During a session, I will help you locate a point in your visual field associated with the situation you want to process. This is done with the help of a pointer that acts as a visual aid in where to keep your focused gaze. I will then invite you to maintain focus on the Brainspot and allow your subcortical, non-thinking brain to scan itself and to process and discharge stuck or pent-up energy in your nervous system.

Processing and discharging of stuck or pent-up energy in the nervous system can look and feel many different ways. Some common experiences include: waves of emotion, waves of somatic sensations and movement like trembling or shaking, and recalling certain memories or thoughts associated with the stressful or traumatic situation. These experiences can be strong or they can be very gentle and subtle... almost mundane!

Brainspotting makes use of bilateral stimulation through something called Bio-lateral Sounds. The bilateral stimulation aids in integration between the two brain hemispheres and also helps with nervous system regulation. You will need access to headphones in order to make the back and forth effect of the music work.

This will largely depend on the complexity of the issue(s) you're wanting to explore. The more simple the issue, the fewer sessions generally required to sense a shift. The more complex and multilayered the issue, the more time we need to sort through all aspects of your experience. Most folks find that at least four to six Brainspotting sessions are a good number to start noticing shifts in their experience.

Like all therapy, the approach needs to be personalized to your needs. If you'd like to learn more about whether Brainspotting might make sense for you, please feel free to reach out for a free 20-minute consultation below.

As the Brainspotting therapist, I strive to embody secure attachment: I gently encourage you to lean into what emerges, to stay curious and to trust the wisdom and resilience inherent in your brain/body. You will notice that I speak a lot less during our session than you might be used to. This is intentional and it is done to allow your subcortical brain (where trauma is held) the time and space it needs to process without getting pulled into neocortical functions like thinking, problem-solving and meaning-making. As always, I will be there to guide, encourage and support you when or if you need me at any point during the process. We will end sessions by debriefing and noticing any shifts in activation you feel in your body as a way to help your whole brain integrate and make sense of your experience.