Brainspottiing was developed by and EMDR trainer and practitioner, Dr. David Grand. He discovered a deeper way to access layers of trauma and distress in the brain.

Dr. David Grand believes, "What's in the body is in the brain and what's in the brain is in the body". In other words, to heal one, we must heal the other as well. Brainspotting allows us to work with the body by focusing on physical sensations that accompany disturbing thoughts and feelings. This allows us to release pain, tension, discomfort, and even sleep issues.

Brainspotting allows us to use the brain's natural healing process so we can release where trauma, anxiety, self-worth, guilt, or other concerns are trapped in our bodies and brains.

If you've tried EMDR before, Brainspotting can still be helpful in addressing emotional and physical issues that are keeping you "stuck". Many people report experiencing greater healing from Brainspotting compared to other modalities such as talk therapy. Brainspotting allows you to heal without having to share the specific details of your story.

Traditional talk therapy can only do so much to truly resolve things. This is because talk therapy engages the outer portion of the brain and many of our traumas, anxieties, stress, etc., are stored in the deeper, inner portion of the brain.

Brainspotting targets that deep, inner portion of the brain and bypasses all the things you've tried to minimize, invalidate, or intellectualize. As a result, you experience lasting healing and relief faster!

Brainspotting highlights what Dr. David Grand (founder of Brainspotting) says, "Where you Look impacts how you feel" , and this is demonstrated in Brainspotting when the therapist and client find a fixed eye position that is connected to the unresolved issue.

Have you observed that when you're attempting to gather your thoughts, emotions, or recall specific details, you tend to direct your gaze towards a particular point in your visual field (such as downwards to the right or upwards to the left)? This gaze might be brief, lasting only a moment, or it could extend for several minutes while you're deep in thought.

The "staring off" is a natural function of our brains during information processing. While neuroscience continually advances, our current understanding suggests that the tissues in our eyes are linked to brain tissue, and many eye muscles are connected to bodily systems that regulate heart rate and breathing. This interconnectedness between our eyes, brains, and bodies underscores the profound connection we have. Thus, the act of "staring off" is a method through which we instinctively engage our brain's inherent processes of processing and healing.

Nonetheless, a significant number of individuals have been socialized in cultures where maintaining eye contact during conversation is deemed essential. Consequently, when our natural processing instincts kick in mid-conversation, we often feel compelled to return our focus to making eye contact with the individual or individuals we are conversing with. This interruption can disrupt the brain's processing capabilities, leading to incomplete cognitive processing due to adherence to social norms.

Through Brainspotting, we harness this innate brain function, allowing you to fully engage in the healing process without disruption. During our sessions, I observe the natural movement of your eyes as you discuss various topics. At times, I may prompt you to pause and reflect on what arises as you gaze towards a particular point. Alternatively, together, we may identify a specific spot linked to distress or a feeling of calmness, enhancing your comfort level as we navigate challenging material.

When you have an opportunity to have more focused time and space to process and tap into this natural phenomenon, healing can occur more profoundly and swiftly compared to traditional talk therapy. In Brainspotting, this process can be augmented using bilateral music that evokes deep emotions and memories, fostering a heightened sense of relaxation.

For many people, Brainspotting is effective and works even without talking through thoughts, feelings, or memories.

Brainspotting can help with:

Trauma, Adverse childhood experiences, abuse or neglect issues

Self-esteem or self-worth concerns

Distressing events, anxiety, phobias, OCD

Unmet emotional needs

Overeating

Stress and trauma-related medical illness

Depression

Recovery from accidents/injuries, chronic pain

Performance and creativity enhancement

Struggles with addiction