Brainspotting Therapy
Using your eye position to process what talk therapy can’t reach.
When Talk Isn’t Enough—Brainspotting Can Help
Sometimes, no matter how much we talk about something, the pain lingers. You may feel stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed—like your body is carrying something your mind can’t quite explain.
Brainspotting is a powerful, brain-body therapy that helps you process trauma, anxiety, and emotional blocks stored deep in your nervous system. It’s not about forcing a breakthrough. It’s about giving your brain and body the space they need to release what’s been held for too long.
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting (BSP) is a brain-based therapy that uses eye position to access and process emotions, memories, and experiences that may be stuck below the surface of conscious awareness.
Discovered by Dr. David Grand, Brainspotting is grounded in the idea that “where you look affects how you feel.” By identifying a specific point in your visual field—called a “brainspot”—the brain and body can begin to unlock and resolve trauma, distress, and emotional pain.
This isn’t talk therapy with a twist. Brainspotting bypasses the thinking brain and goes straight to the deeper parts of the brain and nervous system where unprocessed experiences live. It’s especially helpful for moments, memories, or sensations that are hard to put into words.
How Does Brainspotting Work?
During a session, we work together to find a brainspot—a place where your gaze naturally lands when you're tuned into a specific emotion or physical sensation. As you hold your gaze, you simply notice what comes up internally.
You might feel emotion rise and fall, experience physical sensations, or simply feel stillness or calm. Your body leads the way. There’s no “right” reaction—just a chance to let the brain and body do what they need to do.
This process helps release trauma that’s been “stuck” in the nervous system, even if you don’t have a conscious memory or story attached to it.
What to Expect in a Brainspotting Session
Brainspotting sessions are gentle, flexible, and client-led. Here’s what you can expect:
A calm, supportive environment (in-person or virtual)
Space to slow down, get grounded, and tune into your body
Use of tools like bilateral sound or mindfulness to support the process
Less talking than traditional therapy—more internal processing and noticing
A focus on safety, pacing, and consent every step of the way
You may walk away from a session feeling lighter, more aware, or simply quiet and tired. All of that is okay.
What to Expect Between Sessions
After a brainspotting session, it’s common for your body and mind to continue processing in the hours or days that follow. You might notice:
Feeling fatigued or emotionally tender
Vivid dreams or spontaneous memories
A sense that something is shifting—even if you can’t name it yet
This is normal. Your nervous system is doing important work.
During this time, we recommend:
Drinking plenty of water
Getting extra rest
Journaling or gently reflecting
Noticing sensations without judgment
Reaching out if anything feels overwhelming
Brainspotting is deep work, but it honors your body’s natural pace. There’s no pressure to “do it right.”
Is Brainspotting Like EMDR?
Both Brainspotting and EMDR are powerful trauma therapies that target the brain’s innate ability to heal. But they differ in how they approach that healing.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation and structured protocols to process traumatic memories.
Brainspotting is less structured, more somatic, and allows the client’s body and brain to lead the process in real time.
Many clients find Brainspotting to be slower, gentler, and more flexible—especially helpful when traditional talk therapy or EMDR has felt overwhelming or too directive.
Who Is Brainspotting For?
Brainspotting can support healing for a wide range of issues, including:
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and panic
Eating disorders and body image struggles
Chronic stress or illness
Grief and loss
Perfectionism and high-achieving burnout
Spiritual abuse or identity wounds
When you feel “stuck” in talk therapy
It’s also particularly helpful for children, teens, and young adults who struggle to name or verbalize their emotions—allowing the body to speak when words feel out of reach.
You Deserve Care, Not Criticism
Begin Your Brain-Body Healing
You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. Brainspotting offers a way to reconnect with the deeper parts of you—the ones that have been carrying pain, fear, or overwhelm for too long.
Let’s create space for healing—one moment at a time.
Brainspotting Therapy
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a type of therapy that differs from traditional talk therapy. It uses specific eye positioning to target underlying trauma or distress stored in the subcortex (where trauma is stored). An individual is able to process their trauma or feelings of “stuckness” with an attuned therapist by fixing their gaze on a “brainspot” and focusing on the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that arise.
Is it like EMDR?
Yes, brainspotting is similar to EMDR. The main difference is that while EMDR uses eye movement, brainspotting uses eye positioning to address the distress. The brainspotting process is often a bit faster due in part to it being more flexible (versus manualized) and drawing upon an individual’s inherent internal resources.
Who is brainspotting for?
Brainspotting can be an effective option for a range of symptoms. It is most known for its efficacy in trauma treatment but can also be used to treat
depression
anxiety
disordered eating and body image
esteem
emotion regulation
Why brainspotting?
Studies have shown brainspotting’s effectiveness in trauma treatment at a rate that is often faster than traditional talk therapy. It is a more gentle approach that incorporates both mind and body to heal a dysregulated nervous system.
Still have questions?
I invite you to read my FAQ about Brainspotting blog or reach out for a free 15 minute consultation today!
