Brainspotting is an innovative approach to therapy that uses specific points in a person’s visual field to help process trauma. Brainspotting targets the subcortical part of the brain where trauma can be deeply stored. This area influences our emotions, awareness, movement, and learning, making it a powerful pathway for processing and healing emotional experiences. For many people struggling with trauma, anxiety, or emotional pain, conventional therapy can feel overwhelming or not helpful in addressing the root of the problem. This is why Brainspotting therapy can be a really effective way to process deep-rooted trauma and give you tools to start healing.
Who Developed Brainspotting Therapy?
Brainspotting was developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003. He discovered this technique while working with a client using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapy that also focuses on how eye movements relate to processing traumatic memories. During the session, he noticed that when the client’s eyes settled on a specific spot in their visual field, their emotional processing seemed to deepen. This observation led him to explore the connection between eye position and the brain’s ability to access and process stored trauma. Based on his research and treatment, Dr. Grand then developed Brainspotting as its own therapeutic approach.
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a focused therapy that helps people access, process, and overcome trauma, negative emotions, and pain. Brainspotting is based on the idea that where you direct your gaze can influence how you feel. By identifying specific eye positions or “brainspots,” a therapist trained in Brainspotting can help you tap into your subcortical brain to process trauma that may be difficult for the conscious mind to reach through traditional talk therapies. It is considered a “brain-body” therapy because it acknowledges the deep connection between our physiological experiences and our emotional well-being.
What Is Brainspotting Used For?
Brainspotting therapy can be used for a range of psychological and emotional challenges. It’s especially effective for issues that are deeply rooted in the brain and nervous system.
Treating Trauma & PTSD
Brainspotting therapy is most commonly used to treat trauma because it helps individuals process these traumatic memories in a safe environment, without having to experience them in a way that could be emotionally overwhelming or unmanageable. By allowing the brain to organize and process these experiences, Brainspotting can lessen symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, and nightmares.
Managing Anxiety & Phobias
Anxiety disorders often stem from earlier experiences that the brain perceives as threatening. Brainspotting can help locate and process the source of the anxiety, from generalized anxiety to social anxiety to panic attacks or specific phobias. By calming the nervous system’s response to triggers, it can help reduce anxious feelings.
Healing Depression
Depression can be linked to unresolved grief, loss, or emotional pain. Brainspotting helps individuals tap into and process the underlying emotions that may be causing depression.
Other Challenges Brainspotting Therapy Helps With
Brainspotting can also help with a range of other issues including:
- ADHD
- Performance anxiety (e.g., athletes, public speakers)
- Overcoming creative blocks
- Chronic pain and illness
- Emotional regulation
How Do I Find A Brainspotting Therapist?
At Georgetown Psychology, Dr. Marina Sud is a Brainspotting certified psychologist who helps clients access and process deep-seated trauma, stress, and emotional blocks. Dr. Sud offers a safe and supportive environment so you can grow and heal from unresolved issues. Whether you want to process unresolved trauma, manage anxiety, overcome phobias, or other challenges, contact Sarah Smathers at sarah@georgetownpsychology.com or (301) 652-5550 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sud or for more information.
Dr. Sud is licensed in Kentucky and New York State, and authorized to practice inter-jurisdictional telepsychology in 43 states under the PSYPACT Commission, and only offers online appointments.
