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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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 Oakland, CA

I am certified in Brainspotting 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 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

Brainspotting is life-changing. Whether focusing on a feeling or an overall traumatic event, brainspotting helps process what our brain is storing and promotes coherence between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation. Trauma can take up a lot of emotional space and it has a way of affecting so many future choices, activities, and relationships. Let's work together to create more space in your life and process the trauma.

— Annie Buxbaum, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Santa Rosa, CA
 

I have completed Phase 1 and 2 of Brainspotting training and use this within session as clients desire. This approach focuses on the connection between the body and brain and strives to quickly reduce activation and increase emotional regulation. This approach is helpful for reducing symptoms related to trauma, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and chronic pain and chronic fatigue.

— Brandi Solanki, Counselor in Waco, TX

One of the newest therapeutic techniques, Brainspotting can help process trauma and other issues using you eyes to focus outwardly while the brain heals inwardly. As a certified Brainspotting practitioner, I will use this technique in areas where words may not bring healing or understanding.

— Karl Thomas, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern in St. Paul, MN
 

I am a Certified Brainspotting Practitioner and have experienced deep processing and healing in receiving Brainspotting.

— Jacqueline Casumbal, Psychotherapist in Gaithersburg, MD
 

In a brainspotting session, a trained therapist guides the client's attention to identify brainspots linked to distress or trauma. These brainspots are typically found through eye positions that correspond to emotional and somatic activation. The therapist helps the client maintain focus on the brainspot, exploring associated thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.

— Safe Space Counseling Services -Alice Zhao, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in , MD

Brainspotting is often used to reprocess traumatic memories, but it is beneficial for a wide range of issues and can be faster at targeting stuck memories than talk therapy alone.

— Kellita Thompson, Marriage & Family Therapist in Brentwood, TN
 

I began training and certification in Brainspotting in 2020. This modality is in the same family as EMDR, using bilateral stimulation and eye positioning to help reduce activation in our brains and bodies related to specific events or sensations. Brainspotting can also be used to enhance performance for artists and athletes.

— Brandi Solanki, Counselor in Waco, TX

As a Level 1-trained Brainspotting therapist, I specialize in using this powerful tool to help clients process trauma, anxiety, and emotional blocks. Brainspotting allows us to identify and access unprocessed trauma stored in the brain and body, facilitating deep healing. Through focused eye positions, we can target specific brain areas to release stored emotions, creating lasting relief. My approach combines this technique with mindfulness to promote self-awareness and resilience.

— Anne Giles, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in Boulder, CO
 

This unique approach helps you release the psychological blocks that keep you from being your most connected, creative, actualized self. You may have heard “eyes are windows to the soul” before. As it turns out, there’s medical research that proves that this old phrase is true. As the creator of this Brainspotting, Dr. David Grand, says, “where you look affects how you feel.” Brainspotting helps track points in your visual field that reveal unprocessed trauma in the brain.

— Noelle Benach, Counselor in Baltimore, MD

The brain and body's natural healing abilities can be accessed through Brainspotting, a focused treatment that facilitates profound healing and growth. Within the safety of the present moment, emotional pain can be reprocessed and released, guided by a certified Brainspotting therapist committed to creating a secure space for transformation.

— Angel Hirsch, Licensed Professional Counselor in Cedar Park, TX
 

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

I am passionate about Brainspotting, which has become my primary approach to treatment. It is a powerful therapeutic method that helps identify and process deeply stored trauma and emotional distress. By focusing on specific eye positions that correlate with the brain’s emotional processing centers, this resource-oriented model is deeply healing. It often provides relief where talk therapy has not, offering a gentle yet profound impact in the healing process.

— Robin Neville, Licensed Master of Social Work in San Francisco, CA
 

This is somatically based therapy. It involves reprocessing trauma and stressful life events by expanding the releasing the emotions and body sensations. This eventually allows the brain to fully process the stress you've experienced and release any of the symptoms of PTSD.

— Hayley Miller, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Studio City, CA

I have Levels 1 & 2 training to help with somatic movement of stored trauma in the body.

— Jessica Reynolds, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Santa Cruz, CA