Brainspotting Therapy: How It Works and Benefits for Patients
What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting (BSP) is an innovative, brain-body psychotherapy that supports individuals in processing traumatic or distressing memories. Developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003, Brainspotting uses a fixed eye position, or "brainspot," that correlates with areas in the brain where trauma is stored. By focusing on these specific points, BSP helps clients access and release trauma held deep in the subcortical brain, bypassing the need for extensive verbal recounting.
How Does Brainspotting Work?
During a Brainspotting session, the therapist guides the client to find a specific eye position related to their emotional or somatic distress. This position serves as an entry point for processing trauma, allowing the brain to rewire emotional responses without overwhelming the client. By maintaining a mindful and focused state, the client observes their internal sensations and emotions while the therapist provides a supportive presence.
Benefits of Brainspotting
Brainspotting has been shown to:
Reduce PTSD and anxiety symptoms: BSP effectively decreases the intensity of distress associated with traumatic memories.
Improve emotional regulation: By enhancing Heart Rate Variability (HRV), BSP helps balance the body’s stress response.
Facilitate long-lasting change: Clients often experience sustained symptom relief over time, with follow-up studies showing reduced distress levels.
Brainspotting (BSP) Anxiety Disorders
Brainspotting is a neurobiological approach to therapy that focuses on specific "brainspots" (eye positions) associated with distressing experiences or physiological tension. It helps clients access and process trauma stored in the subcortical brain.
How BSP Works with DSM Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
BSP allows clients to tap into somatic sensations related to chronic worry, helping release underlying tension.
It fosters emotional regulation by accessing and processing subcortical memories tied to anxiety.
Panic Disorder:
BSP helps clients identify and process the somatic and emotional responses associated with panic attacks.
It addresses fear-based neural pathways tied to specific triggers.
Social Anxiety Disorder:
Brainspotting targets implicit memories of rejection or shame that exacerbate social fears.
It enhances emotional safety by addressing physiological responses in a regulated, non-cognitive way.
Specific Phobias:
BSP accesses and resolves body-based responses linked to phobia triggers.
It is particularly effective for clients who experience overwhelming physiological responses (e.g., fainting or freezing) to specific stimuli.
Evidence for BSP in Treating Anxiety
Although BSP is a newer modality with a growing research base, clinical evidence and practitioner reports suggest it is highly effective for anxiety. It complements trauma-focused approaches like EMDR by working directly with the body and nervous system.
Brainspotting is particularly suitable for individuals struggling with unresolved trauma, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation, providing a compassionate, non-invasive approach to deep healing.