What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach that taps into the brain's natural ability to heal itself. It works by identifying a desired issue or problem and connecting to specific eye positions, called a brainspot which is a term coined by Dr. David Grand, that correspond to areas of emotional pain or distress held in the body and nervous system. By identifying and maintaining focus on a brainspot, individuals can access deeper levels of physical and neural connections, facilitating emotional release and healing.
What makes brainspotting therapy different is that you do not have to retell your story in detail or find the right words for what you've been through. As the client, you may communicate as much or as little as you like; this will not stop the Brainspotting process. This method is often used for those who have not found relief through traditional therapy methods. It's a gentle yet profound approach that allows for the exploration and resolution of deeply rooted emotional issues.
Is Brainspotting Therapy Effective for Depression or Anxiety?
Yes. While brainspotting can be associated with healing from past experiences, it is also highly effective for depression, anxiety, and that hard-to-name feelings or sensations. Brainspotting therapy is effective for anxiety, including the kind that feels persistent, hard to explain, emotional flatness or symptoms that seem to be disconnected from any obvious cause. Anxiety often lives in the body and nervous system, not just in thought patterns. Because brainspotting works at that deeper level, many people find it reaches what other approaches have not. Many people who experience depression carry heavy unprocessed emotions in the body that talk therapy alone doesn't quite reach. Brainspotting therapy offers a way in.
You might not think of what you're carrying as trauma. It might just feel like being stuck, worn down, or like something underneath hasn't resolved no matter what you've tried. Brainspotting therapy works well for exactly that nameless baggage that you feel without a specific memory connection.
Brainspotting vs EMDR: What's the Difference?
Both brainspotting and EMDR are in depth therapies that work with eye movement to access and process what the nervous system is holding. They are often recommended for similar goals, including healing from difficult past experiences, reducing emotional overwhelm, and building lasting resilience. However, brain spotting begins by focusing on the most distressing thing in the here-and-now vs how EMDR starts with indentifying distressing past experiences.
The main difference is in how they work. EMDR follows a more structured protocol and can involve specialized equipment. Brainspotting is more relational and fluid. Brainspotting uses a fixed eye positions identified collaboratively between you and your therapist. Some folks find brainspotting feels more accessible, especially when they are earlier in the healing process or not yet ready for a more intensive protocol.
At Recreating Dawn, our therapists are aware of both approaches and can help you choose which one is the best fit for where you are right now.
Discover the Benefits of Brainspotting
Personalized Healing Approach
Deep Emotional Release
Calm and Centered Mind
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no fixed number. You can brainspot for 5 minutes or 50 minutes, it really depends on what is being processed in the moment. It varies from person to person. Some people notice meaningful shifts within a session. Others work with brainspotting over a longer period, especially when there are layers to what they've been carrying. Your therapist will check in with you regularly so you always have a sense of where you are and what feels right to continue.
The short answer is no. However, clients can experience a calming state where the body may reach a point of relaxation that causes drowsiness as your nervous system finds new levels of calm or restoration. You are not put into a trance or guided into a specific belief or state. Your therapist will be with you the entire session and prompt periodically to help you to remain present. You have the ability to stop at any time.
Most people describe it as quieter and more internal than talk therapy. You will be guided to find a brainspot, a position in your visual field, and simply stay with it while your therapist holds a calm, steady presence. Some people feel emotions, physical sensations, or memories arise. Others notice a gradual settling or release. There is no right way for it to unfold.
Unlock the Potential of Brainspotting for Your Wellbeing
Schedule a consult to explore brainspotting solutions with Leah Babaran.
