Brainspotting · 9 min read
What is Brainspotting therapy?
Brainspotting is a brain-body therapy developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003 that uses fixed eye position to access material stored deeper than the thinking brain can reach on its own. This is the plain-language, no-jargon guide.
The core idea: where you look affects how you feel
Brainspotting works from a simple premise with a lot of research behind it: our visual field and our nervous system are more tightly linked than most therapy models assume. A specific gaze position (a "brainspot") can activate - and then help discharge - material the thinking brain has been circling around for years.
Who Brainspotting is for
- Trauma and PTSD, including complex and developmental trauma
- Chronic anxiety that talk therapy has helped intellectually but hasn't shifted in the body
- Grief, including complicated and disenfranchised grief
- Performance blocks - athletes, artists, executives, surgeons
- Burnout and chronic nervous system dysregulation
- Attachment wounds and preverbal material
How a Brainspotting session actually works
A session starts with talking, like any other therapy. Then, together, we identify a felt sense - an emotion, a body sensation, a memory, a stuck spot. Using a pointer (or, in telehealth, an on-screen cue), we find the specific gaze position where the activation is strongest. You hold that gaze while your nervous system processes. I stay attuned, quiet, and available. The work happens between you and your own system, not because I'm doing something to you.
Brainspotting vs. EMDR - what's the difference?
They're cousins. Both use eye position and both work below the level of story to resolve stuck material. EMDR uses bilateral movement (eyes moving side to side, tapping, or tones) in a highly structured protocol. Brainspotting uses a fixed gaze and follows the client's system rather than a set script. Many clients who found EMDR overwhelming or overly structured find Brainspotting slower, gentler, and more integrative. Neither is objectively better - it's a fit question.
What the research says
Brainspotting is a newer modality than EMDR, and the research base is smaller but growing. Published studies and case series have found strong reductions in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and grief, with results comparable to established trauma modalities. The largest-scale application to date was the mass trauma response after Sandy Hook, where Brainspotting was used with hundreds of survivors and first responders.
Does Brainspotting work over telehealth?
Yes, and this is where a lot of clients are surprised. Brainspotting adapts to video more cleanly than most somatic modalities - the therapist uses an on-screen cue you can hold your gaze on, and the rest of the process is identical. If you're in Washington, Wisconsin, or Florida and want to try it, that's what I offer through my online Brainspotting practice.
What Brainspotting isn't
- It isn't hypnosis. You stay fully aware and in control.
- It isn't one-and-done. It works best inside an ongoing therapy relationship.
- It isn't a replacement for medical or psychiatric care.
- It isn't magic - it's careful nervous system work.
How to find a Brainspotting therapist
Look for a therapist who has completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 Brainspotting training at minimum, and ideally has experience integrating it with your specific concerns - trauma, ADHD, grief, or performance. The official directory at brainspotting.com is a good starting point, along with Psychology Today.
Brainspotting reaches the stuff talk therapy keeps circling around - quietly, safely, and on your nervous system's timeline.
Curious if Brainspotting is right for you?