BRAINSPOTTING

We begin by checking in about what feels most important to focus on that day and what you’re hoping to shift. Your therapist may ask a few guiding questions to help orient the session and ensure the work is paced safely and intentionally. You’re always in control of what you share, and there’s no pressure to go into details you’re not ready for.

Your therapist will also briefly review the Brainspotting process as needed and answer any questions, so you feel clear and supported before moving into the work. Your therapist may also begin by helping you ground, regulate, and orient yourself so you have resources to stay with your experience.

You'll start by naming the problem (e.g., specific memory, current emotion, recurring trigger, belief you feel stuck in) and identifying where you feel it most intensely in your body (e.g., tightness in chest, knot in stomach).

You may be asked to rate your level of distress or intensity on a 0–10 scale, where 0 is neutral and 10 is the highest intensity.

Some Brainspotting sessions include Biolateral sound, usually played quietly through headphones. This audio alternates left to right and can support regulation and deeper processing for many clients.

It’s not required, and we’ll only use it if it feels supportive for you.

This is the core of Brainspotting.

Your therapist will guide your eyes slowly through your field of vision using a pointer. As you stay connected to the target, you may notice certain eye positions bring up a stronger emotional or body response. Your therapist may also observe natural cues—like subtle eye movements or shifts in expression—that help identify a “brainspot.”

A brainspot is simply an eye position that connects to where the brain and body are holding material related to the issue you’re working on.

Once a brainspot is found, you’ll hold your gaze there while you notice what unfolds. This might include:

• emotions (sadness, fear, anger, relief)
• body sensations (tightness, heaviness, warmth, tingling)
• thoughts, images, memories, or insights
• shifts in breathing, posture, or nervous system state

There’s no need to analyze, explain perfectly, or “perform” the therapy correctly. Much of Brainspotting is about observing and allowing—letting the brain do what it naturally knows how to do when the conditions are right.

Some clients process more internally and quietly; others talk through what’s coming up. Both are valid.

During the session, your therapist may occasionally check in on intensity and help you stay within a manageable range. Sometimes the distress level decreases noticeably within the session; other times the shift continues to unfold afterward.

Before you leave, we’ll intentionally slow down and help your system settle. This may include grounding, resourcing, and reflecting on what you noticed—so you leave feeling more oriented and steady.

In follow-up sessions, we’ll also check in on what you noticed afterward. Some people report feeling lighter, calmer, sleeping better, or feeling less reactive to triggers. Other times, the changes are more subtle and build over time.

Brainspotting can be particularly effective for individuals who are dealing with:

• Trauma (PTSD, childhood trauma, abuse)
• Anxiety and Panic
• Depression
• Grief and Loss
• Chronic Pain
• Performance Anxiety (e.g., sports, public speaking)
• Addiction Recovery
• Self-esteem and Emotional Regulation Issues
• Unresolved Emotional Blocks

Brainspotting is also useful for those who have not found relief through traditional talk therapy or other methods. It is often chosen by clients who are looking for a more body-oriented, somatic, or experiential approach to healing.

Brainspotting allows for an organic release of emotional and physical energy stored around the concern you bring into the session. While the initial issue may remain present, it often begins to shift as deeper layers of processing and healing unfold. You do not need to stay focused on the original issue throughout the session unless your brain and body naturally continue to return to it. Instead, the process follows sensations, emotions, images, or insights as they arise. Throughout the session, the therapist offers gentle guidance and support as needed, allowing the nervous system to lead the way.

Brainspotting can be done at the same time as cognitive therapy. Brainspotting allows for deeper processing of trauma and emotional stress and can enhance the effects of cognitive therapy.

Every Brainspotting session is unique. Common experiences include:

• Emotional shifts or releases
• Physical sensations such as warmth, tingling, heaviness, lightness, or waves of energy
• Changes in breathing or heart rate
• Memories, images, or emotions surfacing without effort
• A sense of calm, clarity, grounding, or relief afterward

Some people describe the experience as expansive or altered, and it’s not uncommon for clients to share that it feels similar to a psychedelic-like state—without any substances involved. This can include a sense of timelessness, emotional openness, or heightened internal awareness.

You may also notice changes in vision, such as:

• Blurring or sharpening
• Feeling “far away” or very focused
• Subtle shifts in perception

These experiences are completely normal. If this happens, try not to resist or control it—your brain is processing. Allowing the experience to unfold naturally tends to support deeper integration and healing.

Brainspotting can lead to powerful emotional, mental, and physical healing. During or after sessions, sensations, emotions, memories, or thoughts may emerge. People commonly report feeling calm and relaxed, tired, emotionally tender, or more inwardly focused. Processing often continues beyond the session as the mind and body integrate in their own intelligent timing, sometimes bringing new insights or increased awareness.

