Brainspotting Therapy: Improving Performance, Recovery, and Mental Health

Article written by Denver Brainspotting therapist, Lauren Battista

Ever feel weighed down and “stuck” in a cycle that seems impossible to break free from?

When dealing with trauma or distressing events, the struggle to process and heal can feel like an endless loop, no matter how many times you try to move forward.

But what if there was a way to get to the root cause of these undesired patterns and finally break free from the grip of unresolved pain?

Enter Brainspotting—a powerful and innovative brain-body therapy that offers an alternative approach to healing.

By tapping into the mind’s natural ability to process and release, Brainspotting can help you overcome the barriers that keep you feeling stuck, allowing an opportunity for true relief and well-being. 

What is Brainspotting Therapy?

Neuroscience research reveals that traumatic distress is often stored in areas of the brain and body that standard therapy interventions struggle to fully access.

Brainspotting therapy, a powerful approach used worldwide, addresses this challenge by utilizing specific points in the client’s visual field, known as “brainspots,” to access and heal these deeply stored traumas.

Brainspotting is a type of therapy designed to tap into unprocessed trauma held in the subcortical region of the brain, an area that governs motion, consciousness, emotions, and learning.

The goal of Brainspotting is to bypass the conscious, thinking parts of the brain and engage the deeper emotional and body-based regions, facilitating profound healing.

Unlike traditional talk therapies, which can take a long time to resolve deep-seated issues, Brainspotting offers a more efficient and effective path to healing.

As a form of “bottom-up” therapy, it focuses on releasing physical stress in the body, which in turn alleviates emotional stress.

Principles Behind Brainspotting Therapy

Brainspotting operates on the belief that each person is unique and possesses an innate capacity to heal. Developed by Dr. David Grand, Ph.D., in 2003, the principle “Where you look affects how you feel” guides this therapeutic process.

During a Brainspotting session, the therapist and client work together to locate and activate “brainspots”.

A brainspot is a specific point in a client’s visual field that triggers a strong, often unconscious reaction when discussing a distressing subject.

The client follows a pointer with their eyes while discussing an upsetting issue, stopping at different points to notice how they feel. This process helps identify the brainspots where trauma is held.

The therapist also observes reflexive cues that may indicate the location of these spots, which may be outside the client’s conscious awareness.

Once a brainspot is located, the client is asked to mindfully focus on that spot and observe what comes up. Sessions may involve little to no talking, allowing the client to internally process the experience.

Some clients, however, find it helpful to verbalize their thoughts and feelings outloud.

Afterward, the client and therapist process what emerged and may engage in grounding exercises if necessary.

Processing often continues for up to 72 hours post-session and sometimes, depending on the nature of the issue, just one session is enough to alleviate distress and discomfort related to the specific topic.

Benefits of Brainspotting Therapy

Brainspotting is effective for a wide range of trauma-based, emotional, and somatic conditions.

It enables the brain to form new cognitive connections, with progress measured by a decrease in activation levels when recalling a disturbing event, memory, or situation.

This therapy is particularly beneficial for identifying and healing underlying trauma or distressing events that contribute to anxiety, depression, and other behavioral conditions.

Brainspotting also can enhance performance, relieve patterns of stress and allow a person to form new insights in relation to events in their life that cause them to feel “stuck” in a cycle of self-sabatoge or break undesired patterns of behavior.

Brainspotting Therapy for Trauma and PTSD

Read More: “How To Develop Healthy Habits That Support Trauma Healing”

Trauma leaves a lasting imprint on both the body and the brain, often causing individuals to feel as though they are reliving the original traumatic experience when triggered.

Brainspotting helps release the somatically stored components of these memories, allowing clients to revisit painful experiences with greater control and significantly reduced levels of activation.

By emphasizing the mind-body connection, Brainspotting enables clients to access and process emotions on a deep, visceral level, bypassing the limitations of verbal communication.

This approach is particularly beneficial for individuals with trauma-related disorders, such as PTSD, where discussing traumatic experiences can be challenging or even retraumatizing.

Brainspotting Therapy for Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression often have deep roots in unresolved trauma or stressful past events, which can intensify symptoms and make recovery more challenging.

Brainspotting addresses these underlying experiences, making it a beneficial component in the treatment of anxiety and depression.

By targeting the core issues that fuel these conditions, Brainspotting helps clients experience significant relief from symptoms such as racing thoughts, hypervigilance, lack of motivation, low energy, sleep issues and difficulties with focus and concentration.

