What is

Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is an advanced brain/body, mindfulness focused form of therapy that accesses parts of the brain that are often hidden from our awareness. It bypasses the “thinking” cortex of your brain and directly accesses unprocessed trauma or stress held in the parts of your subcortical (unconscious) brain and gets at the root cause. Brainspotting is based on the premise that where you look – that is, your eye position — correlates with emotional experiences that are typically unreachable by traditional talk therapy. This therapy strengthens and enhances internal resources and allows contained, gentle, yet deep processing that rewires the brain to more positive associations and feelings. Traumatic emotions and memories can be fully released, supporting the self-healing process This method harnesses the body’s natural self-scanning, self-healing ability.

This form of psychotherapy was developed by Dr. David Grand through his work with survivors of trauma, including first responders from 9/11. Prior to his work with Brainspotting, Dr. Grand was an EMDR trainer.

Why might Brainspotting be a good choice for you?

If you have ever felt stuck on an issue, experienced high anxiety or kept repeating an unhealthy habit (despite your good intentions to change), then Brainspotting is an ideal therapy to help breakthrough. Or, you might wish to find and strengthen your natural resources and enhance wellbeing and performance. Brainspotting can be very effective in expanding these qualities.

Brainspotting can be a rapid, effective type of therapy – often shorter than regular talk therapy. Some clients find their issue resolved after just one or two sessions. Others find Brainspotting to be more adjunctive, and use regular talk therapy to further process and enhance progress made in the BSP session.

What issues might you bring to a Brainspotting session?

A wide range of emotionally and bodily-based conditions: anxiety, stress, depression, addiction, prolonged grief, mental blocks, creativity blocks, negative emotions, impulse control, stress, PTSD, childhood trauma, any trauma, chronic fatigue or pain, sports performance, expanding resilience and desired states of being.

What happens in a Brainspotting session?

The appointments can be held in person or virtually.

  1. The client comes with an issue. Generally, the client identifies the level of intensity of the issue and where it is activated in the body.
  2. Moving a pointer, the therapist guides the client’s gaze across his or her field of vision. When the eyes reach a spot either identified by the client as the place where the sensation is strongest or by the therapist who notes spontaneous eye reflexes, the client then gazes at that spot, processing the event in a deeper and more detailed manner than normally possible. The client can talk as much or as little as desired. Each person’s response is unique.
  3. If headphones are available, this processing may be done by listening to music that rhythmically goes back and forth from left to right side. Bilateral sound can have a very calming effect on the body and mind and allow even deeper processing. It’s like guided mindfulness in a supportive environment.
  4. At the end of the session, the therapist and client briefly assess the experience.