Brainspotting is one of the tools that I utilize in therapy to help clients heal from trauma or other “stuck” areas in their life. Brainspotting was discovered in 2003 by David Grand, PhD, LCSW, who often says, “Where you look affects how you feel” in reference to this intervention. Every person who has received official training in Brainspotting has also had the experience of using Brainspotting to address one of their own “stuck points”, so we know how it looks and feels from both sides.
I’m Michelle F. Moseley, LCMHC, a licensed mental health counselor in North Carolina who specializes in working with individuals who have received messages that they are “too much” in some way. This work often includes helping people recover from complex relational trauma, and Brainspotting is one of the options I offer to folks in therapy.
Brainspotting can be useful for folks dealing with a variety of concerns or “stuck points” in their lives. We work together to identify what feels “stuck” and utilize specific areas of the visual field to help release those things and decrease the impact on one’s life. The resolution found with Brainspotting is generally more rapid than that found with traditional talk therapy alone, as Brainspotting allows your brain and body to make connections in new ways and within a supportive therapeutic relationship. You’re able to create new neural pathways to help you deal with those “stuck points.”
What Concerns Can Brainspotting Help With?
Brainspotting can be helpful with a variety of concerns or issues. Here are a few of the areas that I typically work with clients to address:
- Symptoms of Trauma – both physical and emotional symptoms
- Bodily Disconnection – feeling unable to connect with your body, often due to messages you have received about your body being impure or “not good”
- Anxiety
- Emotional Distress
- Somatic Symptoms – the ways that emotional concerns can show up as physical issues
- Health Anxiety
- Grief and Loss
Brainspotting can also be utilized to address concerns such as issues with sports performance or difficulties related to birth trauma, although these are not areas where I focus my work.
What Does a Brainspotting Session Look Like?
If someone were to peek into the middle of a Brainspotting session, it may appear to the observer that not much is happening. I, as the therapist, would be holding a pointer (like the ones sometimes used by educators or presenters) and the client would be looking at a specific area. There would be little, if any, talking most of the time. However, the internal workings going on during this time can be quite loud and lively.
How did we get to the point described above? Here’s a brief overview of the process, which may occur over several sessions:
- I introduce Brainspotting to the client, describe the process, and allow time for questions. This introduction typically occurs after we have discussed a “stuck point” and I feel that Brainspotting could be helpful. I do not proceed with actual Brainspotting unless the client is on-board with doing so. We also spend some time ensuring there are support systems in place – both internal and external – before proceeding.
- We briefly discuss the “stuck point” in order to activate the emotional response. For example, if someone was feeling anxiety each time they needed to talk with their supervisor, we would discuss that concern in order to activate that feeling of anxiety during our session. I ask about the emotions and physical sensations that accompany this “stuck point” and ask for a gauge of how strong the activation feels at that moment, using a 1-10 scale.
- We locate a spot within the client’s visual field where the client will focus for Brainspotting. This may be a spot where the activation feels strongest, or we may choose a different spot based on the individual client and their goals. The pointer helps the client keep their eyes on this spot, though they are free to look away if they feel the need. Some clients prefer to listen to bilateral sounds while Brainspotting, while others prefer silence.
- I quietly support the client as they focus on their spot. Some words may be exchanged as they share a bit about their experience, or I verbally support their activation. However, talking pulls us out of the emotional work happening in the limbic area of our brains, so we want to make space for silence as the brain and body work.
- I encourage clients to allow themselves to continue to focus through discomfort, as it escalates and then regulates, but they are able to indicate a desire to stop at any time. Folks may experience a variety of sensations during a Brainspotting session – changes in body temperature, desire to move in certain ways, itchiness, sudden laughter or tears, or shifts in thought patterns that are not outwardly visible. Some clients prefer to do a briefer session their first time as a way to explore the experience, and others want to use the whole session for Brainspotting. We end our Brainspotting time by checking back in about the level of activation around the “stuck point.”
Brainspotting is all about trusting that our brains and our bodies have the power to get “unstuck” if we just give them the right conditions to do so. This tool allows them the focused time and the supportive relationship in which to do the work of “un-sticking” the issue. The attunement and trust between client and therapist is an integral part of the power of Brainspotting.
