Brainspotting
What is a Brainspot?
Brainspotting is a neurophysiological model based on the understanding that the eyes and brain are intricately connected, with vision serving as a primary way we orient ourselves in the environment. Visual signals are deeply processed by the brain, which reflexively and intuitively digests and organizes information through this visual pathway at all times. When emotional pain or trauma overwhelms the brain’s processing capacity, fragments of the traumatic experience or developmental wounds can remain unprocessed.
Brainspotting
What is a Brainspot?
Brainspotting is a neurophysiological model based on the understanding that the eyes and brain are intricately connected, with vision serving as a primary way we orient ourselves in the environment. Visual signals are deeply processed by the brain, which reflexively and intuitively digests and organizes information through this visual pathway at all times. When emotional pain or trauma overwhelms the brain’s processing capacity, fragments of the traumatic experience or developmental wounds can remain unprocessed.
Brainspotting leverages the field of vision to access these unprocessed memories. By maintaining a fixed gaze on a specific point, the mind-body system is able to process, reprocess, and release the associated trauma. In my work with relational ruptures and developmental wounding, I’ve found that the eyes often hold unresolved pain stemming from early relationships, making them powerful portals for retrieving and processing this information.
This model also incorporates principles of interpersonal neurobiology, emphasizing the therapist's attunement with the client. The somatic resonance and attuned presence of the provider create a safe and grounded container that supports deeper healing.
Compared to other eye-movement-based therapies such as EMDR, I have found Brainspotting to be gentler, slower, and less disruptive.
This video can be helpful in understanding Brainspotting:
Additional Resources: