What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a focused form of therapy developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003. It is based on the understanding that the brain and body naturally work to process emotional experiences, but sometimes certain experiences can feel “stuck” and not fully integrated.
In those moments, the nervous system may continue to hold onto emotional or physical responses connected to past experiences, even if we are not consciously thinking about them. Brainspotting uses specific points of visual focus, along with attuned support in the therapeutic relationship, to help bring awareness to what is happening underneath the surface.
From there, the process supports your system in doing what it already knows how to do, which is process and release what has been held in a way that feels safe and contained. Over time, this can create more ease, emotional relief, and a greater sense of internal space.
Who Brainspotting Therapy Is For?
Brainspotting therapy may be helpful if you are experiencing:
Trauma, including birth trauma, developmental trauma, or attachment related wounds
Anxiety or ongoing stress that feels hard to settle
Depression or a sense of emotional heaviness or disconnection
Grief or loss that still feels present in your life
Relationship challenges or repeating patterns in connection with others
Experiences from childhood that still feel unresolved or impactful today
Chronic tension, overwhelm, or a sense that your body stays on alert
How can Brainspotting help?
Brainspotting is a gentle way of working with emotional pain and trauma, especially when it also shows up in the body as stress, tension, or overwhelm. It can help things feel less stuck and a little more workable, so you’re not carrying it all in the same way.
In sessions, we pay attention to what’s showing up for you now and how your experiences are affecting your day to day life. There’s no need to go back through everything or relive what happened. We stay with what feels present and support your system in processing things in a way that feels safe enough.
Over time, people often notice things feel a bit lighter or less intense. There can be more room to breathe, more steadiness, and a sense that you are not quite as caught in the same patterns as before.