Hosted by Mariya Javed-Payne
Registration Options
Total cost for the intensive is $2000. Register and pay your initial deposit of $1000. The second half of payment due by November 15th, 2025. Payment for accommodations will be due by January 5th, 2026.
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*Note that this is not a client intensive but a training for Brainspotting clinicians. Learn more about client intensives here. Please read all the details below before signing up!
***This training intensive is approved by Brainspotting Trainings, LLC and meets the requirement for Brainspotting certification in lieu of 6 hours of consultation with an approved Brainspotting consultant/trainer. Phase 1, 2, and one of the following trainings: Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 5, or Master Class are required for certification. Learn more about the certification process here.
The Brainspotting (BSP) Intensive is an advanced training devised by David Grand, founder and developer of BSP to provide the ultimate learning experience for Brainspotting practitioners. The registration is capped at 10 participants and the schedule is five full consecutive days. Come for an unforgettable and transformative healing and learning environment on the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
There are ten experientials in the center of the group with each participant being the therapist once and client once. Mariya will sit next to the therapist and personally teach by guiding the therapist in the most attuned, technically advanced, and innovative Brainspotting process. Afterwards, each session is debriefed extensively in the group and this enhances everyone's learning process. In sum, the Intensive is a master class in developing skills as an advanced clinical BSP therapist. This is also a qualified path to achieving Brainspotting certification provided the Brainspotter has 50 documented Brainspotting sessions and completion of Phase 2, and one of the following additional trainings: Phase 3, 4, 5, or Master Class.
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Prerequisite: Completion of live in-person or online Phase 1 and Phase 2 trainings.
Audience: Psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, executive/life coaches, medical professionals, occupational therapists, physical therapists, naturopaths, acupuncturists, massage therapists, clergy, healing professionals with strong clinical backgrounds, students and interns in a mental health graduate program.
Schedule: We will be working each day from 9 am - 6 pm Monday through Friday. Optional offerings will occur before or after our scheduled sessions.
Cost of Intensive: $2,000.00 USD per person.
To hold your spot for the intensive, a $1,000 deposit is required, with second payment due by November 15th, 2025, and lodging/meal payment due by January 5th, 2026.
*Please contact us if you are in need of a payment plan. We would be delighted to have you.Lodging Information/Costs: The cost of lodging will be $500-$700 USD per person for the week. We will be staying at the Cenote Balam Ha Retreat Center in Akumal, Mexico. Lodging and meal (breakfast/lunch) costs will be due by January 5th, 2024. Each attendee will have their own room.
Meals/Costs: The cost of meals (breakfast/lunch) will be approximately $350 USD per person for the week. We will have a personal chef making fresh, delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner options each of the days of the intensive. Refreshments and snacks will be provided throughout the day.
Attendees must arrive by Sunday, February 8th before 2 pm, and must check out by 10 am on Saturday, February 14th, 2026. **There is also an option to arrive to the lodge by Saturday, February 7th. Please let us know if you’d prefer this.
Total Cost= Approximately $2800-$3200 USD plus costs of flights/transportation/travel insurance/additional optional offerings.
Airport Information: The closest/most convenient airport to fly into will be Cancun International Airport (CUN). It is approximately 1-hour drive away from Akumal. We will provide options for private transportation if desired. Cozumel Airport (CZM) is also an option, however, a ferry ride will be needed to reach the mainland.
Additional Details/Optional Offerings: We will be offering optional individual Reiki, craniosacral therapy, and breathwork sessions on Sunday, February 8th before the start of the training and throughout the week (outside of the training times) at an additional cost. Sessions are facilitated by Mariya’s partner Greg Payne. We will also have the option to gather in a facilitated traditional temezcal (sweat lodge ceremony) in the evening on one of the days after the training to assist in the healing work we will be doing. We will provide additional details as we get closer to the event. Please state your interest in the registration form and reach out to us with any questions.
IN PERSON COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
The training will be held in English
Plan to attend all days of the training and avoid scheduling other activities during the training times.
Course attendees must be present for the entire course and complete an evaluation.
Partial credit is not allowed. Each attendee must sign in and out of each day.
Please discuss any concerns with the trainer in advance.
Certificates of completion will be emailed within one week after the course is over.
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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 clients felt sense and/or the “Outside Window” of the clients’ 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 to enable their patients to quickly and effectively process through the deep brain sources of many held traumas, emotional, somatic and performance problems.
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Mariya Javed-Payne is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and International Brainspotting Trainer and Consultant.