Aside from the natural releasing and integration that can occur, there are no known harmful risks or side effects associated with Brainspotting when it is facilitated by a trained clinician and paced appropriately. Sessions are guided collaboratively, with careful attention to grounding, regulation, and individual readiness.

Brainspotting works very well through telehealth, and many people appreciate being able to do this work from the comfort of their own space. Because your therapist will not be able to provide equipment remotely, a bit of preparation on your end helps ensure the session feels grounded, uninterrupted, and focused. Taking a few minutes to set things up ahead of time allows us to use our session time for the work itself rather than troubleshooting.

There is no "right" way to do Brainspotting.

People experience Brainspotting in different ways:

• Some process internally and quietly, with few or no words
• Others process externally, sharing sensations, emotions, images, or thoughts out loud

You are never required to share more than you want to, and sessions are always guided at your pace.

Many people notice subtle or noticeable shifts in their mind and body during the Brainspotting process related to the issue they’re working on. This might show up as changes in physical sensations, emotional intensity, thoughts, insights, or even memories surfacing. Sometimes the shift feels immediate; other times it unfolds gradually throughout the session.

We’ll check in together along the way to notice what’s changing and how your system is responding. There’s no “right” experience—what matters is allowing whatever emerges to move through at its own pace.

In most cases, Brainspotting can begin after an initial session. This first session allows us to get to know each other, review history and goals, and ensure the approach is a good fit before beginning the Brainspotting process. Doing so allows us to move into the Brainspotting process thoughtfully and at a pace that feels supportive for you.

There’s nothing you need to do “correctly” before a Brainspotting session. A few helpful guidelines include:

• Come as you are—there’s no need to prepare specific topics or memories
• Arrive rested and hydrated when possible
• Wear comfortable clothing
• Bring headphones that allow you to hear your therapist while Biolateral sound is simultaneously playing (Airpods work great on "transparency" mode)
• Allow yourself to stay open and curious rather than trying to direct or control the process

Most importantly, know that your brain and body lead the work. Brainspotting is not about forcing memories, pushing through distress, or reliving experiences in a painful way. It’s about allowing your system to process at a pace that feels contained, manageable, and safe.

Great question—they’re related, but not the same.

Bilateral music is where sounds or beats alternate between the left and right ears, stimulating both brain hemispheres. This steady left-right pattern is commonly used in approaches like EMDR to support general brain activation and processing.

Biolateral sound is a specific form of bilateral sound developed for deeper, more fluid brain activation and processing. Instead of a predictable left-right rhythm, biolateral sound uses a gentle, hand-panned “rocking” pattern that subtly shifts in volume, timing, and position between the ears. It’s often softer and less predictable—more like a flowing wave than a steady beat.

Think of bilateral sound as a metronome, and biolateral sound as a slow, moving current.

Biolateral sound is designed to:

• Calm the nervous system and reduce stress
• Keep the thinking brain (neocortex) gently engaged without overwhelming it
• Allow deeper emotional and body-based processing to occur
• Support communication between brain hemispheres, which can enhance trauma processing, insight, and creativity
   

By keeping the neocortex “occupied,” biolateral sound helps the brain access deeper emotional and implicit memory systems where healing and integration can naturally unfold.

After a Brainspotting session, experiences can vary from person to person—and even from session to session. There’s no single “right” response. Some shifts are noticeable right away, while others unfold more gradually over time.

You might notice:

• Feeling lighter, calmer, or more settled
• A sense of emotional release or relief
• Improved sleep or deeper rest
• Feeling less reactive to triggers related to what you worked on
• Increased clarity, insight, or emotional space
• Greater awareness of your body, emotions, or needs
   

It’s also common to notice:

• Feeling tired or foggy, similar to after doing deep emotional work
• Continued processing between sessions, such as dreams, memories, or emotions surfacing
• Subtle shifts that are easier to recognize in hindsight rather than immediately
   

Sometimes changes are quiet and gradual rather than dramatic. Brainspotting often works beneath conscious awareness, allowing the nervous system to continue integrating after the session ends.

To support this process, it can help to:

• Drink extra water
• Rest if your body asks for it
• Move gently or spend time grounding
• Avoid over-scheduling immediately afterward when possible
   

We’ll check in together during follow-up sessions about what you noticed, and adjust pacing and support as needed. You don’t need to “do” anything perfectly—your system will take what it needs from the work.

Direct and Effective: Brainspotting helps to access and process deep, sometimes unconscious, emotional material that other therapies may not touch

Safe and Gentle: The process is done at your pace, ensuring a safe and gentle experience. You can stop at any time

Mind-Body Connection: It helps integrate the mind and body, making it ideal for people who experience physical symptoms of emotional distress, like chronic pain, tension, or digestive issues

No Need to Relive Trauma: Brainspotting does not require you to recount traumatic events in detail, making it a good option for individuals who may have difficulty speaking about their trauma.