Brainspotting: Accessing Deep Trauma Through Eye Position

What Is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting (BSP) is a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003, emerging from his work with EMDR therapy. It is based on the discovery that where you look affects how you feel — specific eye positions, called "brainspots," can access subcortical brain regions where traumatic memories, emotional pain, and body-based trauma are stored.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily engages the thinking brain, Brainspotting bypasses the conscious mind to access the deeper, subcortical parts of the brain — the amygdala, hippocampus, and brainstem — where trauma is physiologically encoded.

How Does Brainspotting Work?

• Outside Window BSP — The therapist slowly guides a pointer across your visual field while you notice changes in body sensation or emotional shifts. The spot that produces the strongest activation is the brainspot.
• Inside Window BSP — You self-identify where in your visual field the issue feels most activated, empowering you to lead the process.
• Focused Mindfulness — Once the brainspot is located, you maintain your gaze on that point while the therapist provides attuned support.
• BioLateral Sound — Music or nature sounds that alternate between left and right ears to enhance bilateral stimulation.

Sessions typically last 50–60 minutes. Many clients report significant shifts in 1–3 sessions, though complex trauma may require longer treatment.

Who Can Benefit from Brainspotting?

• PTSD and Complex Trauma
• Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Phobias
• Depression and Emotional Overwhelm
• Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia
• Performance Anxiety (athletes, performers, professionals)
• Attachment Wounds and Relational Trauma
• Grief and Loss
• Substance Use Recovery

Brainspotting is often compared to EMDR. A key difference is that BSP uses a fixed gaze point rather than eye movements, and many clients find it gentler — it does not typically require detailed recounting of traumatic events.

Sources & Clinical Evidence

• Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: The Revolutionary New Therapy for Rapid and Effective Change. The foundational text by the developer of Brainspotting.
• Corrigan, F. M., & Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: Recruiting the midbrain for accessing and healing sensorimotor memories of traumatic activation. Medical Hypotheses.
• Hildebrand, A., et al. (2017). Pilot study comparing Brainspotting and EMDR found comparable effectiveness between both modalities.