What Is Brainspotting Therapy and How Can It Help?
What Is Brainspotting Therapy?
Brainspotting is a counseling method used to help people to process painful memories, stress, and intense emotions. It is often used when someone feels stuck, overwhelmed, or triggered by past experiences. The idea behind Brain Spotting is that the brain stores distress in the deeper areas which do not always respond to talk therapy alone. Brainspotting works by using eye positions to help access where these experiences are stored in the brain.
What Happens During a Brainspotting Session
In a Brainspotting session, the clinician uses a pointer to help locate a specific position of the eyes that is associated with the memory or feeling that you would like to work with. This eye position is referred to as a brainspot. Once it is located, the client stays on that spot for a period of time, allowing the brain and body to start processing. Clients can talk during the session, or remain quiet and notice sensations, feelings, thoughts as they come up. Either way is okay and sessions move at a pace that is safe and comfortable for the client.
If clients are feeling overly activated around the memory, it is helpful for many clients to find a resource spot. A resource spot is a position in your body where you are calm, or neutral. The resource spot helps clients still be able to process the memory but not go out of their window of tolerance. Once we find a resource spot, we will go back to the original activating event or memory while focused on the resource spot to help you process the memory, with a decrease in distress of the original activating event or memory.
How Brainspotting Can Support Healing
Brainspotting can be used to support individuals processing post-traumatic stress, emotional abuse, physical abuse, negative childhood experiences, and difficult emotions following the end of a relationship. It can also be helpful when someone feels stuck and cannot fully explain why. Over time, the goal is to decrease distress related to specific memories and increase emotional stability in daily life.
I have seen Brainspotting assist clients in making meaningful change. For example, one client worked to process emotional abuse from a past relationship and entered the session with a Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) rating of ten out of ten. By the end of the session, their distress had decreased to two out of ten. The client also recalled previously repressed memories and reported feeling clearer and more confident in their decision not to return to that relationship.
Brainspotting training includes Phase 1 and Phase 2 as foundational levels, with additional phases (Phases 3, 4, 5, and a Master Class) available for advanced training. The foundational phases focus on core techniques, while later phases may address creativity, sports, and performance. I am currently trained in Phase 1, which includes resource spotting, inside-the-window work, outside-the-window work, and gaze spotting.
Some Brainspotting sessions also incorporate bilateral stimulation music during processing. This music alternates sounds between the left and right ears, which can help regulate the nervous system and support processing. Many clients find this calming and feel it helps them remain present during the work.
Brainspotting is one of several therapeutic approaches that can support people in processing difficult experiences in a way that feels grounded and manageable. It may be especially helpful for those who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure why certain emotions or reactions keep coming up.
If you’re curious about Brainspotting or wondering whether it might be a good fit for you, learning more is a gentle first step.
You’re welcome to explore our website to read more about our counseling services or reach out when you feel ready.
