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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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

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 have received Brainspotting training and am a Brainspotting practitioner. I am continuing to get hours of training in advanced Brainspotting techniques and practice in the modality in order to provide the best care possible for my clients. Brainspotting is a technique that involves a deeper level of processing for clients and therefore more access to getting to the root of addressing the trauma.

— Lacee Lovely Lawson, Licensed Professional Counselor in Dallas, TX

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
 

Trained in Brainspotting Levels 1 & 2, working towards certification, I use this powerful modality to support attachment trauma, entrepreneurs and couples. BSP helps lessen the impact of trauma, improves emotional/somatic regulation, and is especially beneficial for neurodivergent individuals. It’s also a game-changer for high-achievers seeking clarity, direction, and personal growth. I integrate it with somatic practices, Parts Work, intuitive approaches, and Gottman Method to help clients heal

— Dawn Leprich-Graves, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Aurora, IL

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
 

Brainspotting was added to my practice in 2023. I'm trained in level 1 and 2, and nearly certified. While I am admittedly biased, countless times I've witnessed profound and lasting results with this bottom up trauma informed model to deeply and rapidly heal trauma, grief, and complex relational issues. Our eyes are connected to our subcortical brain where trauma is held, as well as our reptilian brain where we go under distress. Go to Brainspotting.com for more information.

— Pujita Latchman, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Berkeley, CA

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 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

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
 

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

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
 

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

I am trained in Brainspotting! Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach that targets trauma and emotional issues by identifying and processing brainspots, eye positions correlating with neural activation linked to emotional experiences. It involves focused mindfulness and therapist's guidance to access and release deep-seated emotions, facilitating healing and resolution.

— Julia Hollenbeck, Counselor in Tomball, TX
 

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

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
 

Brainspotting is a treatment method that utilizes your visual field to connect with the parts of your brain that hold onto unprocessed trauma. Brainspotting invites clients to process distressing experiences by following the lead of their body.

— Shavonne James, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Long Beach, CA

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
 

I am trained in brainspotting to help clients process and release emotions that are stuck. I also utilize somatic therapy to help client identify a new sense of self.

— Golara Parsapour, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Folsom, CA