The Use of the Psychotherapy Technique Brainspotting in the Treatment of Test Anxiety

The researcher investigated the self-reported test anxiety levels of students at a college of osteopathic medicine and a college of veterinary medicine at a university in the southeastern United States at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. Student's test anxiety levels were measured using the Spielberger Test Anxiety inventory at the beginning of the semester, before their first exam. Sixty six students participated in the study and were randomly divided into two treatment populations; (a): a Brainspotting treatment group (BSP) and (b), a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy/relaxation technique treatment (REBT) group. Students not meeting criteria for the study were given the opportunity to receive free mental health counseling at the college's office of mental health counseling. The investigator, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and director of mental health at the university, provided the Brainspotting treatment, while the REBT treatment group received treatment from two other licensed clinical mental health counselors employed at university's office of mental health counseling. Study participants from each treatment group received three, 60-90 minute counseling sessions occurring over a six -week period. The investigator reassessed participants' self-reported test anxiety at the end of their third counseling session and again at 4 weeks post-treatment. Treatment results suggested that Brainspotting was the more effective treatment immediately following three treatment sessions and at 4 weeks post-treatment. The treatment results also showed that participants receiving brainspotting experienced continued improvement 4 weeks after treatment, while participants in the REBT with relaxation group experienced a reduced treatment effect. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]