One of the key benefits of Brainspotting is its ability to reduce clients’ sensitivity to triggers that previously induced feelings of anxiety or depression.

As the therapy allows for the release of stored emotional and physical tension, clients often find themselves responding to previously triggering situations with a newfound sense of calm and control.

Additionally, Brainspotting’s focus on the mind-body connection facilitates a deeper level of healing, addressing both the emotional and physiological aspects of anxiety and depression.

Effectiveness of Brainspotting Therapy for Addiction Recovery

Did you know that 60% of our brain function is dedicated to processing visual stimuli?

Read More: “Signs You Are At Capacity and How to Overcome It”

Research shows that visual cues can trigger addictive behaviors, even in the absence of substance use.

Brainspotting therapy helps the brain develop new, adaptive responses to these cues, which previously triggered strong cravings.

The benefits of Brainspotting in addiction recovery include gaining deeper insight, accelerating the healing process, and improving emotional regulation.

By uncovering and releasing unprocessed traumas that drive addictive behaviors, Brainspotting also enables individuals to break free from the cycle of reactivity to triggers and cravings.

Using Brainspotting Therapy for Performance Enhancement in Sports

Brainspotting is widely used to enhance performance in athletes.

In fact, Dr. Grand initially discovered it’s powerful effects while working with an award-winning skater who was struggling with a specific maneuver.

During an EMDR session, he noticed her eyes wobbled at a certain point in her visual field, leading to the development of Brainspotting.

This approach helped the athlete process previously undiscussed trauma and master the elusive move within days of the session.

For elite athletes, maintaining precision and focus is crucial.

Unprocessed trauma can subtly erode brainpower, hindering concentration and performance. Brainspotting helps athletes resolve core issues that may prevent them from performing at their full capacity.

Combining Brainspotting Therapy with Other Therapeutic Approaches

Brainspotting is highly versatile and can be integrated with various therapeutic approaches to enhance overall treatment outcomes.

It already naturally incorporates elements of somatic therapy, as it focuses on the body’s physical responses to trauma, helping clients release stored tension and stress.

Read More: “Understanding EMDR Therapy and Ways It Can Support You on Your Healing Journey”

Mindfulness is another key component of Brainspotting, as there is a strong emphasis on encouraging clients to stay present and aware during the process, which can deepen therapeutic experience and facilitate greater emotional regulation.

Attachment theory also plays a role in Brainspotting, as the therapy can help address and heal relational wounds by accessing and processing early attachment-related trauma.

Additionally, Brainspotting can be effectively combined with traditional talk therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to challenge and reframe negative thought patterns while simultaneously addressing the underlying emotional and somatic aspects of trauma.

Therapists may also integrate Brainspotting with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to provide a more comprehensive approach to trauma processing.

By incorporating brainspotting with traditional therapy modalities, practitioners can tap into its non-verbal, body-oriented approach to facilitate healing.

What Does the Research Say?

Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Brainspotting in treating various conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, addiction, PTSD and trauma. Click here for a link to studies and additional information on Brainspotting’s effectiveness.

Is Brainspotting Therapy Right for You?

Brainspotting is a versatile tool that can really benefit just about anyone.

While it is particularly effective for resolving trauma, it also stimulates creativity and provides clarity and resolution for various life challenges.

By accessing core traumas, Brainspotting addresses the underlying issues that contribute to repetitive mental, emotional, and physical problems, helping individuals unlock their full potential.

Finding a Brainspotting Therapist Near You

To find a certified Brainspotting therapist in your area, visit the Brainspotting Directory, where you can also find more information about Brainspotting.

At Denver Metro Counseling, our trained therapist offers Brainspotting therapy in combination with other therapeutic approaches to people throughout the Denver Metro area and virtually throughout Colorado.

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Denver Therapist, Lauren Battista

Lauren is a trained Brainspotting therapist who incorporates Brainspotting therapy with her tailored approach to working with anxiety, depression, life transitions, and trauma.

In addition to offering Brainspotting therapy, Lauren also utilizes EMDR therapy, ACT, DBT, and mind-body based approaches with her clients.

Lauren works with teens and adults 12 years and older. She has a background in school counseling and yoga. She loves her role as a therapist and offers compassionate, encouraging support to those who work with her.

Learn more about Lauren in her bio here and on her instagram page @lb_does_therapy