What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting (BSP) is a therapeutic technique designed to help individuals access and process deeply rooted emotional pain and trauma. Developed by Dr. David Grand, Brainspotting leverages the connection between where you look (your gaze) and how you feel, to unlock the brain’s natural ability to heal itself.

How Does Brainspotting Work?

During a Brainspotting session, your therapist will guide you to focus on a specific point in your visual field—known as a “brainspot”—that corresponds with an area of emotional distress or trauma. By maintaining focus on this brainspot, your brain is able to process and release the emotional or physical pain associated with it. This process taps into the body’s innate ability to heal, often accessing trauma stored in the subcortical brain, which is less accessible through traditional talk therapy.

Who Can Benefit from Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a versatile and powerful tool for individuals dealing with a wide range of issues, including:

• Trauma and PTSD
• Anxiety and depression
• Phobias and fears
• Chronic pain and physical symptoms
• Performance anxiety (in sports, arts, etc.)
• Grief and loss

Whether you’re dealing with a specific traumatic event or a more generalized sense of emotional distress, Brainspotting can help you process and release these burdens, leading to greater emotional freedom and well-being.

What to Expect in a Brainspotting Session

In a typical Brainspotting session, your therapist will create a safe and supportive environment for you to explore your emotions. You will be guided to focus on a specific brainspot while tuning into your bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions. This approach allows you to process unresolved trauma at a deep level, often resulting in profound emotional and physical relief.

Sessions are conducted at your own pace, and your therapist will be there to support you through every step of the process. Brainspotting is an empowering experience, helping you to access and heal parts of yourself that may have been previously out of reach.

Resources

Talbot J, de la Salle S, Jaworska N. A Paradigm Shift in Trauma Treatment: Converging Evidence for a Novel Adaptation of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2023;68(4):283-285. doi:10.1177/07067437221142283 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/07067437221142283?journalCode=cpab

A preliminary study of the efficacy of Brainspotting – a new therapy for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: https://brainspotting.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Hildebrand-Grand-and-Stemmler-2014-Jrnl-Psyctrau-PsyctherSci-Pysclgcl-Med20.pdf