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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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. Here are links to videos "Who does Brainspotting work with?” https://vimeo.com/187492731 "Brainspotting" https://youtu.be/lm3Plvaf3

— Elinor (Elly) Nygren Szapiro, Licensed Professional Counselor in Northwest, AR

This is somatically based therapy. It involves reprocessing trauma and stressful life events by expanding the releasing the emotions and body sensations. This eventually allows the brain to fully process the stress you've experienced and release any of the symptoms of PTSD.

— Hayley Miller, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Studio City, CA
 

Birthed out of the practice of EMDR, Brainspotting is a trauma therapy intervention that uses the body’s eye gaze reflex to connect with deep brain processing. I use brainspotting to support clients navigating the effects of ptsd and cptsd, so they may experience release and relief from trauma stored in the body.

— Rye Webber, Creative Art Therapist in Nashville, TN

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
 

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

Brainspotting is a powerful tool for treating a variety of challenging symptoms. It works by identifying, processing, and releasing sources of emotional pain, physical pain, trauma, and dissociation. Brainspotting is able to move beyond the conscious mind’s limited capacity, to target and let go of memories and symptoms whose sources are buried deep within. Using the therapeutic relationship as an anchor, brainspotting goes into the deep brain and body, where talk therapy cannot.

— Macy Khangura, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor in San Francisco, CA
 

In my practice, I utilize Brainspotting as a powerful tool for healing trauma and emotional distress. This approach allows clients to access and process deep-seated memories and emotions by identifying specific eye positions linked to their experiences. By creating a safe and supportive environment, I guide clients through this focused attention, facilitating profound insights and healing. Brainspotting can effectively address a range of issues, including anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.

— Andrea Diemert, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Fair Oaks, CA
 

Brainspotting is often used to reprocess traumatic memories, but it is beneficial for a wide range of issues and can be faster at targeting stuck memories than talk therapy alone.

— Kellita Thompson, Marriage & Family Therapist in Brentwood, TN

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
 

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

Brainspotting feels like one of the most trauma-informed and client led therapy modalities that I have learned thus far. I am excited to offer this type of therapy that makes space for the body's innate ability to heal in order to help process trauma and work through various blocks, whether they be creative or physical.

— Melisa Medalle, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
 

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 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
 

Trained in Brainspotting Levels 1 and 2 (2022, 2025), I specialize in using this powerful modality to support attachment trauma, autistic women, entrepreneurs, and couples. Brainspotting helps lessen the impact of trauma and improve emotional and somatic regulation, making it especially beneficial for neurodivergent individuals. I integrate it with somatic practices, Parts Work, intuitive approaches, and Gottman Method to help clients find clarity, heal, and thrive.

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

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
 

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

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
 

I am a phase I and II trained therapist. Brainspotting is a way to use our eyes to treat trauma memories stored in our brain. Many of these memories may be in the subcortical layers, where we feel it, but may not have words for it. Our eyes can help us to reach these memories, gently, to heal and grow.

— Teresa Petersen, Clinical Social Worker in Houston, TX