Brainspotting Therapy
Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, and throughout Idaho
What is Brainspotting Therapy?
Brainspotting therapy is a gentle but effective therapy that helps you process trauma, emotions, and memories stored deep in your brain and body.
It works by focusing on specific eye positions, or “brainspots,” that connect to areas in your brain tied to past traumas. This process allows your brain and body to release stuck feelings and heal.
The technique was developed in 2003 by David Grand, PhD, and is based on the idea that “where you look affects how you feel.”
By identifying a brainspot—an eye position linked to distress or tension—we access the part of your brain where emotions and trauma are stored. From there, your brain’s natural ability to heal can take over.
Brainspotting therapy works at a deeper level than traditional talk therapy. Instead of focusing only on your thoughts, it taps into the body’s stored emotional pain.
This makes it especially helpful for experiences that feel too overwhelming or hard to put into words.
Whether you’re dealing with trauma, anxiety, or even physical pain, Brainspotting therapy helps your brain and body find relief.
Brainspotting Therapy Can Help with Trauma
Brainspotting Therapy can help:
Your brain process painful experiences and releases stuck emotions and physical sensations from your body.
Calm your nervous system so you feel more balanced and less overwhelmed.
Reconnect you to your body and emotions in a way that feels safe.
You heal without needing to relive painful memories, letting your brain and body do the work naturally.
Brainspotting therapy often leads to a sense of relief, lightness, and greater control over your emotions. It’s an effective way to heal your trauma, helping you move forward without being held back by the past.
Trauma affects more than just your memories—it’s stored in your brain and body, shaping how you think, feel, and respond to the world. Over time, it can make you feel stuck, anxious, or disconnected from yourself and others. Brainspotting therapy offers a way to release those deep emotional wounds without the need to relive them in painful detail.
What is Brainspotting Therapy Used For?
Brainspotting is a flexible therapy that can help with more than just trauma, including:
Emotional eating and body image struggles.
Anxiety, depression, and stress.
Chronic pain and physical tension.
Self-esteem and confidence issues.
What makes Brainspotting different is that it meets you where you are. It’s effective for both emotional and physical challenges. You don’t have to have it all figured out or push yourself too hard. It’s a gentle process that works at your brain’s pace, helping you let go of the things holding you back.
In a Brainspotting session, we’ll work together to create a space where you feel comfortable to start the healing process. Here’s what you can expect:
We’ll start with a quick check-in.
You don’t need to share every detail of what’s bothering you—just enough to set the focus for our session. This could be anything from a specific memory to a general feeling of stress or unease.We’ll find your “brainspot.”
Using a pointer or following your natural gaze, we’ll locate the eye position that connects to where your brain is holding onto the issue. This might look like a twitch, a reflex, a breath, or feel like tension, a strong emotion, or even just a gut feeling.You’ll sit with what comes up.
Once we find your brainspot, you’ll notice the thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arise. There’s no need to force anything or analyze it—your brain knows what to do.I’ll be there to guide and support you.
You’re not alone in this process. I’ll check in with you throughout, noticing your cues and adjusting as needed to make sure you feel grounded and secure. My role is to be a steady, calming presence, so you can lean into the process knowing you’re supported every step of the way.
Brainspotting is a gentle yet powerful experience. It works at your pace, helping you process emotions and memories in a way that feels natural and not overwhelming. Every session is different, but each one is a step toward feeling lighter, more at ease, and more connected to yourself.
What is a Brainspotting Session Like:
FAQs about Brainspoting Therapy
-
Both Brainspotting therapy and EMDR therapy are effective for trauma, however, they take slightly different approaches:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy:
EMDR follows a structured protocol where you process past traumatic experiences while identifying negative beliefs (like “I’m not good enough”) and replacing them with positive ones (like “I am worthy”). It’s a step-by-step process designed to desensitize the memory and reframe how you think and feel toward specific experiences.Brainspotting therapy:
Brainspotting is more intuitive and organic. It doesn’t rely on structured protocols or cognitive reframing. Instead, it focuses on the brain-body connection, allowing your brain to process what’s needed without analyzing or attaching specific beliefs to the experience. This can make it feel less overwhelming, especially if talking through details of your trauma feels too intense.
