Brainspotting is a powerful, evidence-based treatment that leverages eye position to help clients process and release sources of emotional distress trapped within the body. By doing so, it can also help clients heal unhelpful negative beliefs as well as traumatic memories. This framework is gentler than some other trauma methods because it does not require clients to re-experience traumatic memories. Because of this, it is helpful not only for those experiencing milder distress, but also for those with high levels of trauma and reactivity.

This framework is based on the neurobiological concept that “where you look affects how you feel.” Essentially, our eye position is highly connected to emotional and somatic (body) memory. Therefore, finding a coordinating spot in your field of vision helps you to bypass the frontal lobe and engage the midbrain, which is specifically involved in neurobiological regulation. The “brainspot” acts as an access point for reprocessing unconscious material. This allows you to access a deeper level of emotional processing, sometimes even nonverbally.