Unlocking the Brain’s Healing Potential: What Is Brainspotting Therapy and Why Is It So Effective?
Written by Sarah Denkert, LPC
In recent years, Brainspotting therapy has gained increasing attention as a powerful and innovative approach to trauma healing and emotional wellness. Developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003, Brainspotting (BSP) is rooted in neuroscience and combines elements of eye position, mindfulness, and body awareness to access and process deep-seated emotional pain and trauma. Brainspotting offers a promising path toward lasting change.
What Is Brainspotting Therapy?
Brainspotting is a brain-body-based therapeutic approach that helps individuals process trauma, emotional distress, and even performance blocks by identifying and targeting specific “brainspots”. These “brainspots” are eye positions that correlate with stored emotional or somatic experiences.
The foundational idea is that “where you look affects how you feel.” When your eyes are directed toward a particular spot, it can connect to a neural network holding unprocessed trauma or emotion. By holding this gaze in a mindful and supported way, the brain is able to begin self-healing and integration.
While it may sound simple, Brainspotting taps into the subcortical brain, the part responsible for emotions, memories, and automatic functions, which is often difficult to reach through traditional talk therapy.
How Does Brainspotting Work?
A typical Brainspotting session involves the therapist guiding the client to access a felt sense of a troubling emotion, memory, or body sensation. The therapist then slowly moves a pointer across the client’s visual field while the client notices shifts in emotion or body response. When a certain eye position creates a noticeable reaction, such as tension, emotional intensity, or stillness, that position becomes the “brainspot.”
From there, the client holds their gaze on the brainspot while tuning in to their internal experience. The therapist offers attuned presence and support without trying to interpret or analyze. This nonverbal, bottom-up approach allows the brain to access and release trauma in a way that feels organic and self-directed.
Some sessions may feel intense, while others may feel subtle, both can be equally effective. Clients often describe the experience as a “deep dive” into the mind and body, helping them access and process feelings that previously felt inaccessible or overwhelming.
Why Is Brainspotting So Effective?
1. It Works With the Brain’s Natural Healing Mechanism
Unlike top-down therapies that rely on verbal processing, Brainspotting taps directly into the deeper, non-verbal areas of the brain, such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and brainstem, where trauma is often stored. By accessing these areas through eye position and focused mindfulness, BSP allows the brain to process and rewire itself naturally.
2. It Honors the Body-Brain Connection
Brainspotting emphasizes the somatic experience. Many people carry trauma in the body, in the form of chronic tension, illness, or discomfort. BSP encourages clients to notice these physical sensations. This integration of body and brain can lead to more holistic and lasting healing.
3. It’s Gentle Yet Powerful
Clients often feel a strong sense of safety and control in Brainspotting sessions. There is no need to retell traumatic stories in detail. The therapy meets people where they are and allows the brain to do the work without force. For individuals who have found traditional therapy overwhelming or ineffective, this can be a welcome alternative.
4. It’s Highly Versatile
Brainspotting has been used successfully to treat a wide range of issues, including:
PTSD and complex trauma
Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression
Chronic pain
Grief and loss
Substance use recovery
Creative and athletic performance blocks
Whether someone is working through a single traumatic event or decades of stored emotion, BSP offers a flexible and adaptable framework for healing.
What to Expect After a Brainspotting Session
The impact of a session can unfold immediately or over the following days and weeks. Some clients experience immediate relief, clarity, or emotional release. Others notice subtle shifts that build over time, such as improved sleep, fewer triggers, or increased emotional resilience.
It’s common to feel tired, emotionally moved, or introspective after a session. Therapists often recommend clients take time to rest and reflect, and to drink plenty of water and engage in self-care as their brain continues to process.
Is Brainspotting Right for You?
If you've tried traditional therapy and felt stuck, or if you’re looking for a more body-centered, trauma-informed approach, Brainspotting could be a game-changer. It’s particularly helpful for individuals who:
Have trouble verbalizing their trauma
Feel disconnected from their emotions
Experience physical symptoms of emotional distress
Want a non-invasive, neuroscience-backed therapy
Working with a certified Brainspotting practitioner ensures that you’ll receive attuned, specialized care throughout the process.
Final Thoughts
Brainspotting may seem deceptively simple, but its ability to unlock the brain’s healing potential is nothing short of transformative. By bridging the gap between brain and body, thought and feeling, conscious and unconscious, BSP helps people access the roots of their pain, and finally begin to let it go.
Sarah Denkert (LPC) is a licensed therapist in Waukesha, WI, specializing in trauma, adult ADHD, anxiety, depression, Brainspotting, relationship conflict, and stress.
For more information about Sarah, please visit::