Healing Trauma at the Root: How Brainspotting Supports Deep Recovery
At CARE Counseling, Inc., we specialize in helping individuals find meaningful healing from trauma, anxiety, and depression. One powerful and emerging modality we’re proud to offer is Brainspotting—a neuroscience-informed therapy that taps into the brain’s innate ability to process and resolve trauma.
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting (BSP) is a somatic-based therapy developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003. It works by identifying specific “brainspots”—eye positions that activate and process trauma stored deep in the brain. The foundational concept of Brainspotting is simple yet powerful: “Where you look affects how you feel.”
Unlike traditional talk therapies, BSP bypasses the neocortex (thinking brain) and engages the subcortical brain (emotional and survival brain) where trauma is often stored. This allows for profound healing without the need to re-narrate traumatic experiences.
Why Brainspotting? Scientific Evidence and Clinical Results
Recent peer-reviewed research (Horton, Schwartzberg, Goldberg, Grieve, & Brdecka, 2023) compared Brainspotting with traditional therapies (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic, person-centered approaches) for treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The study found:
Both approaches reduced PTSD symptoms.
Brainspotting showed more lasting benefits at follow-up, especially for symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Client satisfaction remained high, with ongoing improvements in emotional well-being throughout the sessions.
Clients receiving Brainspotting not only improved but continued to show gains even after therapy ended—suggesting long-term benefits for trauma processing and emotional regulation.
How It Works: A Gentle, Body-Aware Process
During a Brainspotting session at CARE Counseling, Inc., your therapist will help you:
Identify a specific issue or emotional challenge.
Tune into your body’s felt sense and level of distress.
Locate a “brainspot” using your eye position, either through:
Outside Window: therapist observes reflexive eye movements.
Inside Window: client reports internal sensations during guided gaze.
Gazespotting: spontaneous eye fixation guided by the therapist’s attunement.
Engage in focused mindfulness while holding attention on the spot.
Process thoughts, emotions, or memories that arise—at your pace, without forced talking.
The therapist’s empathic and attuned presence is vital. In fact, research shows that relational safety and nonverbal connection can activate mirror neurons and calm the amygdala—making Brainspotting both neurologically grounded and deeply human.
Why This Matters
Trauma, especially chronic or developmental trauma, is not just “in your head.” It’s also in your body—stored in the nervous system, muscles, and brain pathways. Brainspotting allows access to this subcortical material in a safe, embodied way. You don’t have to relive the trauma to release it.
This therapy is especially suited for those who:
Feel stuck in traditional talk therapy.
Have a hard time putting their pain into words.
Experience anxiety, depression, or physical symptoms related to trauma.
Are ready to engage in deeper emotional healing at their own pace.
Anyone who has tried other methods but needs something else.
Our Commitment to You
At CARE Counseling, Inc., our licensed and Brainspotting-trained therapists provide a calm, supportive environment where your healing process is honored. Whether you're navigating PTSD, grief, anxiety, or performance blocks, we meet you where you are—literally and metaphorically.
Ready to Learn More?
If you're curious whether Brainspotting might be right for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Our team will walk you through what to expect and help you decide the best path forward for your wellness.
Let’s find your brainspot—and the healing that lies within it.