BRAINSPOTTING
Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach developed in 2003 by David Grand. It works on the simple idea that where you look affects how you feel.
Brainspotting taps into your brain’s natural capacity to heal by connecting eye-position, body sensations, and inner experience. By locating specific “spots” in your visual field, called “brainspots”, we can awaken what’s often stuck in the deeper, subcortical parts of the brain (the parts that carry memory, feeling and somatic experience).
Once a brainspot is found, you rest your gaze there while bringing gentle awareness to whatever arises (sensations, emotions, memories, shifts). The body & nervous system begin to reprocess and release tension, old trauma, emotional residue, often without needing to relive the full story.
Brainspotting helps you go beyond words, to heal what is held in the body and brain as energy, memory, or pattern.
WHO IS BRAINSPOTTING FOR
Brainspotting is deeply helpful for people who feel stuck in old patterns, stress, emotional pain, or unprocessed trauma. Typical reasons clients choose Brainspotting include:
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Difficult past experiences like childhood wounds, difficult memories, unresolved grief or shock
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Emotional overwhelm through sadness, chronic stress, overwhelm, fears, emotional exhaustion
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Nervous system dys-regulation when your body continues responding as if you’re still in crisis (fight/flight, freeze, dissociation)
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Somatic pain or body-held tension that seems connected to emotional history
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Performance blocks, creativity blocks, or internal barriers to growth, especially when conscious “talk through” approaches don’t shift them.
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Anyone longing for deeper nervous-system reset, emotional release, spiritual clarity or relational healing beyond what talk therapy alone can offer.
HOW A BRAINSPOTTING SESSION WORKS
When you come for a Brainspotting session, here’s roughly what happens:
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We’ll begin by tuning in and gently creating a calm, safe container. We’ll talk briefly about what’s calling you in
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I’ll guide you to gently follow a pointer to scan your visual field. We’ll notice where your gaze lands, where subtle shifts or sensations begin, what feels “hot”, physically or emotionally. That spot becomes your “brainspot.”
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Once the brainspot is found, you simply rest your gaze there, while practicing mindful awareness through noticing what arises internally (sensations, emotions, memories, images, shifts). As your nervous system, body, and brain begin to process, profound release and integration often occur.
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This work is not about forcing catharsis. It’s about allowing what’s ready to emerge, in a contained, supportive way.
WHAT CLIENTS EXPERIENCE
Many people who come to Brainspotting report:
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A deep sense of nervous-system calm, release of old emotions or tension, and relief from emotional heaviness.
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Less reactivity to triggers, fewer intrusive thoughts, reduced stress or sadness.
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Release of somatic symptoms like tension, body pain, tightness connected to old emotion or experiences.
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Greater emotional resilience, clarity, self-awareness, and capacity to relate to self and others from a grounded, compassionate place.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q. How is Brainspotting different from EMDR?
A. Both Brainspotting and EMDR work with the brain’s natural healing mechanisms, but Brainspotting is less structured and more intuitive. Instead of moving through a set protocol, we locate a “brainspot” through your eye position and your body’s responses. This allows your nervous system to lead the process at its own pace, without forcing anything. It’s gentler, more attuned, and often easier for people who get overwhelmed by traditional trauma work.
Q. Will I have to relive traumatic memories?
A. Not necessarily. One of the strengths of Brainspotting is that you don’t need to re-tell or relive anything in order to heal it. We’re working with the deeper, subcortical part of the brain — the place where trauma, emotional residue, and old patterns are stored. Your system processes what’s ready, without you having to go into the full story.
Q. What does a session feel like?
A. Most people describe Brainspotting as calming, meditative, and surprisingly powerful. You’ll notice sensations, emotions, or subtle internal shifts while resting your gaze on a specific point. There’s no pressure to “do it right.” Your system leads the way, and I stay attuned to you throughout the session so the work feels safe, grounded, and contained.
Q. How many sessions will I need?
A. It depends on your goals. Some people experience meaningful shifts in just a few sessions. Others choose to go deeper over time, especially if they’re working through long-term patterns, trauma, or chronic stress. We can discuss your intentions during your first session and create a plan that supports your nervous system — not rushes it.
Q. Is Brainspotting safe for everyone?
A. Yes, Brainspotting is considered a very safe modality because it works with your body’s natural healing rhythm rather than pushing for catharsis. If you have concerns, we’ll talk through your history before beginning so the work feels grounded and supportive. Everything happens at a pace that respects your capacity and your inner experience.
Patty has changed my life forever!! I originally started with 12 sessions (highly recommend) and after each session, I felt like walls were just removed and I continued with more sessions. Patty is just a great Coach and Teacher, I took her Rewire Your Brain one year long classes and that was as beneficial as hypnosis sessions.
Marijana S.
