What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a treatment that allows you to access emotional experiences that are stored deep within the brain. In the process of brainspotting, distress can be relieved, positive emotions can be uncovered, and hidden aspects of your authentic Self can be recovered.

How does it work?

“Where we look affects how we feel.” – Dr. David Grand

Dr. David Grand, the creator of brainspotting, found certain eye positions to unlock traumatic memories or painful emotions in a deeper part of the brain called the subcortical brain, which traditional talk therapy has difficulty reaching.

In the process, clients are able to process material they otherwise did not have access to in a safe and connected place with their therapist who is trained to provide brainspotting.

Who does it work with?

Brainspotting can treat anxiety, fears, phobias, depression, anger, trauma, and more. It can also help break through creative blocks and enhance performance for creative types and performers.

After a Brainspotting session

More processing naturally occurs after a brainspotting session, so clients are encouraged to drink plenty of water, get good sleep, and engage in self-care for best results.

Click here for more information about Brainspotting.

What to expect:

In brainspotting, clients identify a situation they want to work on, which can be pleasant or unpleasant depending on the client’s goal. Clients then rate their level of activation on a scale from 0 – 10.

I hold up a pointer/wand and clients rest their eyes on the tip of the pointer as I slowly move it across their visual field. We find a place in their visual field where the feeling about the situation is more elevated. This eye position is called a “brainspot”.

We process the deep emotions and memories that arise at the brainspot through focused mindfulness, which is acknowledging and staying with what arises. I am attuned to and with the client at all times, and encourage them to talk as much or as little as they would like.

If intense emotions arise that clients have difficulty with, I help them to soothe and regulate the emotions and/or use another brainspot that is linked with positive feelings or a sense of calm.

I let clients know when we are are nearing the end of a brainspotting session, and we rate the activation on 0 – 10 to gauge change in their activation. Many times, activation goes down completely and other times a central focus takes multiple brainspotting sessions to process.

I then allow time for clients and I to process their experience of the session together.