Brainspotting

Developed in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, Brainspotting is a relatively new form of treatment that has been shown to be effective for a variety of conditions, particularly with helping to identify and heal underlying trauma that contributes to anxiety, depression and other behavioral issues. The goal of brainspotting is to bypass conscious thinking to access the deeper, subconscious emotional and body-based parts of the brain to facilitate healing. According to Dr. Grand, “where you look affects how you feel.” With this in mind, therapists using brainspotting techniques help their clients to position their eyes in ways that enable them to target negative emotion. Think this approach may work for you? Contact one of our brainspotting specialists today to try it out.

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Meet the specialists

 

Brainspotting is often used to reprocess traumatic memories, but it is beneficial for a wide range of issues and can be faster at targeting stuck memories than talk therapy alone.

— Kellita Thompson, Marriage & Family Therapist in Brentwood, TN

I am currently in the process of seeking formal BSP certification and utilize brain spotting during trauma treatment as requested.

— Lacey Xepoleas, Clinical Psychologist in Walnut Creek, CA
 

There’s so much I love about Brainspotting; it compliments attachment theory and parts" work while allowing clients to dig deep in a way that isn’t possible with talk therapy alone. It's a way to clear through all the “stuff" in a completely different way so you can actually move forward with your life. I started training in November 2020 and became a Certified Brainspotter in January 2022.

— Jennifer Dolphin, Licensed Professional Counselor in Anchorage, AK

Brainspotting is mind/body approach that can help you connect deeply with the root of where issues are stored in your brain, body and nervous system. It helps you clear issues, ranging from difficult trauma to everyday challenges. It is also very helpful in building positives, such as confidence, relaxation optimal performance, etc.

— Elinor (Elly) Nygren Szapiro, Licensed Professional Counselor in Northwest, AR
 

I began training and certification in Brainspotting in 2020. This modality is in the same family as EMDR, using bilateral stimulation and eye positioning to help reduce activation in our brains and bodies related to specific events or sensations. Brainspotting can also be used to enhance performance for artists and athletes.

— Brandi Solanki, Counselor in Waco, TX

Brainspotting is a treatment method that utilizes your visual field to connect with the parts of your brain that hold onto unprocessed trauma. Brainspotting invites clients to process distressing experiences by following the lead of their body.

— Shavonne James, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Long Beach, CA
 

Trained in Brainspotting Levels 1 and 2 (2022, 2025), I specialize in using this powerful modality to support attachment trauma, autistic women, entrepreneurs, and couples. Brainspotting helps lessen the impact of trauma and improve emotional and somatic regulation, making it especially beneficial for neurodivergent individuals. I integrate it with somatic practices, Parts Work, intuitive approaches, and Gottman Method to help clients find clarity, heal, and thrive.

— Dawn Leprich-Graves, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Aurora, IL

One of the newest therapeutic techniques, Brainspotting can help process trauma and other issues using you eyes to focus outwardly while the brain heals inwardly. As a certified Brainspotting practitioner, I will use this technique in areas where words may not bring healing or understanding.

— Karl Thomas, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern in St. Paul, MN
 

This unique approach helps you release the psychological blocks that keep you from being your most connected, creative, actualized self. You may have heard “eyes are windows to the soul” before. As it turns out, there’s medical research that proves that this old phrase is true. As the creator of this Brainspotting, Dr. David Grand, says, “where you look affects how you feel.” Brainspotting helps track points in your visual field that reveal unprocessed trauma in the brain.

— Noelle Benach, Counselor in Baltimore, MD

I am trained in brainspotting to help clients process and release emotions that are stuck. I also utilize somatic therapy to help client identify a new sense of self.

— Golara Parsapour, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in Folsom, CA
 

In my practice, I utilize Brainspotting as a powerful tool for healing trauma and emotional distress. This approach allows clients to access and process deep-seated memories and emotions by identifying specific eye positions linked to their experiences. By creating a safe and supportive environment, I guide clients through this focused attention, facilitating profound insights and healing. Brainspotting can effectively address a range of issues, including anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.

— Andrea Diemert, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Fair Oaks, CA

As a Level 1-trained Brainspotting therapist, I specialize in using this powerful tool to help clients process trauma, anxiety, and emotional blocks. Brainspotting allows us to identify and access unprocessed trauma stored in the brain and body, facilitating deep healing. Through focused eye positions, we can target specific brain areas to release stored emotions, creating lasting relief. My approach combines this technique with mindfulness to promote self-awareness and resilience.

— Anne Giles, Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate in Boulder, CO
 

At this point, I’m mostly only working with new clients who are open to it as a part of our work together because doing therapy without Brainspotting feels a little like doing therapy with my arms tied behind my back. I just can’t help people make the movement we both want them to make with traditional talk therapy. For more information on Brainspotting visit Brainspotting.com or my website.

— PK Foss, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Portland, OR

I am trained to apply Brainspotting to a variety of emotional difficulties including shame, anger, traumatic memories, experiences of rejection and abandonment, anxiety, fear as well as performance issues.

— Michael Johnson, Psychologist in Gilbert, AZ
 

This mind-body approach to healing trauma is a wonderful tool for enhancing your goals in therapy. I have added this way of working since 2021, completing 72 hours of training in that time. I have been humbled by how it can open up the healing potential that lies in each of us.

— Ellen Tarby, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Ithaca, NY

Brainspotting is life-changing. Whether focusing on a feeling or an overall traumatic event, brainspotting helps process what our brain is storing and promotes coherence between sympathetic and parasympathetic activation. Trauma can take up a lot of emotional space and it has a way of affecting so many future choices, activities, and relationships. Let's work together to create more space in your life and process the trauma.

— Annie Buxbaum, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Santa Rosa, CA
 

Brainspotting is mind/body approach that can help you connect deeply with the root of where issues are stored in your brain, body and nervous system. It helps you clear issues, ranging from difficult trauma to everyday challenges. It is also very helpful in building positives, such as confidence, relaxation optimal performance, etc. Here are links to videos "Who does Brainspotting work with?” https://vimeo.com/187492731 "Brainspotting" https://youtu.be/lm3Plvaf3

— Elinor (Elly) Nygren Szapiro, Licensed Professional Counselor in Northwest, AR

I am a Certified Brainspotting Practitioner and have experienced deep processing and healing in receiving Brainspotting.

— Jacqueline Casumbal, Psychotherapist in Gaithersburg, MD
 

At this point, I’m mostly only working with new clients who are open to it as a part of our work together because doing therapy without Brainspotting feels a little like doing therapy with my arms tied behind my back. I just can’t help people make the movement we both want them to make with traditional talk therapy. For more information on Brainspotting visit Brainspotting.com or my website.

— PK Foss, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Portland, OR

I have received Brainspotting training and am a Brainspotting practitioner. I am continuing to get hours of training in advanced Brainspotting techniques and practice in the modality in order to provide the best care possible for my clients. Brainspotting is a technique that involves a deeper level of processing for clients and therefore more access to getting to the root of addressing the trauma.

— Lacee Lovely Lawson, Licensed Professional Counselor in Dallas, TX