Hannah Sandison

New Pathways Brainspotting:

Hello I am Hannah and I specialise in mind-body therapy for trauma, utilising Brainspotting. Brainspotting is a powerful modality that works at the subcortical level of the brain allowing processing of traumatic experiences without the need for talking. Brainspotting can also support with anxiety and panic, low self-worth and chronic pain which has an emotional basis. If you have had talk therapy in the past but still feel stuck, Brainspotting can help you access areas of activation that still remain within your neural networks, supporting rewiring of these networks and improved emotional well-being.

I love introducing clients to brainspotting because it:

-works in sync with their body, recognising the ability of their nervous system to heal

-is compassionate and non-judgemental, and celebrates their resilience to have survived in the face of difficult circumstances or experiences.

-allows trauma to be processed with or without words

-supports the ability of the client to learn to be with difficult sensations, observing them from a distance without becoming overwhelmed

-is fully responsive to their needs. A range of frames can be used to steady them allowing processing from a resourcing, grounding place as needed

Brainspotting training:

-Phase 1 Brainspotting, April 2025

-Phase 2 Brainspotting, June 2025

-Brainspotting Masterclass with David Grand, January 2026

-Expansion Brainspotting with Lisa Larson, Pacific Brainspotting trainings, part of Pacific Counselling and Trauma Centre, July 2026

I am in the later stages of working with a consultant to become a certified brainspotting practicioner. Certification is an optional process but demonstrates my commitment to rigorous training and the development of deep understanding of Brainspotting techniques.

I come from a background of applied Psychology and have been an Educational Psychologist for over 20 years. As such I am registered with the HCPC (Health Care Professions Council). I have a BSc in Psychology, MSc in Educational Psychology and a PGCE in teaching. I taught for 2 years prior to my Educational Psychology training. Prior to this I was an Assistant Psychologist on a CAMHS team and have worked in an in-patient acute adolescent hospital service.

Further relevant training:

-Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM)® Level 1 Training, Trauma Resource Institute, September, 2025

-Treating Trauma with Internal Family Systems Therapy: Step-by-Step Procedures for Healing Trauma, Anxiety, Depression and More, PESI, June 2025. Please note this is IFS informing training.

-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents, Russ Harris, November, 2024

-DNA-V for Young People, led by Louise Hayes and Joseph Ciarrochi, July 2024

-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Essentials, The Association of Psychological Therapies, November 2023

All issues that can be helped through Brainspotting:

Trauma e.g. difficult childhood experiences, developmental trauma, PTSD, abuse, one-off traumatic events, grief and loss

Anxiety/depression, low self-worth

Chronic pain with a likely emotional basis

Performance anxiety

Expansion brainspotting to future possibilities

Adolescents (currently 16+) and adults

It is essential that all trauma therapy moves at the pace of the client, ensuring that any possible risk of emotional overwhelm and retraumatisation is considered and managed carefully. My priority is always establishing a grounded, resourced, safe base from the start of the process, where exploration is able to flow at your pace. Whatever therapy method you choose a highly attuned relationship with the therapist needs to be at the heart of the process. I will always do my utmost to sit alongside you, honour your experience and gently challenge if it is helpful to do so. Whilst I naturally bring a sense of warmth and compassion I also recognise that this is not always comfortable for some clients, particularly in the earlier days of therapy. It is very important to me that people feel able to be honest and open about what helps or hinders them in their therapy process.

I am currently working with teens age 16+ and adults, in the UK and internationally. Sessions are typically weekly or fortnightly and last an hour. Clients are welcome to book one or two sessions or a series of sessions. I have made the decision to offer a significantly reduced rate at this time whilst I am developing 'New Pathways'. The current charge is £40 per session online, £50 in person. I will honour these prices for up to the first three months of working with a client. Some clients prefer a longer session of Brainspotting and this can be accommodated following discussion between client and therapist.

Online sessions allow you to access brainspotting around your other commitments. All you need is a quiet place, a device, and a stable internet connection. In person sessions are held in a venue local to Farnham, Surrey.