"Where you look affects how you feel." Brainspotting starts from the relationship between the visual field and the nervous system: certain gaze points connect with emotional material held in the body.
By locating and sustaining these points, we access deeper layers of what is stored, often before language.
It can be especially useful when pain has no words: diffuse sensations, blocks, and material that talk alone does not reach.
Processing happens from the inside out, respecting the rhythm of your nervous system and your window of tolerance.
How I conduct a session
Presence, safety, and listening to the body.
Initial attunement
We identify what will be worked on and connect with the body sensation associated with it.
Locating the brainspot
We find the point in the visual field that connects with the emotional material.
Processing and presence
We hold the point while processing unfolds, with my presence accompanying each step.
Brainspotting for people who need to work beyond words
Brainspotting is often the resource clients seek when talk therapy feels stuck on the surface. In online and in-person sessions, I see good results with people navigating:
Complex trauma and PTSD
Includes accidents, violence, abuse, sudden loss, repeated events.
Burnout and exhaustion
When the nervous system stays chronically on alert and rest does not come.
Performance blocks
Athletes, artists and professionals who freeze in high-stakes situations.
Unexplained somatic symptoms
Chronic tension, body pain and migraines where emotional load contributes.
Phobias and anxiety
Specific fears, social anxiety and separation anxiety, panic attacks.
Kids and teenagers
Especially useful when verbal vocabulary is still developing.
The neurobiological logic behind it
The visual field is closely tied to the brainstem — the same structure that regulates states of alert, freeze and safety. Specific points of gaze connect to implicit memories, emotions and body sensations that have not yet become narrative.
We locate those points and sustain the visual focus while the body processes. No force, no rush interpretation — the nervous system does the work at its own pace.
The method was developed by David Grand from 2003 onwards. Today it is practiced in more than 40 countries, with growing research and integrations with EMDR, IFS, somatic therapy and CBT.
As a therapist, I integrate Brainspotting into a larger care plan — many clients combine it with EMDR and CBT to work both acute symptoms and deeper patterns.
References: brainspotting.com · articles on trauma and regulation.
Brainspotting, sessions and process
Does Brainspotting work online?
Yes. Visual focus is conducted via video using on-screen resources; remote protocols are validated. Outcomes are close to in-person sessions, though each case has its own particularities.
How many sessions does it take?
It depends on the goal. Focal situations can bring relief in 1 to 3 sessions. Older patterns and deeper layers usually respond in 8 to 20 sessions, combined with other tools. The first conversation is precisely to estimate this together.
Is Brainspotting hypnosis?
No. The client stays conscious and in dialogue during the session. There is no altered state of consciousness and you can stop at any time if something exceeds your window of tolerance.
Will I feel emotional pain the next day?
You may feel heightened sensitivity for 24 to 72 hours, especially with heavy memories. This is expected and manageable; I give practical containment steps at the end of each session.
Does Brainspotting replace psychiatric medication?
It is complementary to psychiatric care, not a replacement. When medication is in place, care is coordinated with the prescribing psychiatrist.
Can I combine Brainspotting with EMDR?
Yes. In many clinical situations I use both methods in an integrated way, choosing the tool that fits what shows up in each phase of the work.
How much does a session cost?
Fees and payment options are on the contact page. The first conversation is always shorter and is used to assess the case.
"The body holds what the mind cannot always name. Brainspotting offers a path to access it safely."