Brainspotting

Deep Brain-Body Healing with Brainspotting (BSP)

Transform Trauma and Emotional Distress Through Brainspotting Therapy in Vancouver, WA

At Vancouver EMDR Therapy, we are proud to offer Brainspotting (BSP), an innovative and highly effective therapy for addressing trauma, emotional distress, and physical pain. BSP works by tapping into the brain-body connection, helping clients process unresolved experiences for deep and lasting healing.

What is Brainspotting Therapy?

Brainspotting is a focused, brain-body approach that uses eye positions to access areas of the brain where trauma, memories, and emotions are stored. By locating specific “brainspots” in the visual field and working within a supportive therapeutic relationship, clients can unlock and process deeply rooted issues for transformational healing.

“Where you look affects how you feel.”
– Dr. David Grand, Creator of Brainspotting

How Does Brainspotting Work?

Brainspotting

The eyes are often described as the window to the soul. Brainspotting leverages the natural connection between eye position and emotional processing. During a session, I use a pointer to help clients identify “brainspots”—specific eye positions that correlate with unresolved emotions or traumatic memories. Clients may also choose to listen to bilateral sound, which can support deeper processing.

By focusing on a brainspot, clients may:

  • Access and process subconscious emotions and memories
  • Release stored physical tension and emotional blocks
  • Support the brain and body’s natural capacity for healing and integration

Techniques Used in Brainspotting

Gazespotting

Clients naturally look in certain directions when processing emotions. The therapist tracks and uses these eye positions to guide the healing process.

Inside Window

Clients intuitively identify the eye position that feels most relevant to their emotional or physical experience, empowering their inner sense of awareness.

Outside Window

The therapist tracks the client’s eye position across the visual field, attuning to and observing for involuntary reflexive signals (like eye twitches or blinks) to identify relevant eye positions for processing. These reflexes can also be observed in the face and body of the client.

How Does Brainspotting Compare to EMDR Therapy

Eye Movements EMDRBrainspotting and EMDR therapy share a focus on resolving trauma but differ in approach:

  • EMDR Therapy: Structured with set protocols, emphasizing bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements).
  • Brainspotting: Client-centered and intuitive, focusing on fixed eye positions for mindfulness and self-awareness.

Our therapists assess each client to determine whether Brainspotting, EMDR, or a combination of both will best meet their unique needs.

Discover the Power of Brainspotting

“Trauma can overwhelm the brain’s processing capacity, leaving pieces of the trauma frozen in an unprocessed state. Brainspotting uses our field of vision to locate and release these trapped memories.”
– Dr. David Grand

Brainspotting, developed by Dr. Grand in 2003, has helped countless individuals improve the quality of their lives.

Brainspotting Can Help With

  • Trauma: PTSD, C-PTSD, and childhood attachment trauma
  • Mental Health: Anxiety, depression, and mood regulation
  • Addiction: Substance use disorders and recovery support
  • Physical Health: Chronic pain, medical trauma, and stress-related conditions
  • Performance: Enhancing creativity, focus, and athletic performance
  • First Responders: Occupational stress, compassion fatigue, and trauma

Vancouver EMDR Therapy PLLC

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