If you’ve completed your Brainspotting training and felt that quiet click of this is the work I want to do, becoming certified is the natural next step. Certification tells clients and colleagues that you’ve not only trained in Brainspotting, but practiced it, reflected on it, and been supported by an Approved Consultant along the way. Here’s exactly what the path looks like.

Trained vs. certified — what’s the difference?

Completing Phase 1 and Phase 2 means you’re trained in Brainspotting and can use it in your work. Certification is a further, voluntary credential through Brainspotting Trainings, LLC that recognizes depth of experience and consultation. It’s a meaningful signal of commitment — and it opens doors to referrals, directories, and the confidence that comes from being truly supported in the model.

The current requirements

1. Complete Phase 1 and 2, and one advanced training with David Grand of your choice: Phase 3, 4, 5, or Masterclass.
2. Document 50 Brainspotting sessions representing the frame setups from Phases 1 & 2.
3. Complete a minimum of 6 hours of consultation with an Approved Brainspotting Consultant. Only 2 hours of consultation before completing Phase 2 can be counted toward certification.
4. Submit your application and payment, your documented hours, and a copy of your liability insurance to Brainspotting Trainings, LLC, along with your consultant’s completed report.
5. Complete all standards within two years of finishing your Phase 2 training.

How long does it take?

Most therapists move through certification over several months to two years, depending on how quickly you accrue your documented sessions and consultation hours. Because the standards must be met within two years of Phase 2, it helps to begin consultation soon after your core training rather than waiting.

What does it cost?

Plan for three buckets: your training-phase fees (each Brainspotting phase is a separate paid training), your consultation hours (billed at your consultant’s rate), and the certification application fee paid to Brainspotting Trainings, LLC. For current pricing, check directly with Brainspotting Trainings, as fees are updated periodically.

Why consultation is the heart of it

The 6 hours of consultation aren’t a box to check — they’re where your Brainspotting truly deepens. A good consultant helps you refine your attunement, trust the process, and work through the moments that stump you. It’s often the part therapists say changed their practice the most.