Brainspotting: A Beginners Guide

What is Brainspotting

Brainspotting is an effective therapy for treating PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, emotional stress and unblocking stuck patterns. It works by reaching deep within the brain-body connection, that traditional talk therapy often can't access. By working directly with the subcortical brain and nervous system, Brainspotting supports deep processing and resolution of trauma that may not be reachable through cognitive insight alone.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what happens during a Brainspotting session and what you can expect afterward:

What Happens During a Brainspotting Session

1. Select the Issue You Want to Focus On

   Identify something you want to work on, this could be an issue from the past, an emotional pattern or a physical symptom.

2. Tune Into Your Body

   Connect with a felt sense in your body related to this issue. You might become aware of a sense of tightness, heaviness, contraction or other sensations. That’s your body showing where the emotional energy is held.

3. Identify the “Brainspot”

   With your therapists help you will identify your brainspot by slowing scanning the horizon from left to right (or vice versa). You are looking for the spot along your visual field that brings up the strongest connection to the feeling. This spot is where your brain is holding the unresolved emotional distress.

4. Just Stay With It: You Don’t Need to “Do” Anything

   You’ll keep your eyes on the brainspot while staying aware of any emotions, sensations, or thoughts that come up. You don’t have to talk unless you want to. Your body and brain know what to do.

5. Co-Regulate and Feel Supported

   Your therapist is present and connected to you throughout the session noticing any changes or somatic cues such as sighs, shifts, or subtle movements. These are signs your nervous system is doing the work.

What to Expect After the Session

You can expect healing to continue after the session. It is recommended to drink water, rest and have some time to integrate following your brainspotting session. You may feel more relaxed, tired, emotional, or even energized. Sometimes insights, memories, or clarity arise in the days that follow. This is completely normal given your brain is still processing.

Things to be on the lookout for:

• Old patterns feeling lighter
• Emotional reactions shifting
• New clarity or confidence

These experiences often deepen over time. Bring any of these insights, awareness, changes or shifts into your next session for you and your therapist to work with.

What Happens During a Brainspotting Session

1. Select the Issue You Want to Focus On

   Identify something you want to work on-this could be an issue from the past, an emotional pattern. or a physical symptom.

2. Tune into your body

   Connect with a felt sense in your body relator to this issue. Notice sensations like tightness, heaviness, or contraction-your body is showing where emotional

3. Identify the “Brainspot”

   With your therapist's help, slowly scanyour visual field left to right to find the spot that brings up thstrongest connection to the feeling.

4. Just Stay With It

   Keep your eyes on the brainspot while staying aware of emotions, sensations, or thoughts. You don't need to talk or 'do 'anything-your brain knows what to do

5. Co-Regulate and Feel Supported

   Your therapist stays present and connected, noticsing any shifts, sighs, or subtle movements. These are signs your nervous system is processing

6. What to Expect After the Session

   Healing often continues after the session. Drink water, rest, and allow time to integrate

   You may experience:

   • • Memories and emotions
     • Old patterns feel lighter
     • New clarity or confidence