AudioFocus is a new form of psychotherapy discovered by a German psychotherapist, Axel Mecke. This method is based on a simple and often disconcerting observation: when we are focused on a particular subject, a stressful event or on the contrary on a resource, the perceived intensity varies according to the position of a sound source. This same observation was made when Brainspotting was discovered, but with an ocular position rather than with the location of a sound source. In one case, the sense of sight is the central element, in the other it is the sense of hearing. The two methods can thus easily be combined.

While you remain focused on the bodily sensations associated with the theme you have chosen to address, the psychotherapist will move slowly around you, describing a 360° path, with a speaker emitting a natural sound of your choice (birds, waterfall, sea, rain, forest, etc.). When the loudspeaker is located in specific places in the room, you will immediately feel a strong intensification of your body sensations. From then on, if the sound is maintained in this same position in space, information processing and emotional regulation processes are triggered. The role of the psychotherapist will be to accompany you in this process and to use different techniques to support you until the processing and regulation process is completed.

AudioFocus triggers two intense and profound inner processes:

Regulation process: during the process of focusing a localized sound source at a specific location, the emotional atmosphere constantly changes and evolves in a positive direction. The treatment process triggered by AudioFocus strengthens the brain’s natural ability to regulate aversive or stressful states. This effect is long-lasting and stressful emotions become less frequent and intense in everyday life.

Processing: Life events such as traumatic events that have been incompletely processed are reprocessed at an extremely high speed. They lose their often massive influence on the present (especially in the form of “flashbacks” in post-traumatic disorders). This process is often not immediately visible, it often only appears after the AudioFocus sessions.

There are many variations of the procedures used in AudioFocus. However, the basic processes are always the same: regulation and treatment.

AudioFocus is proven to be effective in the treatment of psychological symptoms such as:

Depression and adjustment disorders

Anxiety disorders (e.g. panic disorder, social phobia, illness-related anxiety)

Post-traumatic stress disorder

AudioFocus is also effective for any topic in which the regulation of strong emotions is a central element (anger, grief, fears, etc.).