Podcast Summary: Private Practice Startup Podcast – Episode 130

From Avoidance to Action with Brainspotting

Hosts: Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
Guest: Beth Medina, LMHC, Certified Brainspotting Consultant
Date: April 7, 2019

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the powerful modality of brainspotting and its role in moving from avoidance into action, both personally and professionally. Beth Medina shares her journey as a trauma therapist, her challenges in private practice, and how brainspotting not only shaped her clinical approach but also propelled major business decisions. The conversation masterfully blends insights on therapy, mindset, and entrepreneurship, providing clinicians with practical takeaways and inspiration for growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Beth Medina's Journey to Brainspotting

• Transition to Trauma Therapy: Beth began at a substance abuse clinic where traditional treatments felt inadequate for trauma clients, sparking her search for more effective modalities.
  • Initial skepticism about EMDR:

    "I honestly was like, this sounds really crazy. Like, it sounds like some kind of woo, woo, weird kind of...you know, California sort of therapy.” (Beth Medina, 03:20)

• Discovering EMDR: Attended EMDR training in Atlanta, was amazed at the results, and soon became a sought-after trauma therapist.
• Private Practice Burnout: Receiving an overwhelming number of referrals led to 30+ clients a week, causing health issues.
• Turning Point:
  • Brainspotting emerged as a solution both for client work and for Beth’s own business fears—especially around leaving insurance panels:

    “I was almost ready to [get off insurance]. But I could not get over this one fear that I had of just totally torpedoing my practice.” (Beth Medina, 07:55)

  • Used brainspotting to process this block and swiftly took action on her business decisions.

What is Brainspotting?

• Definition:
  A brain-based therapeutic modality posited on "where we look affects how we feel,” using the visual field to access and process emotional blocks or resources.

  "Brainspotting is a therapeutic modality that is based on the kind of catchphrase that where we look affects how we feel." (Beth Medina, 13:11)

• Applications:
  • Trauma therapy, performance enhancement, creativity, business challenges.
• Process:
  • Uses the client’s visual field to identify areas where emotional or cognitive blocks reside.
  • Involves close attunement (“dual attunement frame”) between therapist and client—tracking breathing, movements, reflexes.
  • Not limited to therapy: supports growth in sports, acting, public speaking, and business coaching.
• Distinguished from EMDR:
  Although related, brainspotting is less directive, less protocol-driven, and grounded in following the client’s process.

The Nature of Avoidance and Taking Action

• Avoidance Roots:
  Most often stems from uncertainty or the (imagined) certainty of negative outcomes.
  • Example: Fears around leaving insurance panels, writing a book, changing business models.
• Curiosity as Antidote:
  Encourages listeners to turn curiosity inward rather than judging themselves for avoidance:

  "The discomfort that you feel about whatever it is you want to achieve actually holds the results that you're seeking. So don't run from that... get curious about it instead of coming from a place of shame." (Beth Medina, 25:48)

• Faith in Action:
  Both hosts and guest underscore the necessity of faith and openness to the unknown for making meaningful changes.

Notable Reflections on Entrepreneurship & Therapy

• Shared Vulnerability:
  Katie shares her own struggles with clarity and direction, illustrating that even experienced professionals face doubts.

  • "...I feel like this podcast is for me, never mind everybody else!" (Katie Lemieux, 21:13)

• Upper Limits & Mindset:
  The “upper limit problem” and imposter syndrome recur as natural challenges at every career stage.
  • Business changes (like no longer taking insurance or scaling back) evoke fear of judgment, scarcity beliefs, and professional shame.
• Self-Compassion and Growth:
  Growth involves ongoing self-exploration, curiosity, and “leveling up” personally as well as professionally.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fear of leaving insurance and using brainspotting to break through:

  "After that session, I wrote the letter to the insurance company... had it on my computer. And this was that final moment of, okay, now I think I'm over this... when I press send to this insurance company... there's no going back, right?"
  — Beth Medina, 10:30

• On upper limits in business:

  "We all have that upper limit problem. And Brainspotting is such a beautiful process because it really allows us to expand past any possibilities that we've even considered."
  — Beth Medina, 12:51

• On the uncertainty principle in brainspotting:

  "We're trained as therapists ... that we have to know, that we're the experts, but ... it's just not true. We can't possibly know what's happening within a client. And we miss things when we make assumptions."
  — Beth Medina, 17:50

• On self-compassion in entrepreneurship:

  "The discomfort that you feel about whatever it is that you want to achieve actually holds the results that you're seeking... get curious about it instead of coming from a place of shame."
  — Beth Medina, 25:48

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:14 – Beth’s story: from substance abuse clinic to specializing in trauma and discovering EMDR
• 07:55 – Facing fears about leaving insurance, using brainspotting for personal business breakthroughs
• 13:11 – What is brainspotting? Core principles and how it works
• 15:23 – The “dual attunement frame” and what sets brainspotting apart
• 17:49 – The uncertainty principle & curiosity in therapy and business
• 21:48 – Why people avoid taking action, and common patterns in therapists
• 25:28 – The value of self-disclosure, authenticity among leaders
• 28:31 – Practical demonstration: Attuning to “stillness and streamline” using visual field awareness
• 30:13 – Key takeaway: curiosity leads to forward movement

Giveaway and Bonus Resources

• Beth Medina’s Giveaway:
  Free downloadable workbook – "The Seven Deadly Sins of the Solopreneur"
  [Available at bethmeda.com]
  (Mentioned at 31:35)

Final Takeaways

• Curiosity trumps shame: When hitting an internal block, get curious rather than critical.
• Brainspotting: An innovative, somatic, client-led approach for removing blocks in therapy and business.
• Entrepreneurial growth is as much internal as it is external: Personal and professional development are intertwined—your mindset affects your business, and vice versa.
• Authenticity is powerful: Even experienced practice builders face doubt. Sharing openly about this fosters connection and growth.

For more information, resources, and to access Beth’s workbook, visit privatepracticestartup.com or bethmeda.com.