She is a somatic psychotherapist and the owner of Awaken Consulting Services, a private practice and consultancy where she utilizes Brainspotting therapy and offers training and consultation on the treatment of trauma, somatic psychotherapies, psychedelic assisted therapy, anti-racism, and other relevant mental health topics. She also offers therapy intensives for complex PTSD and addictions, where clients work with her for multiple hours a day for a number of days to get to the root of traumatic experiences.
Always seeking out the most cutting edge advances in treatment, she utilizes psychedelic medicines such as ketamine with somatic therapy. Her 14 years of experience have focused on clients with addictions, medication assisted treatment therapies, complex and developmental trauma, racial and ancestral trauma, oppression, and chronic pain. Identifying as a deep-hearted visionary and servant leader, she has served various leadership roles in the mental health service industry, such as Chief Clinical Officer at Institute for Integrative Therapies, the first psychedelic assisted therapy clinic in Minnesota, as well as Director of Behavioral Health at a large federally qualified health center. Mariya has courageously supported and trained many teams of physicians, therapists, psychiatrists, and social workers to embody attunement and provide trauma-responsive, anti-oppressive counseling and addiction therapies to people and communities in need of healing.
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The following learning objectives will be implemented each of the 5 days, with specific to each day learning objectives listed below
By the end of the intensive, participants will be able to:
Demonstrate advanced proficiency in Brainspotting core techniques and frames across multiple clinical presentations.
Assess client activation, neurobiological reflexes, and somatic cues to identify accurate Brainspots using Inside Window, Outside Window, Gazespotting, Body Resource, and all Phase 2 methods (Rolling, Outside-Inside Window, One Eye, Z Axis, Vergence, Adv Resource Model)
Apply the Dual Attunement Frame to support attuned, subcortical processing throughout therapeutic sessions.
Evaluate the relevance and impact of Brainspotting theoretical principles (Uncertainty Principle, Tail of the Comet, WAIT) in live sessions.
Interpret neurophysiological responses observed during Brainspotting, including orienting reflexes and nervous-system shifts.
Differentiate between Activation and Resource models and organize treatment plans accordingly.
Analyze clinical cases within the Brainspotting frame and formulate appropriate intervention strategies.
Demonstrate culturally responsive Brainspotting practice through awareness of racial, ethnic, and contextual factors in treatment.
Discuss ethical considerations relevant to Brainspotting practice, attunement, scope, consent, and safety.
Evaluate personal therapeutic presence, attunement, and countertransference responses to strengthen clinical skill and readiness for certification.
DAY 1
Participants will be able to:Describe the neurobiological impact of the orienting reflex
Explain how “where you look affects how you feel” informs Brainspotting’s neurobiological underpinnings.
Formulate 3 key points on how to describe Brainspotting to clients
Identify key markers of subcortical and autonomic processing during experientials and interpret reflexive indicators (blink, wobble, breath shifts).
Explain the Uncertainty Principle and differentiate how uncertainty supports deep attunement within the therapeutic relationship.
Discuss the Dual Attunement Frame and its impact on creating safe, contained therapeutic processing, supporting the client’s window of tolerance.
Summarize the Tail of the Comet in extensive debrief discussions and evaluate its relevance during processing sessions.
Explain and demonstrate how WAIT (Why Am I Talking?) supports therapist restraint and awareness of limbic countertransference.
DAY 2
Participants will be able to:
Analyze the Uncertainty Principle and evaluate its clinical implications for pacing, attunement, and tracking activation.
Explain the effects of bilateral sound and summarize its impact on parasympathetic activation and therapeutic containment.
Differentiate Activation vs. Resource models and apply resource strategies for clients with complex trauma.
Identify at least two cultural or contextual considerations relevant to Brainspotting practice and discuss their impact on case conceptualization.
Distinguish 3 core reasons why Brainspotting in and of itself is a resourced approach
Explain the 5 main principles of the Neuroexperiential Model of Brainspotting (NEM)
Identify 12 domains of bio-psycho-social assessment to assess client readiness for Brainspotting and level of resourcing needed
Identify key differences between explicit/external resourcing techniques from the therapist and implicit/internal resourcing techniques within the client
DAY 3
Participants will be able to:
Explain the roles of the allocortex, isocortex, and superior colliculus in Brainspotting processing.
Evaluate ethical considerations unique to Brainspotting, including safety, scope, and attunement responsibilities.
Differentiate between virtual and in-person Brainspotting techniques
Identify adaptations for tracking, attunement, and visual-field precision in both settings.