Common Misunderstandings About Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a newer modality within the field of therapy, and there are understandably some misunderstandings about this tool. Here are just a few that I’ve come across:
IT’S HYPNOSIS. IT’S VOODOO (OR WOO-WOO).
The image of someone holding a pointer and another person staring at the end of it can sound a bit strange. However, Brainspotting is not hypnosis in the sense we generally think about – you are fully awake and conscious the entire time. You have the ability to request to stop at any time. While you may experience some shifting sensations in your body, that is your natural ability to heal at work and I am not using any type of suggestion to cause you to act in certain ways. The pointer I use is the same type that many educators use and is simply a way to help you keep focus on a specific spot – no magic there.
THERE IS A RIGHT WAY TO DO BRAINSPOTTING.
This one is often a struggle for folks who have anxiety or for neurodivergent folks who have had multiple experiences of being told they are doing things “wrong.” When I went through my training and was the one using Brainspotting on my own “stuck point”, I initially struggled with doing it right as well.
This is normal, especially for those who have previous experience being punished in some way for making a mistake and those who struggle to connect with their body. I encourage clients to trust the process and simply follow the “tail of the comet”, as David Grand says. Trust that your brain and body know what they need to do and allow them the space to do it. Trust that your therapist is there to support you. (If you don’t trust your therapist, I recommend talking with them and possibly finding another therapist you do trust and feel connected to.)
IF I BECOME UNCOMFORTABLE, I SHOULD STOP.
Feelings of discomfort are frequently a part of processing “stuck points.” It is normal to experience things like suddenly being cold or hot, feeling a desire to cry, or noticing a rapid heartbeat as you’re focusing on a spot. These are some of the ways that your body indicates that new neural pathways are being created to bypass those old “stuck points.” (It’s also normal to not experience this.) In the same way an athlete has to be willing to allow for a bit of discomfort in their quest to become stronger or faster, allowing for some discomfort in a Brainspotting session can mean that you have far less discomfort in daily life. It is also important to talk with your therapist about the difference between discomfort and distress.
I’M NOT ALLOWED TO TALK DURING BRAINSPOTTING.
Brainspotting does utilize much less talking than typical talk therapy. However, both therapists and clients vary in the amount of verbal communication they find helpful. As mentioned above, when we use language, we bypass the part of the brain where emotions are held and processed. Therefore, I find it important to allow for some silence during Brainspotting so you can fully experience your emotions and sensations, allowing your brain and body to do their healing work. Many clients find it helpful to occasionally offer a few words or phrases to describe their experience in the moment and ensure the therapist is still present with them.
Could Brainspotting Be Helpful For Me?
If the therapy tool of Brainspotting sounds intriguing to you, I encourage you to consider if it may be helpful for you. Some things you may want to consider in making that decision include:
- Is there an area in my life where I feel “stuck,” as though I just can’t get beyond a certain point in my healing or recovery?
- Do I struggle to recognize and understand my emotional reactions and/or physical sensations when confronted with certain issues?
- Am I open to trying something different from traditional talk therapy?
If any of those questions resonate with you, Brainspotting may be beneficial in helping you get “unstuck.” For folks located in NC who would like to learn more about utilizing Brainspotting in their own therapy, feel free to contact me and schedule a free, virtual consultation to discuss if we might be a good fit for working together.
Brainspotting can help you see things differently by looking with purpose. Brainspotting allows you to focus on specific symptoms or concerns that are causing you distress without having to verbally recount detailed memories or experiences. Using the brain’s natural healing abilities, Brainspotting provides an opportunity for your brain and body to reconnect and decrease reactivity while increasing self-regulation, making those difficult areas of life feel less stuck.
Michelle F. Moseley (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC (#12491). She believes ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to mental and physical healthcare. Michelle specializes in working with survivors of religious trauma, and with those who have body image concerns, finding there is frequent overlap in these areas. She also frequently supports late-identified neurodivergent individuals as they navigate the grief and relief of a new understanding of self. You can learn more about Michelle by visiting her website at MichelleFMoseley.com or following her on Instagram – @therapy_with_michelle
Sign-up for Michelle’s Monthly Email Newsletter to make sure you never miss a blog post