What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic approach that reduces troubling symptoms related to trauma, stress, and emotional issues. It works from the understanding that where we look affects how we feel—eye positions and the visual field can help locate and access traumatic or emotionally charged memories. By focusing on these “brainspots,” the brain is given the opportunity to process and release what has been held inside, making space for profound healing.
At Healing Harbors, your counselor may use a Brainspotting wand—a simple pointer tool that helps guide your gaze and locate the brainspot connected to your internal experience.
How Does Brainspotting Therapy Work?
Our brains are designed to process life events, but when something overwhelming or traumatic occurs, the brain can become stuck. These experiences may not fully resolve and can continue to shape our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors—even years later. Brainspotting helps the brain return to these stuck places in a safe, guided way so that healing can occur.
By gently focusing on a brainspot, the body’s natural ability to process takes over. Emotions, sensations, and memories that were once overwhelming can be released and integrated. This allows you to experience relief, clarity, and freedom from patterns that no longer serve you.
What Can I Expect During a Brainspotting Session?
- Finding the Brainspot
With your therapist’s support, you’ll identify a point in your visual field that connects to the issue you’re working on. This is called the “brainspot.” - Exploring the Internal Experience
As you hold your gaze on the brainspot, you’ll simply notice what arises—thoughts, emotions, sensations, or memories. - Processing and Release
Your brain will begin to naturally process and release the unresolved material, often leading to relief and new insights. - Dual Attunement
Throughout the session, your therapist remains attuned both to your experience and to the therapeutic process, providing guidance, safety, and support. Sometimes gentle bilateral stimulation (like tapping or sound) is used to enhance processing. - Integration
As the brain completes its processing, clients often experience a reduction in emotional intensity, greater clarity, and a sense of peace. - Closure and Grounding
Sessions close with grounding practices to help you return to balance. You and your therapist may also reflect on any insights or experiences that emerged.
Why Brainspotting?
Brainspotting goes beyond talk therapy. Just as nature, art, music, and writing can touch places in us that words cannot, Brainspotting works at a deeper level—bypassing the surface to reach the core of our experiences. It is a gentle yet powerful pathway toward healing, transformation, and resilience.
