Brainspotting Therapy: A Deep Dive into Healing Trauma and Emotional Regulation
What is Brainspotting Therapy?
Brainspotting (BSP) is an advanced neurobiological therapy that helps individuals process trauma, emotional distress, and deeply rooted psychological challenges. Developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003, Brainspotting is based on the principle that the brain and body store unprocessed trauma and that accessing specific eye positions ("brainspots") can activate the brain’s natural ability to heal itself.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which relies on conscious processing, Brainspotting targets the subcortical brain, where trauma is stored beneath conscious awareness. This makes it particularly effective for individuals who:
Struggle to verbalize their trauma
Have unresolved emotional pain that feels "stuck"
Experience somatic symptoms, such as chronic pain or tension
Have tried other therapies without lasting success
By working directly with the brain-body connection, Brainspotting enables profound healing and emotional regulation.
How Does Brainspotting Work?
Brainspotting is based on the concept that eye position correlates with stored trauma in the brain. By identifying and holding specific points in the visual field, a therapist can help the client access and process deep emotional wounds that may be inaccessible through traditional talk therapy.
The Science Behind Brainspotting
Brainspotting targets the subcortical regions of the brain, including the:
Amygdala – The brain’s emotional processing center, responsible for fear and trauma responses
Hippocampus – The memory-processing center, which can be disrupted by trauma
Tectum – A region involved in the body's fight, flight, or freeze response
Prefrontal Cortex – The brain’s rational-thinking center, which often becomes overridden by trauma responses
By keeping the client's focus on a brainspot, Brainspotting allows the brain to locate, process, and release unresolved trauma without the need for verbal recall.
What Happens in a Brainspotting Session?
1. Identifying the Brainspot
The therapist helps the client find a brainspot by tracking eye movements and noticing subtle changes in facial expressions, breathing, or body tension. These physical cues indicate that an eye position is linked to stored trauma.
2. Processing the Experience
Once the brainspot is identified, the client holds their gaze on that spot while allowing emotions, memories, and physical sensations to emerge. The therapist provides a safe and supportive space but does not intervene or direct the experience.
3. Accessing and Releasing Trauma
As the brainspot activates deeply stored trauma, the brain begins to process and release trapped emotions. Unlike talk therapy, this happens without cognitive interference, allowing the subconscious brain to lead the healing process.
4. Integration and Grounding
As the session concludes, the therapist helps the client integrate their experience through body awareness, grounding techniques, and reflection. Many people feel lighter, clearer, and more regulated after a session.
What Conditions Can Brainspotting Treat?
Brainspotting is used for a wide range of psychological and physical conditions, including:
1. Trauma and PTSD
Brainspotting is one of the most effective treatments for complex trauma and PTSD, as it works with the brain’s natural processing system rather than forcing recall or exposure.
2. Anxiety and Panic Disorders
By addressing underlying nervous system dysregulation, Brainspotting helps reduce chronic anxiety, panic attacks, and excessive worry without relying on extensive verbal processing.
3. OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
Brainspotting can help individuals with OCD by reducing intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and underlying emotional distress. By accessing the subconscious triggers behind compulsions, Brainspotting supports long-term symptom relief.
4. ADHD and Emotional Regulation
For individuals with ADHD, Brainspotting can improve impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and focus by strengthening neurological connections and nervous system regulation.
5. Depression and Emotional Numbness
Brainspotting helps individuals reconnect with blocked emotions, leading to improved mood, emotional processing, and greater self-awareness.
6. Chronic Pain and Somatic Symptoms
Since trauma is often stored in the body as physical tension, Brainspotting is used for chronic pain conditions, fibromyalgia, migraines, and psychosomatic symptoms related to unresolved emotional distress.
7. Performance Anxiety and Creative Blocks
Many athletes, musicians, and professionals use Brainspotting to overcome performance anxiety, stage fright, and self-doubt, unlocking peak performance and creativity.
Brainspotting vs. EMDR: Which is More Effective?
Brainspotting and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are two of the most widely used trauma therapies. Both have been extensively studied and found to be equally effective in treating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and other emotional distress. However, the best approach depends on the individual's unique needs, preferences, and neurological responses.
EMDR is a structured, therapist-guided process that involves recalling traumatic memories while using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, to help the brain reprocess distressing experiences. This method is highly effective for PTSD, phobias, and distressing memories, especially for individuals who can tolerate cognitive recall of trauma.
Brainspotting, on the other hand, is a free-flowing, client-led process that works by identifying specific eye positions ("brainspots") that correlate with stored trauma. Unlike EMDR, Brainspotting does not require recalling traumatic memories explicitly. Instead, it allows the subconscious brain and body to process trauma naturally, making it particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle with verbal processing or feel overwhelmed by traditional exposure-based approaches.
While some people find EMDR’s structured approach helpful, others prefer the deeper, body-based processing of Brainspotting. Neither therapy is inherently better than the other—it all comes down to how an individual’s nervous system responds.
Because each person’s healing journey is unique, working with a clinician trained in both Brainspotting and EMDR ensures that the right approach is used based on the individual’s needs. Some people benefit from integrating both therapies, using Brainspotting for deep emotional release and EMDR for cognitive reprocessing. A skilled clinician can assess which method, or combination of both, will provide the most effective and sustainable healing process.
Why the Right Clinician Matters
Since Brainspotting and EMDR both have strengths, it is essential to work with a clinician trained in both therapies—like Francesca—who can tailor the approach based on:
The individual’s nervous system response
The type of trauma being processed
Personal preference and emotional tolerance
Rather than choosing one therapy over the other, a skilled clinician can integrate both approaches for a more personalized and effective healing experience.
Is Brainspotting Right for You?
Brainspotting may be a good fit if you:
Struggle with unresolved trauma that feels "stuck"
Have anxiety, PTSD, or emotional dysregulation
Experience somatic symptoms or chronic pain
Prefer a body-based approach rather than talk therapy
Have tried other therapies but still feel emotionally blocked
Unlike traditional therapies, Brainspotting allows trauma to be processed naturally, without re-exposure or forced recall.
Final Thoughts: Why Brainspotting is a Powerful Healing Tool
Brainspotting is a groundbreaking therapy that allows individuals to heal trauma at the deepest neurological level. Unlike traditional approaches, it bypasses cognitive barriers, allowing the brain to self-regulate and process unresolved emotional pain.
Because every person’s healing journey is different, working with a clinician trained in both Brainspotting and EMDR ensures a tailored approach that best meets the individual’s needs.
If you are looking for an effective, non-verbal, and neuroscience-backed approach to healing trauma, Brainspotting may be the key to unlocking profound emotional relief and resilience.
Ready to explore Brainspotting, EMDR, or a personalized trauma-informed approach?
Contact Francesca Wehr, LCSW to discuss how these therapies can support your healing journey. Schedule a consultation today to find the approach that works best for you.