Describe the concept of “tightening” and “widening” the frame and apply it during experiential sessions.
Describe “squeezing the lemon” technique and its importance in thorough processing and closing sessions
Describe 3 techniques to safely close a Brainspotting session
Analyze how the nervous system titrates on its own and 3 strategies to guide clients in titrating/dosing activation to support window of tolerance
DAY 4
Demonstrate proficiency with each Phase 1 frame technique: Outside Window, Inside Window, Gazespotting, and Resource Model
Identify when to use each Phase 1 frame and classify the affinities that each frame offers to different clients
Define limbic countertransference and discuss its impact on the therapeutic process and outcomes
Explain the relationship between the Z-axis, eye contact, and attachment-based dynamics in Brainspotting.
Summarize the polyvagal themes observed in the demonstrations and how they related to session pacing.
Describe what clients typically experience during a Brainspotting session, including sensory, emotional, and physiological responses.
Explain how Brainspotting conceptualizes client movement from dysregulation to regulation from a nervous system perspective, applying polyvagal concepts
Evaluate key physiological indicators of sympathetic and parasympathetic arousal, freeze response, and dorsal vagal collapse
DAY 5
Demonstrate proficiency with each Phase 2 frame technique: Outside-Inside Window, Rolling, Z axis & vergence, One Eye, Advanced Resource Model
Identify when to use each Phase 2 frame and classify the affinities that each frame offers to different clients
Differentiate the therapeutic applications of Phase 1 versus Phase 2 methods and organize treatment strategies accordingly.
Analyze client readiness, external supports, and treatment planning considerations as part of Brainspotting certification standards.
Identify stabilization and regulation strategies for dissociation and practice techniques such as vergence, eye-contact spot, and use of the oculocardiac reflex.
Discuss the neuroscience underlying transitions from dysregulation to regulation within Brainspotting sessions.
Assess dissociative indicators and practice appropriate screening strategies during experiential sessions.
Summarize at least three Brainspotting-aligned strategies for working with dissociation based on somatic and neurophysiological models.
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Complimentary certificates of completion for 36 clock hours are sent out within one week after the intensive. We also offer accredited CEs through our continuing education branch, Awakened Minds Academy, should your state licensing board require them.
Awakened Minds Academy has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7926. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Awakened Minds Academy is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
CEs are a separate $55 purchase and must be purchased by the end of class. CEs are not available after the intensive ends. We will also send a link to purchase in your welcome email after registration. This course totals 37 clock hours/CE credit hours.
You can buy accredited CEs here: Brainspotting Intensive Training Accredited CE Registration
You will need to do your research on whether you qualify to use these. Each state has their own rules, and some will accept them, others will not. We also have a helpful guide below to review your state’s continuing education regulations.
Continuing Education Requirements by State
Full attendance is required, as well as the completion of an evaluation after the course. Evaluations and certificates are sent out within one week of the end of the course.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
CANCELLATIONS/REFUND POLICY FOR CE CERTIFICATES: You may request a refund for your CE certificate before the end of the last day of training. We will provide you with a full refund minus $10 administrative fee.
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Full refund minus $75 administrative fee will be given prior to November 15th 2025. A 50% refund minus $75 administrative fee will be provided up to January 1st, 2026. After January 1st, 2026, attendee would be allowed to attend another intensive for up to 1 year from original date. You are also required to purchase travel insurance or consent to forfeiting all costs in case of unforeseen circumstances.
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We are dedicated to making sure all of our continuing education (CE) programs uphold the highest standards of accessibility. If you have specific needs or accommodations, we encourage you to contact us. Sharing your requests before the training helps us create an inclusive and supportive learning experience for everyone.
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DATA USAGE & SECURITY
Your data is kept private and secure and we do not sell your information to any other parties. We may use your email to update you for future trainings and news from Awaken Consulting Services. You are welcome to opt out at any time.
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Participants who have a grievance regarding our continuing education courses are invited to submit their concerns in writing through our online form within 30 days of course completion.
Please include the following information when submitting a grievance:
· Your name and contact information
· Course title, completion date, and instructor’s name (if applicable)
· A detailed explanation of the concern, including relevant facts and any supporting documentation
· The outcome or resolution you are seeking
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Awaken Consulting Services, LLC
CC: Awakened Minds Academy
2717 Hidden Creek Lane
Wayzata, MN 55391
763-232-4694
Email
Total cost for the intensive is $2000. Register and pay your initial deposit of $1000. The second half of payment due by November 15th, 2025. Payment for accommodations will be due by January 5th, 2026.