12/13/25-12/15/25 Native/Indigenous Focused Phase II Training
Location: Location: Virtual/Online (Synchronous) via Zoom Interactive Live Webinar
9:00am - 6:00pm PST
Trainer: Steve Sawyer, LCSW & Regina Faridnia, LCSW
This training is for helpers/clinicians who identify as Indigenous to the Americas, Pacific Islands (Kanaka Maoli) and/or who work in Native agencies. Registration is available below, please complete step 1 (below) and then come back to this page and complete the step 2 (below) the registration/payment link that is appropriate for your date of sign up and/or status.
If you have questions about registration, please email: indigenacounselingandwellness@gmail.com.
Registration: Click Here
Step I- Registration for Native Focused Brainspotting Phase I: (click here)
Step II- Select and complete/click below for payment after you have completed the registration page above:
Student/repeat Registration Rate: $400 (click here)
Prelicensed Clinician Registration Rate: $525 (click here)
Regular registration rate: $645 (click here)
Step III (Only applicable if you want to receive CE's)-Continuing Education Link: $35 (click here for CE's)
FULL AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS TRAINING
*Note that late registrations may receive materials during or after the training. Alternative options will be provided, if needed. *Payment is provided by the tribe, if you are part of ANAV/QVIC. If not or if you are unsure, please contact Regina. Training information will be provided the week of the training.
Trainings are held both in person &/or virtually on Zoom (please check the listing to see which is relevant to your training. Brainspotting Training includes lecture, live demonstration, and dyadic practicums in which participants will have the opportunity to fully experience Brainspotting as a client and practitioner. Due to the highly experiential nature of the training, it is critical that all participants are fully present for the entire training.
Who should participate in Brainspotting Phase II training?
Addiction Counselors | Community Workers | LCSW's | Psychologists | MFT's | LPC| Psychiatrists| Occupational Therapists | Executive/Life Coaches |Students| Others in the Healing Professions| Indigenous Community Helpers
Requirements and Expectations:
-
100% attendance is required for each day. This means that you are not able to leave the training for a few hours to go attend another meeting etc. and then return to the training, as the training is experiential and this may leave someone without a dyad partner, and you may miss key info. If you are unable to attend 100% each day, then do not register for the training as opting out of practicums is NOT permitted. All aspects of the training must be completed with full participation.
-
During Brainspotting Trainings, you will have the opportunity to both witness and practice different live Brainspotting sessions. This teaching is highly experiential, and you may experience activation during the process. I encourage you to engage in meaningful self-care throughout the training and reach out to any of the facilitators for support. Additionally, please remember that the practicums are for practice purposes and while healing may occur, we encourage you to focus on issues that are well within your system's window of tolerance.
Seminar Overview
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 challenging symptoms. Brainspotting is a simultaneous form of diagnosis and treatment, enhanced with BioLateral sound, which is deep, direct, powerful yet focused and containing.
Brainspotting identifies activated eye positions designated as Brainspots. Located through either one or both eyes, Brainspots are observed from either the "Inside Window" of the client's felt sense and/or the "Outside Window" of the client's reflexive responses (i.e., blink, eye twitches or wobbles, pupil dilation, quick breaths, and subtle body shifts).
Students will first learn the phenomenological approach that underpins strategies for Brainspotting, followed by strategies for identifying and processing Brainspots. Attention will be given to the utilization and integration of Brainspotting into ongoing treatment, including highly dissociative clients.
Brainspotting is adaptable to almost all areas of specialization. Brainspotting provides therapists with powerful tools which enable their patients to quickly and effectively focus and process through the deep brain sources of many emotional, somatic and performance problems.
Seminar /Learning Objectives
Through lecture, live demonstration and small group practice participants will learn to do the following:
This 3-day Brainspotting Phase 2 training will begin with an extensive review of Outside and Inside Window Brainspotting and Gazespotting, with an emphasis on how to clinically interact with clients.
Attendees will be introduced to several important applications. This includes One-Eye Brainspotting including the use of One-Eye goggles. Also taught is 3 Dimensional Brainspotting using the “Z-Axis” of Brainspotting close and far; this includes Vergence Therapy which expands the Z-Axis to activate the vagus nerve through the ocular cardiac reflex.
Additional technical refinements will be presented including “Rolling Brainspotting,” with slow eye tracking stopping briefly on each Brainspot.
Advanced techniques will also include combined Inside-Outside Window Brainspotting where both reflexive responses and client sense of highest activation are used together to find Brainspots.
Day 3 will be devoted to the second level of the Advanced Resource Model. This will entail combining the resource aspects of One-Eye and Z-Axis Brainspotting. This addresses working with clients with Very Complex PTSD and those outside of the Brainspotting Window of Tolerance.
Techniques taught with PowerPoint lecture, discussion with Q & A, demonstrations and practicums.
Seminar Objectives
Through lecture, live demonstration and small group practice participants will learn to do the following:
-
Review components taught in Brainspotting Phase 1 (Outside Window, Inside Window, Gazespotting & Resource Brainspotting Setup)
-
Define Frame and Focus Brainspotting Diagnosis and Treatment
-
Demonstrate 3 Dimensional Z-Axis and Convergence Therapy
-
Define and demonstrate Rolling Brainspotting, Inside/Outside Window Brainspotting, Shades Up/Down, Z-Axis, One-Eyed Brainspotting & Advanced Resource Brainspotting Techniques/Setups
Please note: Supplies will be mailed to the tribal office.
CE's are available for an extra fee (please click on CE link to purchase) and must be purchased before the class ends.
Brief Instructor Bio:
Steve Sawyer, LCSW, is a highly experienced trainer of several unique therapeutic models including Brainspotting and HeartMath. Steve’s Native-focused work is as a Wellbriety Mending Broken Hearts trainer, Native Focused Brainspotting trainer and Generation Red Road facilitator. Steve’s trainings are recognized nation-wide for cutting edge therapeutic techniques, science, and inspiration. Full details including an extended bio are available at: Steve Sawyer Bio | Dynamic Interventions Founder | Speaker | Trainer | Author (stevesawyerlcsw.net)
Regina Faridnia, LCSW has over 26 years of experience in the field. She is the founder of Indigena Counseling & Wellness Center which offers integrative/holistic trauma focused treatment. Regina specializes in first responders, adoption, adolescence, addiction & BIPOC populations. Full details including an extended bio are available at Indigena's Website
Instructions for requesting Accessibility Accommodations: please reach out to Regina: indigenacounselingandwellness@gmail.com and she will make every effort to provide accommodations, when possible. This is also the contact for any questions/concerns.