In the always evolving field of mental health, Brainspotting has emerged as a unique and effective therapeutic approach for processing trauma, other distressing mental health symptoms, and highlighting and encouraging the brain’s natural ability to heal. Have you ever felt stuck in emotional pain or struggled to heal from traumatic experiences? Or have you tried EMDR and for whatever reason it just didn’t seem to help? If you find yourself answering yes to these questions, Brainspotting might be the transformative tool you have been looking for.
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting (BSP) is a neurobiological approach to therapy that helps clients process traumatic experiences or deep emotional pain through somatic healing. I often refer to it as EMDR-adjacent due to its connection to eye movement and eye focus. It was developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003 and is based on the idea that where we look affects how we feel. By identifying specific eye positions, or "brainspots," therapists can help clients access unprocessed trauma, negative beliefs, and emotional pain stored in the brain and body.
Brainspotting can be very helpful for people who have experienced trauma, anxiety, dissociation, chronic stress, complicated and unresolved grief, and even physical pain. While traditional talk therapy is significantly helpful, Brainspotting lets the “thinking brain” rest while unlocking the part of the brain where trauma and emotions are stored. It works on the subcortical part of the brain, unlocking the brain’s natural ability to heal itself with a little help from a Brainspotting therapist. Brainspotting can also be helpful for clients who feel they have reached the end of the line with talk therapy and need something more.
How Does Brainspotting Work?
During a session, a therapist will work with the client, using a pointer or observing natural eye placement, to identify a point or a “brainspot” that corresponds with a particular distressing issue or event.
Once this brainspot is identified, the client maintains their gaze on that spot while allowing emotions, memories, and bodily sensations to emerge. While the therapist provides support and guidance, while also checking in to provide the client space to verbalize what they are noticing, the client’s brain is doing its own work by processing the issue in its own natural way. The client is free to verbalize what they are noticing without being prompted as well. This approach allows for deep healing without the need for extensive verbal processing.
The Science Behind Brainspotting
Brainspotting operates on the principle that trauma is stored in the subcortical brain, specifically in the limbic system and brainstem. Unlike talk therapy, which engages the prefrontal cortex which is the logical, thinking part of the brain, Brainspotting directly accesses these deeper regions where trauma and emotional pain are held.
By stimulating these areas, Brainspotting helps the brain process and integrate difficult experiences, often leading to a reduction in symptoms such as anxiety, PTSD, dissociation, and chronic stress, and sometimes even chronic pain. Many of my clients report feeling lighter, calmer, and more grounded after just a few sessions.
What Issues Can Brainspotting Help With?
Brainspotting has been used effectively to treat a variety of mental health concerns, including:
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression
Unresolved and complicated grief
Dissociation (can be helpful for people with DID)
Chronic pain and somatic symptoms
Performance anxiety particularly in creatives, athletes, and other high performing occupations
Emotional dysregulation
Effects of attachment trauma
Because it works at a deep, neurobiological level, Brainspotting can be particularly effective for individuals who feel stuck in their healing journey or have not found relief through traditional therapy alone.
What to Expect in a Brainspotting Session
A Brainspotting session may look different from traditional talk therapy. Instead of discussing the issues bringing the client to therapy, clients are encouraged to focus on their internal experience while maintaining their gaze on a brainspot. Sessions are client-led, meaning that emotions, memories, and sensations arise organically without the need for structured dialogue.
Many clients experience physical sensations both positive and negative (such as tingling, warmth, or muscle release), emotional shifts, or vivid memories during the process. The negative sensations often give way to more positive sensations. Others report a sense of deep relaxation or relief afterward. The effects of Brainspotting can continue to unfold hours or even days after a session.
Is Brainspotting Right for You?
If you struggle with unresolved grief or trauma, emotional distress, or feel stuck in traditional talk therapy, Brainspotting may be worth exploring. It is a gentle yet powerful approach and allows the client to set the pace in a way that feels safe and allows the client to feel a sense of autonomy.
As with any therapeutic modality, it’s essential to work with a Brainspotting trained practitioner who has completed, at a minimum, a phase one training from a Brainspotting approved trainer.
Brainspotting can feel weird for some clients and clients who have perfectionist tendencies may struggle a bit at first. Please be gentle with yourself and know there is no wrong way to do Brainspotting.
Feeling curious? Reach out and schedule an appointment with me!
Elizabeth Seabolt-Esparza, LPC
Comments