What Is Brainspotting?

Developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003, Brainspotting is a brain-body centered therapeutic modality that utilizes the brain’s ability to heal through stimulating the nervous system in a way that allows the brain the opportunity to process and decrease problematic symptoms. 

What this means is this therapeutic process allows you the ability to process past traumas, anxieties, phobias, and other symptoms you may be struggling with, through a combination of having you choose an issue to process as well as using your eyes to find a relative eye position. 

To illustrate what is meant by relative eye position, imagine you are talking to someone and they ask “What did you have for dinner last weekend.” What would your reaction be?   Would you maintain eye contact as you think about the answer or would your eyes wander around as you try to remember the answer? When trying to remember, or access information, you will notice that your eyes most likely wonder, even subtly. The theory is that as our eyes wander externally they access our brain internally, looking for the “file” that holds the information.

Brainspotting uses this same concept to help clients retrieve hidden traumas and painful memories that may be making them feel unwell. Instead of your eyes subconsciously moving around as you try to recall information, brainspotting has you think of a topic and instead utilize your focused eye placement to help better access the “file” (or, “brainspot”) in your brain that is linked to that topic

By processing this information, it can help you feel neutral or gain a sense of closure about a previously unpleasant topic and contribute to overall wellbeing and emotional health.

What does brainspotting help with?

Brainspotting has a large range of applications including psychotherapy, spirituality, creativity and performance enhancement. It can be used to alleviate the emotions of unpleasant memories, decrease problematic symptoms, as well as aid in the process of clearing past traumas. Brainspotting can also be used to explore oneself and gain a deeper understanding of one’s identity. It can enhance drive and productivity by promoting a healthy mind and overcome barriers like performance anxiety, creative blocks, and lack of focus.

Creativity Enhancement

Creativity spontaneously flows when you take the blocks away. Brainspotting’s direct access to the body and the deepest parts of the brain re-connects us with our most creative selves.  And when our inner vision changes, everything in our outside world is also transformed.

What to Expect During a Brainspotting Session

A Brainspotting session is done from a place of safety and security under the guidance of a trained Brainspotting individual. First, you will identify an issue you would like to focus on. To help enhance the brain’s processing ability the therapist may have you listen to Biliatrial music (music that pendulates from the left to right).

Next, the therapist will guide you to notice how the topic manifests in a somatic (body) reaction (tight chest, pounding heart, tight gut, sweaty palms). Somatic sensations are external manifestations of the internal sensations tied to the topic being processed.

Next, we will find the fixed relevant eye position (Brainspot) that is most closely associated with the topic and somatic expression. The Brainspot will help you access the subcortical part of your brain, allowing you to process and create positive progression in trauma healing.

Lastly, once you find the Brainspot the therapist will encourage you to notice your body reaction and follow where your brain takes you. This is where the work is done, as the therapist uses the dual-attunement to provide the safe space, you will follow your brain’s journey through the process.Through this processing journey you will find your brain making connections and discovering different understandings of past situations all while decreasing/eliminating the distressing emotions or thoughts associated with the topic.

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