Friday Continuing Education Series: An Introduction to Brainspotting, Richard Platt, LMFT

MARIN CAMFT FRIDAY CONTINUING EDUCATION SERIES

What is Brainspotting? Brainspotting locates points in the client’s visual field that help to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain. Brainspotting (BSP) was discovered in 2003 by David Grand, Ph.D.  Dr. Grand discovered that "Where you look affects how you feel." It is the brain activity, especially in the subcortical brain that organizes itself around that eye position.

Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms. Brainspotting is a simultaneous form of diagnosis and treatment, which is deep, direct, and powerful yet focused and containing.

Brainspotting functions as a neurobiological tool to support the clinical healing relationship. There is no replacement for a mature, nurturing therapeutic presence and the ability to engage another suffering human in a safe and trusting relationship where they feel heard, accepted, and understood.

Brainspotting gives us a tool, within this clinical relationship, to neurobiologically locate, focus, process, and release experiences and symptoms that are typically out of reach of the conscious mind and its cognitive and language capacity.

Brainspotting works with the deep brain and the body through its direct access to the autonomic and limbic systems within the body’s central nervous system. Brainspotting is accordingly a physiological tool/treatment which has profound psychological, emotional, and physical consequences.

Over 13,000 therapists have been trained in BSP in the United States, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Africa.  

Teen therapy expert, Richard Platt, graduated from California Institute of Integral Studies with an M.A. in Counseling Psychology in 1995. He began his work at the T.A.L.K. Line of SF Family Service Agency in 1994 and was licensed in 1998. He was a primary therapist at Adolescent Recovery Services, an Intensive Outpatient Program in Marin. He has successfully counseled hundreds of

 families through the toughest challenges of raising teen boys.

Richard has mentored at camps and outdoor education programs, including the Headwaters Outdoors School, Youth Leadership Conference, Challenge Day, and the Young Men’s Ultimate Weekend. He co-founded Teen Solutions Therapy with his wife, Lorraine Platt, LMFT in Mill Valley and is Past President of the Board of the Young Men’s Ultimate Weekend. He is a member of The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. In addition to his counseling services, Richard mentors teen boys through hiking, team meetings and modern rites of passage initiations. He enjoys helping young men discover their individual qualities, as well as their role of responsibly serving and protecting their community. CLICK to contact Richard or call him at: 415 360 5445 

• Time: Networking is from 11:30 to 12:00 p.m. The presentation begins at 12:00 pm and ends at 2:00 p.m.

• Cost: Free for Marin CAMFT members, $10 for non-members.

• Location: Corte Madera Town Center, Room 201 - 770 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera, CA 94925 (map)

• Information: For more information about the Friday Continuing Education Series and about joining the Committee, please contact CE Director, Laurie Buntain.
  

• Continuing Education Goal: Marin CAMFT is committed to offering continuing education courses to train LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs to treat any client in an ethically and clinically sound manner based upon current accepted standards of practice. Course completion certificates will be awarded at the conclusion of the training and upon participant’s submission of his or her completed evaluation. 

• Refund Policy: Requests for refunds must be in writing and received by the CE Director on no later than ten days before the program. There will be a $25.00 administrative fee to cancel registration for any program. The refund will be sent within ten days of the request.

• Accommodation for Special Needs: The special needs of persons with disabilities will be accommodated. The Program Committee will endeavor to assure that continuing education program materials, content and venue selections will meet the special needs of the disabled and that reasonable accommodation will be made. A request for accommodation can be made to the CE Director, who will work with the Committee and event venue to meet the need.All instructors will read and adhere to Marin CAMFT’s stated policies.

• Marin CAMFT encourages those who attend its events to respect the fact that some individuals may have allergies to fragrances and pet dander. We ask that you refrain from introducing these elements into our meeting room. Registered service animals are welcome, of course.

• Grievance Procedure: Marin CAMFT will respond to complaints in a reasonable, ethical and timely manner, when submitted by program attendees in writing to the CE Director.

• Anti-Discrimination Policy: Marin CAMFT shall not discriminate against any individual or group with respect to any service, program or activity based on gender, race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age or other prohibited basis. Marin CAMFT does not require attendees to adhere to any particular religion or creed in order to participate in training. Marin CAMFT will not promote or advocate for a single modality of treatment that is discriminatory or likely to harm clients based on current accepted standards or practice.

• CE: This workshop meets the qualifications for two hours of continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LEPs and LPCCs. These will be provided by Marin CAMFT (CEP # 56895), which is approved by CAMFT to sponsor CE for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs. Marin CAMFT maintains responsibility for this program and its contents contact Laurie Buntain, Continuing Education Director for more information.