Brainspotting is a powerful, body-based therapy that helps individuals process trauma, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm by accessing the brain's deeper healing mechanisms. Discovered by Dr. David Grand in 2003, Brainspotting evolved from Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is often referred to as a form of “naturalistic EMDR.”

During a session, a therapist helps clients locate specific eye positions—or “brainspots”—that correlate with stored emotional or physical pain in the body. As Dr. Grand explains, “Where you look affects how you feel.” By maintaining focus on these spots, clients can access unprocessed trauma and facilitate deep, lasting healing within the nervous system.

Brainspotting is particularly effective for those dealing with PTSD, chronic stress, performance anxiety, or somatic symptoms tied to unresolved trauma. Unlike talk therapy, Brainspotting works at a subcortical level to release stuck patterns in an area of the brain responsible for survival responses. This makes it a valuable modality for people who have felt they’ve struggled with or reached a plateau in traditional talk therapy. Brainspotting offers a gentle yet profound pathway toward emotional regulation, body-based healing, and renewed resilience.

thways by focusing on the frequency envelope of human speech. As the client learns to process these speech-related frequencies, they improve the functioning of two cranial nerves that are important for promoting overall social behavior. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve) helps clients focus on human voice and tune out irrelevant frequencies. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus Nerve) enables self-soothing and autonomic regulation.