Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach that's gained attention in recent years, particularly in trauma treatment. Developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003, this powerful technique accesses the brain's natural ability to heal from emotional and psychological distress.
How Brainspotting Works
Brainspotting is based on the premise that where you look affects how you feel. Our eye positions are connected to the way we store traumatic or emotionally charged experiences in our brains. A "brainspot" is an eye position that correlates with the physiological activation of a traumatic or emotionally charged issue.
During a session, the therapist helps the client find relevant brainspots by watching for reflexive signals—eye twitches, blinks, or facial cues—that indicate areas of neural activation. Once a brainspot is located, the client maintains their gaze on that point while the brain processes the underlying material.
The Science Behind It
Brainspotting works with the subcortical brain—the part of the brain that operates below the level of conscious awareness. This is where trauma and distressing experiences are often stored. By accessing these deeper brain structures, brainspotting can facilitate processing that talk therapy alone may not reach.
The approach recognizes that trauma is stored in the body, not just the mind. Brainspotting attends to both the physiological and emotional aspects of distress, allowing for more comprehensive healing.
What Can Brainspotting Treat?
Brainspotting has been used successfully for a wide range of issues:
- Trauma and PTSD
- Anxiety and panic
- Depression
- Phobias
- Chronic pain
- Addiction recovery
- Performance issues (athletes, performers, executives)
- Grief and loss
- Emotional regulation difficulties
What to Expect in a Session
A typical brainspotting session involves:
- Identifying the issue: You and your therapist discuss what you'd like to work on
- Finding the brainspot: Using a pointer, the therapist helps locate relevant eye positions
- Processing: You maintain your gaze while allowing whatever arises—thoughts, emotions, sensations—to emerge
- Integration: The session ends with time to process and ground
Many people find brainspotting to be a gentler approach than some other trauma therapies. Because it works with the brain's natural processing abilities, it doesn't require detailed retelling of traumatic events.
Brainspotting vs. EMDR
Brainspotting evolved from EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and shares some similarities, but there are key differences:
- Eye position vs. eye movement: Brainspotting uses fixed eye positions; EMDR uses bilateral eye movements
- Therapist-guided vs. client-led: Brainspotting tends to be more client-directed, following the brain's natural processing
- Protocol flexibility: Brainspotting is generally more flexible and intuitive than EMDR's structured protocol
Both approaches are evidence-based and effective. The best choice depends on individual needs and preferences.
Is Brainspotting Right for You?
If you're dealing with trauma, anxiety, or other issues that haven't fully responded to traditional talk therapy, brainspotting might be worth exploring. It's particularly helpful for people who:
- Feel "stuck" in traditional therapy
- Have difficulty putting their experiences into words
- Experience physical symptoms related to emotional distress
- Want a gentler approach to trauma processing
At Mending Minds, we have therapists trained in brainspotting who can help you determine if this approach might be beneficial for your specific situation.