Brainspotting

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a type of psychotherapy developed by Dr. David Grand to break through the barriers of trauma in a way that traditional talk therapy cannot. Using a series of eye positions and body awareness, this modality targets the part of the brain where trauma is stored and helps release places where we are stuck or experiencing negative patterns or pain.

This powerful, focused treatment allows clients to transform debilitating memories and negative beliefs surrounding a traumatic incident. By identifying, processing, and releasing core neuro-physiological sources of emotional and physical pain as well as coping mechanisms associated with PTSD, clients are able to channel the healthy “head” knowledge they possess beneath their traumatic experiences and often experience accelerated healing.

“The expert is a client’s brain, not the therapist. We do not interpret or create meaning around experiences, we hold the space for the healing. The brain can heal just like a bone.”

~ Lisa Larson, LMFT, Brainspotting Expert & Trainer

What to Expect in a Session

Our brain is our most complex organ, and it is capable of releasing traumas, negative experiences, and deep emotional wounds. This paves the way for inner healing. A brainspot is simply where a memory or trauma is stored. 

Our broken places and vulnerabilities can be an invitation to healing. In a broken world, every human experiences pain on some level, which leads to fragmented places in our inner life. Emotional pain disregulates our nervous system. Brainspotting helps restore regulation in places where we feel fragmented or stuck. In brainspotting practice, we take cues from our bodies that help our brains release unhealthy patterns. 

  • We process subjects of the clients’ own choosing in a safe, supportive environment using simple eye positions and body awareness. 

  • We identify areas of comfort and discomfort, then unravel issues at the client’s pace.

For Further Reading and Information on Brainspotting