is a safe and effective vaccine widely available to all of us, it is my belief that we will be conducting business via telehealth for the foreseeable future.

I am sorely missing in-person contact, hugs, seeing “all” of my client. But I am not willing to live with the risks that are still very real.

I look forward to “seeing” you online, soon!