What is Brainspotting and how does it work?

Do you ever find yourself always looking off in one direction in thought about a feeling, emotion or event? It’s like your brain is checking its files to access it and your eyes are finding what drawer it is in. Well, guess what? That might exactly be the case! Say Hello to Brainspotting, a contemporary therapeutic technique that uses eye movements and positions to access stored trauma, stuck points or emotional capsules in our brain. brainspotting is said to access the subcortical brain to help with hidden trauma, emotional pain and more. Brainspotting therapists help guide you to find your gaze or brain spot, where you feel most activated thinking about the issue you want to work through. 

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting, BSP is a newer psychotherapy tool that focuses on identifying, accessing and processing trauma, emotional stuck points, somatic sensations and feelings that are stored in the human brain. It is a different approach than traditional talk therapy. Brainspotting uses the person’s eye gaze location to find the person’s brain spot, the capsule where a person is stuck. This stuck can be emotional, trauma memories or somatic sensations. 

Discovered by Dr. Grand in 2003, said that the brain has “spots” where it encapsulates trauma or emotional pain. And these hidden spots can be triggered through eye positions. Brainspotting also helps in processing that hidden trauma. 

The meaning of brainspot is simple, It is a spot or capsule in the brain where trauma, big emotions, difficult transitions, and so on are stored. Where the eyes move when accessing these things, reflect this brain spot. It is very unique in supporting mental health because it helps people process their trauma, emotions, sensations and feelings through mindfulness, therapist attunement, talking it out, or simply gazing at this spot. People do not need to speak if they don’t choose to. The client is recommended to do what feels natural to them, speaking or not speaking. Thus it works on many levels to support people’s well-being. 

The Science Behind Brainspotting

The science of brainspotting therapy is mainly about the brain-body connection, it targets the “subcortical regions” of the brain, this region is responsible for storing any painful or emotional memories in the brain. The subcortical region is difficult for the brain to process which is why our emotional memories are often stored far from our unconscious minds, being the reason why trauma for many people stays unresolved for many years. 

Brainspotting capitalizes on the idea that “where you look affects how you feel.” By focusing on specific eye positions, a brain-spotting therapist can help clients tap into areas of the brain that hold onto emotional pain, allowing them to process the trauma more effectively. This method also works closely with the body, as physical sensations often accompany emotional distress. During a session, clients may experience body sensations like tension or discomfort, which can help the therapist identify the “brainspots” that need to be processed.

How Does Brainspotting Work?

• Consultation 

Normally during a brainspotting therapy session, the therapist starts by talking about the trauma/emotional pain of the client. The next step involves identifying the area of focus where the therapist follows the client’s eye gaze directions and in the process monitors the feelings of stress, mentally or in the body. The therapist then notices cues like eye blinking, changes in breathing, or facial expressions, which are the signs that a particular “brainspot” has been triggered.

• Accessing and Processing Memories

Once a brainspot is identified, the client is told to keep their eyes on that spot and notice what comes up for them. The client is coached to see where the thoughts and feelings go. They may want to talk through things or simply look at the spot. The client is self-directed, but the therapist is there to support them. change to during the Brainspotting process, the subcortical brain is activated and emotional stuck points, somatic sensations and traumas are processed, which can aid in freeing distressful emotions, thoughts, feelings and memories.

• Evaluating The Process

A typical brainspotting session lasts about 60 to 90 minutes, and clients often report feeling a sense of emotional release, clarity, or relief after the session. However, the duration and number of sessions required vary depending on the individual and the severity of their trauma.

Brainspotting vs. Other Therapies

While brainspotting shares some similarities with other trauma-focused therapies, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), it differs in significant ways. Both therapies use eye positions to access and process trauma, but brainspotting focuses more on the client’ self-directed dialogue or thought processes for healing, as well as their physical and emotional responses during the session.  It also focuses on one gaze spot the eyes are in, and the eyes do not move back and forth. EMDR, on the other hand, uses structured protocols and specific memory recall techniques.

Another major difference is that brainspotting allows the therapist and client to work more fluidly with what arises during the session. There is no specific script or set of instructions to follow, making it a more intuitive process compared to other therapies. Additionally, while talk therapy primarily engages the conscious mind, brainspotting works on the subcortical brain, This may be why brainspotting is an up-and-coming tool for processing trauma

Read more about trauma: Trauma-Informed Therapy: What It Is & How It Works. 

Healing With Brainspotting – A Case Study

There are numerous stories of people who have found relief and healing through brainspotting. For instance, a woman suffering from severe PTSD after a car accident reported significant improvements after just a few sessions of brainspotting therapy. She noted that the therapy allowed her to access and process memories she had previously buried, leading to a profound emotional release.[(Rosenberg, J., 2018). The Effects of Brainspotting on the Treatment of Trauma and Anxiety in a Clinical Setting: A Case Study.]

The Future of Brainspotting and Alternative Therapies

With more data being available on neuroplasticity or the brain’s capacity for change, such techniques as brainspotting are proving effective in helping treat many mental health conditions. In addition to trauma, brainspotting has also been applied in other conditions such as those resulting from anxiety, depression, addiction, and chronic pain.

Read more about how brainspotting works for anxiety: Does Brainspotting work for anxiety?

Moreover, recent years have witnessed a more frequent use of other forms of treatment such as art therapy and brainspotting so there will be more patients with benefits from such approaches. Therefore, the areas of brain-body connection and trauma processing make brainspotting a special and constructive element in the future of psychotherapy.

Read here: what is art therapy 

Conclusion

Brainspotting is a powerful therapy that taps into the brain’s innate ability to self-direct healing from trauma. By focusing on eye positions and the body’s response, this technique can help individuals access and process emotional pain that is stored deep within the brain. Whether you’re dealing with trauma, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, brainspotting therapy offers a promising path toward healing and emotional freedom.

If you’re interested in exploring brainspotting therapy, and how it works for you, reach out to Art Therapy Guelph. This innovative method may just be the key to unlocking your healing journey, and Art Therapy Guelph will be more than happy to help!