Brainspotting: Using Eye Movement To Resolve Stored Trauma

Brainspotting is a therapeutic method that operates from the premise “where you look affects how you feel.” As an evidence-based trauma processing technique, Brainspotting uses fixed eye positions to heal and release unresolved trauma.

Originally developed by the therapist David Grand in the early 2000s, Brainspotting is grounded in a variety of body-based approaches, including somatic experiencing and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Like these approaches, Brainspotting taps into the specific areas of the brain and body where trauma is stored, allowing the nervous system to rewire and heal itself.

Who Can Benefit From Therapy Using Brainspotting?

For those experiencing severe post-traumatic stress, in particular, Brainspotting has proven to be a revolutionary therapy that can quickly and effectively reduce distress in a lasting way. In fact, it was the main modality used to treat parents and families of the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy. Through research centered on these survivors, Brainspotting has come to be accepted as one of the most effective trauma treatments available.

That said, Brainspotting is not only used for PTSD and trauma-related issues. Therapists across the globe incorporate Brainspotting into treatment for a wide range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, physical symptoms, performance challenges, and relationship issues.

How Does Brainspotting Work?

Brainspotting begins with a client identifying a pain point or specific focus for each session. Acting as a gentle guide, the Brainspotting therapist will aid the client in identifying the emotional and physical sensations that come up when recalling a specific memory, belief, or symptom. Then, using a pointer and bilateral audio cues, the therapist helps the client find the fixed location—known as the “Brain Spot”—most intensely linked to the body’s stress response.

As the Brain Spot is concentrated upon, the therapist creates space for the client to mindfully process the thoughts, feelings, and memories associated with their trauma. As long as the client is willing to be curious about what comes up in the mind and body in Brainspotting therapy, the nervous system will tap into its innate healing capacity to release distressing emotions and experiences.

Brainspotting Is Quicker And More Effective Than Other Forms Of Therapy

Though traditional talk therapy is certainly effective in targeting trauma, Brainspotting addresses a very specific part of the brain where painful memories are stored. For this reason, Brainspotting is quicker in resolving core traumas than other techniques. It’s estimated that one session of Brainspotting is equivalent to ten sessions of traditional talk therapy in terms of targeting stored trauma.

Furthermore, Brainspotting is a gentle, non-invasive approach. Clients are not required to do much else other than become curious and open to their own internal experience during each session; they aren’t even expected to discuss the trauma at length. Instead, they will rely on their physical and emotional sensations to identify and overcome unhealthy patterns.

As a deeply effective therapeutic technique, Brainspotting recognizes that the body contains its own wisdom on how to heal itself—and the Brain Spot is simply the gateway to that wisdom.

Brainspotting Is Available At Catalyst Counseling

Around the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we started noticing more and more clients verbalizing their trauma. For some, it showed up as textbook post-traumatic distress, while others struggled with symptoms related to depression, anxiety, shame, low self-worth, disordered eating, and substance abuse. We began incorporating Brainspotting into our practice as it became clear that traditional talk therapy alone simply wasn’t cutting it.

At Catalyst Counseling, we have multiple providers on staff who are trained in Brainspotting. While it is a relatively new approach in our practice, our clinicians continue to receive additional training and certification to develop their Brainspotting technique. We have even been instructed in Brainspotting by David Grand himself!

Because we meet our clients exactly where they are, our therapists are likely to incorporate a range of techniques into treatment depending on the needs and goals of each person. Brainspotting is a highly adaptable approach, making it very effective alongside other evidence-based therapies, including elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Inner Child work, couples counseling, and mindfulness. Our clients frequently report a significant reduction in symptoms in as little as one to two Brainspotting sessions.

Your Body May Be Keeping The Score, But You Can Use Eye Movement To Win The Game

We’re all living with varying degrees of trauma, impacting our lives in different ways—not contained to just one memory, trauma lives on in our body’s stress response.

Brainspotting is a meaningful way to release the pain that holds us back. Through this therapeutic approach, we’ve witnessed our clients arrive at powerful insights, transformational revelations, and new perspectives on lifelong issues. Contact us to find out more about how you can be one of them.