Neurologists believe that eye position and movement correlate to certain places or ‘spots’ in the brain that store traumatic memories. They hypothesize that brainspotting helps to access parts of the brain that are difficult to reach through conventional “talk” therapy methods and utilizes a combination of eye position & mindful awareness to process these memories and emotions in the body.

Brainspotting Therapy uses specific points in the client’s visual field to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain. It uses relevant eye positions, somatic awareness, focused mindfulness and the therapist’s attunement to process and release the stored traumas which underlie a wide range of emotional and physical problems.

Often Brainspotting is used in conjunction with bilateral sound - music or nature sounds which move back and forth between right and left ears, which balances activation of the right and left brain hemispheres and activates the parasympathetic, or calming, part of the nervous system.

Brainspotting Therapy uses the brain’s and body’s natural ability to self-scan and to self-heal, or move back to a state of equilibrium. When a brainspot is activated, the deep brain appears to reflexively signal the therapist that a neural network holding unprocessed trauma has been found.

Trauma can be processed while connecting to either distressed or calm areas within the body. BSP Therapy can allow the client to move quickly through processing of the distressing emotions in a contained and supported way. Because the processing occurs mostly in the subcortical brain, this may happen with less talking than in traditional talk therapy. It is common for clients to experience both rapid relief of distress and profound insights.