Brainspotting Frequently Asked Questions

Brainspotting is a brain-body treatment method that was originally developed by Dr. David Grand for the treatment of trauma. It has since been found to be effective for a range of emotional and physical concerns. Brainspotting is a tool that therapists use, within the therapeutic relationship, to locate, focus, process, and release experiences and symptoms. Brainspotting bypasses conscious thought to access subcortical brain and body processes that are not accessible with traditional talk therapy. 

Brainspotting has been found to be helpful for a range of difficulties including trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, grief, anger, and behavioral problems. Brainspotting can also be helpful in overcoming distressing emotions, overcoming unhealthy habits, reaching health and wellness goals, and enhancing creativity.

During a Brainspotting session the therapist helps the client to identify an issue that they would like to work on. The client is asked to notice inner sensations, feelings, and experiences related to the identified issue. The therapist then uses a pointer to guide the client’s gaze across their field of vision. When the eyes reach a Brainspot, the activation point for a particular issue, the therapist notes external cues in the client’s body while the client may be noticing to inner cues, such as physical sensations or increased emotion. The client will then remain focused on the Brainspot for “processing.” During processing the client remains focused on their sensations/thoughts/experiences. Processing allows for the brain’s natural ability for healing and stabilization.

For some client’s processing is a very quick process, taking only a few minutes, while others may take an hour or multiple sessions. 

That depends on you. Some clients talk during processing while others remain silent. The therapist will talk less than in other forms of therapy during the processing period as they will not want to disturb your processing. Following a Brainspotting session some clients choose to talk through their experience with their therapist while others prefer not to. 

Clients report a range of experiences, and the process is unique for each individual. Some clients will have thoughts and memories come to them during sessions, some report physical sensations or intense emotions, sometimes distressing and sometimes pleasant. Some clients don’t notice anything during processing, while others report immediate relief from the distressing emotions. Some clients report that the issues they are working on improve in the week following a session, while others require several sessions before they notice improvement. 

Many clients report feeling tired following a Brainspotting session. I encourage clients to schedule appointments so that they don’t have to return to work or school following. 

Yes! Brainspotting is effective with children and in some cases can even be used with infants. Because it doesn’t require talking it can be an effective tool for working with very young children. Brainspotting with children is often combined with other therapeutic techniques, such as using puppets or other toys to help in locating Brainspots or using art activities to identify body feelings to be targeted with Brainspotting. Children often process much faster than adults, sometimes within minutes they have resolved an identified issue. 

Yes. Brainspotting is used by therapists as part of a therapeutic treatment plan. In some cases, Brainspotting may be the only intervention used, but often it is combined with other approaches. 

For further information and for a review of the research on Brainspotting visit:

https://www.brainspottingcanada.com/

https://brainspotting.com/