Brainspotting
Understanding This Therapy Modality:
Brainspotting (BSP) is a neuroexperiential psychotherapy approach developed by Dr. David Grand, designed to help individuals access, process, and resolve sources of emotional and physical pain, trauma, and distress held deep within the brain and body. Its core principle is summarized by the axiom, "Where you look affects how you feel." Brainspotting operates on the theory that specific eye positions ('Brainspots') are directly connected to encapsulated, unprocessed neurophysiological experiences stored in the subcortical or 'deeper' brain. By identifying relevant eye positions and having the client maintain focus on them while mindfully observing their internal experience, BSP aims to stimulate the brain's inherent self-scanning and self-healing capacities, allowing for the release and integration of this stored material. The primary goal is to facilitate deep, direct processing of challenging experiences, leading to symptom relief and resolution.
Finding the Right Therapeutic Modality:
Brainspotting is distinctively indicated for individuals seeking to process experiences that seem 'stuck' or difficult to access through traditional talk therapy alone, particularly trauma (including PTSD), anxiety, attachment issues, somatic complaints, stress, dissociation, and performance blocks. It is suitable for clients who notice a connection between specific physical sensations or emotional states and certain memories or issues. The approach can be beneficial for those who feel overwhelmed by intense emotions when discussing past events, as the focused eye position is thought to help contain and process the activation.
Therapeutic Approach:
The therapeutic approach in Brainspotting centers on identifying and utilizing 'Brainspots.' The Therapist collaborates with the Client to locate an eye position in the Client's visual field that corresponds to a felt sense of activation or resonance associated with the issue being addressed. This is often done by having the Client focus on the issue while the Therapist slowly moves a pointer across their field of vision, watching for subtle reflexive cues (like eye wobbles, blinks, shifts in breathing, facial expressions) or noticing where the Client feels the activation most strongly. Once a Brainspot is identified, the Client is guided to hold their gaze on that spot while practicing 'focused mindfulness'—mindfully observing whatever thoughts, feelings, memories, or body sensations arise and pass, without judgment. The Therapist maintains a state of 'Dual Attunement,' staying highly attuned to the client's present moment experience while also attuned to the therapeutic relationship and process, providing a safe, containing presence. Bilateral sound (music or tones delivered through headphones) is often used to support the neurophysiological processing but is not always required.
Benefits of This Modality:
Brainspotting offers unique benefits related to its proposed ability to access and process deeply held neurophysiological material. Clients often report resolution of trauma symptoms, decreased anxiety, relief from physical pain or tension linked to emotional distress, and shifts in limiting beliefs or performance blocks. A key potential benefit is the processing of experiences that may be pre-verbal or difficult to articulate through language alone. The focused mindfulness aspect can enhance self-awareness and body connection. By facilitating the brain's intrinsic healing processes, BSP aims to achieve deep and lasting resolution of targeted issues.
Integrating This Approach:
Brainspotting can be used as a primary therapeutic modality or integrated into other forms of psychotherapy. Therapists trained in various orientations (e.g., psychodynamic, humanistic, somatic, EMDR) may incorporate BSP techniques to target specific traumatic memories, somatic symptoms, or points where clients feel stuck in talk therapy. Its emphasis on body awareness and neurophysiological processing complements many approaches. The therapist's attuned presence aligns well with relational and attachment-based therapies. However, the core technique of finding and holding a Brainspot is specific to this model.
Inside the Therapy Session:
A typical Brainspotting session involves the Client and Therapist identifying an issue to work on. The Client is then guided to notice where they feel the issue or associated emotion/sensation in their body. The Therapist helps locate the relevant eye position (Brainspot) linked to this activation. The Client then holds their gaze on the Brainspot, often while listening to bilateral sound via headphones, and simply observes their internal experience—sensations, emotions, memories, thoughts—as it unfolds naturally. The Therapist provides a calm, attuned presence, checking in minimally to ensure the client feels safe and facilitating the focused mindfulness process. The session allows the brain and body to process the activated material associated with the eye position until a sense of resolution or release is reached for that session.
Suitable Age Groups:
Brainspotting can be adapted for use with various age groups, including children, adolescents, and adults. Adaptations for children might involve using puppets or drawing activities alongside finding eye positions, making the process more playful and less reliant on verbal description. The fundamental principles of linking eye position to internal experience and allowing the brain to process can be applied across the lifespan, with modifications made by trained practitioners to suit the developmental stage and needs of the client.
Scientific Support and Evidence:
Brainspotting is a relatively newer therapy compared to modalities like CBT or EMDR, and as such, the body of empirical research specifically validating its efficacy and mechanisms is still developing. While there are numerous clinical case reports, therapist accounts, and some preliminary studies suggesting positive outcomes, particularly for trauma and anxiety, large-scale randomized controlled trials are less abundant than for some older therapies. Its theoretical basis draws on neuroscience concepts related to visual processing, subcortical brain activity, and trauma's impact on the nervous system. It is generally considered an emerging, promising approach, particularly within the field of brain-body and neuroexperiential therapies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1: How is Brainspotting different from EMDR? A: While both work with trauma and involve eye focus, EMDR uses structured, therapist-directed bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones) following a strict eight-phase protocol to process memories. Brainspotting involves the client holding their gaze on a specific, fixed eye position (Brainspot) linked to the issue, allowing for more internally directed processing with less therapist intervention during the processing itself. Q2: Do I have to know exactly what memory I want to work on? A: Not necessarily. Brainspotting can be used to target specific known memories, but it can also work effectively by starting with a current feeling, body sensation, or general issue, and then finding the Brainspot associated with that activation, allowing relevant underlying material to surface and process. Q3: Does Brainspotting involve hypnosis? A: No, Brainspotting is not hypnosis. The client remains fully conscious, awake, and aware throughout the session, intentionally focusing their gaze while mindfully observing their internal experience.