Brainspotting

Developed in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, Brainspotting is a relatively new form of treatment that has been shown to be effective for a variety of conditions, particularly with helping to identify and heal underlying trauma that contributes to anxiety, depression and other behavioral issues. The goal of brainspotting is to bypass conscious thinking to access the deeper, subconscious emotional and body-based parts of the brain to facilitate healing. According to Dr. Grand, “where you look affects how you feel.” With this in mind, therapists using brainspotting techniques help their clients to position their eyes in ways that enable them to target negative emotion. Think this approach may work for you? Contact one of our brainspotting specialists today to try it out.

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Meet the specialists

 

I use brainspotting to help you process past traumatic experiences. I have found that by doing this you will become more effective at advocating for yourself, as well as identifying the messages that your brain and body send to you to help you function throughout your day.

— Rachelle Friedman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Brainspotting feels like one of the most trauma-informed and client led therapy modalities that I have learned thus far. I am excited to offer this type of therapy that makes space for the body's innate ability to heal in order to help process trauma and work through various blocks, whether they be creative or physical.

— Melisa Medalle, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
 

Brainspotting is a powerful and impactful way to process remnants of trauma lodged deeper in our psyches. It utilizes the brain’s innate healing intelligence to “digest” traumatic material that might be harder to access in our everyday states of consciousness -- especially material that might reinforce stuckness in default / reflexive tendencies and habits.

— Jonathan Lee, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in ,

I am trained in brainspotting and have seen it help access healing in a new way and unlock not only cognitive, emotional healing, but also settle the way the body feels.

— Melodye Phillips, Licensed Professional Counselor in Tyler, TX
 

Brainspotting is a treatment approach which helps by identifying, processing, and releasing stored negative or traumatic experiences from the brain to help affected individuals heal from within. BSP is based on the idea that where you look affects how you feel. . I have found Brainspotting to be one of the most effective tools in healing anxiety, depression and trauma. (really any issue you face!) I have seen amazing progress in clients in a shorter amount of time vs. regular talk therapy.

— Chris McDonald, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor in Raleigh, NC

Brainspotting (BSP) is a powerful, focused method for treating trauma and other unresolved psychological issues. This unique approach helps you release the psychological blocks that keep you from being your most connected, creative, actualized self. Brainspotting offers deep neurological healing that talk therapy alone often cannot access. This technique gives us a way to access the subcortical brain, the place where emotional and somatic experiences are kept.

— Noelle Benach, Counselor in Baltimore, MD
 

There’s so much I love about Brainspotting; it compliments attachment theory and parts" work while allowing clients to dig deep in a way that isn’t possible with talk therapy alone. It's a way to clear through all the “stuff" in a completely different way so you can actually move forward with your life. I started training in November 2020 and became a Certified Brainspotter in January 2022.

— Jennifer Dolphin, Licensed Professional Counselor in Anchorage, AK

I utilize a trauma intervention called brainspotting which allows me to help you release distressing emotions using the position of your eyes. You do not have to talk in order for this intervention to be effective in releasing trauma.

— Zoe Shpiner, Associate Clinical Social Worker in San Diego, CA
 

I am trained in Brainspotting (Phases 1 and 2) and use it to promote deeper processing in clients. Brainspotting, which evolved out of EMDR, is built on the theory that where we look affects how we feel. It involves a client identifying a spot where, as they gaze, they experience heightened activation. This promotes processing in the sub-cortical (emotional) part of the brain. My training was experiential, meaning that I experienced this modality as a client as well as a practitioner.

— Gavin Versi, Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in Issaquah, WA

Brainspotting is a powerful way to heal from emotional pain and trauma. Imagine your brain has a few spots where difficult memories or feelings get stuck. In brainspotting, I will helps you find these "brainspots" by guiding your eye movements. Once a spot is found, your brain can begin to process and release the trapped emotions or stress. It’s like unlocking a door to let those old, heavy feelings out, helping you feel lighter, more at peace, and better able to move forward in your life.

— Esperanza Winters, Counselor in Milwaukee, WI
 

Brainspotting is one of two neurobased modalities that I augment into talk therapy to reduce anxiety and eliminate trauma responses. Brainspotting helps to reduce physical pain, memories become less painful, negative thought patterns are reduced, improves sleep and increases energy. Safe and Sound Protocol is a sound therapy that reduces anxiety and increases social engagement. Especially helpful to adults with anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, ADD, social anxiety/phobias.

— Cole Huggins, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Atlanta, GA

I recently became a Brainspotting Practitioner and it is probably suffice to say I am so excited about this approach. It is beyond fascinating and I love seeing what it does with and for my clients. I cannot wait to continue on in my brainspotting learning!

— Kalii Roller, Licensed Professional Counselor
 

Brainspotting is mind/body approach that can help you connect deeply with the root of where issues are stored in your brain, body and nervous system. It helps you clear issues, ranging from difficult trauma to everyday challenges. It is also very helpful in building positives, such as confidence, relaxation optimal performance, etc.

— Elinor (Elly) Nygren Szapiro, Licensed Professional Counselor in Northwest, AR

I am trained to apply Brainspotting to a variety of emotional difficulties including shame, anger, traumatic memories, experiences of rejection and abandonment, anxiety, fear as well as performance issues.

— Michael Johnson, Psychologist in Gilbert, AZ
 

At this point, I’m mostly only working with new clients who are open to it as a part of our work together because doing therapy without Brainspotting feels a little like doing therapy with my arms tied behind my back. I just can’t help people make the movement we both want them to make with traditional talk therapy. For more information on Brainspotting visit Brainspotting.com or my website.

— PK Foss, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Portland, OR

Brainspotting is a psychotherapy modality that works with the brain and body (somatic) to help you heal and recover from negative and traumatic experiences as well as bring clarity to emotional confusion and ambivalence regarding the issues in one’s life. Brainspotting engages in neurobiological and emotional processes that allows the person to access the deepest recesses of the emotional brain or limbic system where unprocessed trauma and negative experiences are stored and allows for healing.

— John Edwards, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oakland, CA
 

This mind-body approach to healing trauma is a wonderful tool for enhancing your goals in therapy. I have added this way of working since 2021, completing 72 hours of training in that time. I have been humbled by how it can open up the healing potential that lies in each of us.

— Ellen Tarby, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Ithaca, NY

I am Phase One certified in Brainspotting. This technique can help folks process trauma and heal from emotional wounds. It is a noninvasive technique that appears relatively simple, but it has incredibly powerful effects.

— Nicole Borneman, Therapist in Saint Paul, MN