If you’ve tried EMDR therapy and felt like it didn’t fit your needs, Brainspotting therapy might be a gentler alternative. It lets your brain lead the way, working at a pace that feels right for you, without the pressure of identifying or shifting specific thoughts. Both therapies are powerful tools for healing, but the best choice depends on what feels right for you and your journey.
-
Brainspotting therapy is gentle and effective. However, it’s important to know that, like any healing process, it can bring up strong emotions. This is completely normal and part of how your brain works through stuck feelings and memories.
Some potential experiences during or after a session might include:
Feeling activated in the moment: A memory, emotion, or body sensation may surface and feel intense as your brain processes it. This can be uncomfortable but is temporary and a natural part of healing.
Heightened emotions after the session: You might feel more emotional or raw as your brain continues to process after the session has ended. This should only last for a few days after the session.
Physical sensations or fatigue: Processing deep emotions can leave you feeling tired or even physically drained for a short time. Poper self-care is helpful during this time.
The good news is that these feelings don’t last, and they’re a sign your brain is doing the work it needs to heal. Throughout the process, I’ll be here to help you navigate these experiences comfortably and at your own pace. We’ll pause if anything feels too overwhelming and adjust the process to what feels manageable for you.
Healing isn’t always easy, but Brainspotting therapy can help you move through the tough moments to find relief, peace, and a deeper connection to yourself.
-
A 50-minute Brainspotting session with me is $150.
I know that cost can be an important factor in your decision-making, so I want to make sure you feel comfortable and confident about your investment in therapy. If you're unsure if Brainspotting is the right fit for you, I offer a free 15-minute consultation where we can talk about your needs and see if this approach will be helpful for you.
Your healing journey is important, and I'm here to support you through every step.
-
It’s entirely up to you. You can talk during a Brainspotting session if it feels helpful, but you don’t have to. Many people find that staying quiet allows them to stay more connected to their emotions and the healing process.
Brainspotting therapy is designed to meet you where you are, so there’s no pressure to explain or analyze what’s coming up. Sometimes words aren’t needed—your brain does the work naturally, even in silence.
I’ll be here to support you, checking in as needed to make sure you feel calm, grounded, or neutral. Whether you want to share your thoughts, ask questions, or simply sit quietly, I’ll adapt the session to what feels best for you. It’s your space to heal in the way that works for you.
-
No, Brainspotting therapy is not like hypnosis. In Brainspotting, you’re fully awake, alert, and in control the entire time. There’s no trance or altered state involved.
Instead, Brainspotting therapy works by using your natural ability to focus and process emotions. By identifying a “brainspot” through your gaze or eye position, we tap into your brain’s innate ability to heal and release what’s been stored. You remain present and aware, actively participating in the process.
The difference is simple: hypnosis guides you into a different state of consciousness, while Brainspotting works with your brain and body just as they are. It’s a collaborative, grounded approach that allows healing to unfold naturally, at your own pace.
-
The time it takes to feel the effects of Brainspotting therapy varies for each person. Some clients notice shifts—like feeling lighter or more at ease—after just one session. For others, the changes may happen more gradually over several sessions.
This depends on a few factors, including:
Your goals: Whether you’re working through deep trauma, emotional eating, or day-to-day stress, your goals will dictate the process.
How your brain processes: Everyone’s brain works differently. Some people process quickly, while others need more time for things to settle and shift.
The complexity of what you’re addressing: More deeply rooted issues or long-term challenges may take longer to unravel and heal.
Brainspotting therapy is not about rushing to a solution—it’s about allowing your brain and body to heal at the pace that feels right for you.
-
Brainspotting therapy is a safe and effective, but like any healing process, it has potential challenges to be aware of:
Emotional Activation: During or after a session, you might feel more emotional, raw, or sensitive. This is a natural part of healing but can feel intense in the moment.
Feeling Tired: It’s common to feel mentally or physically drained after a session as your body releases tension and emotions. Rest and self-care can help.
Processing Takes Time: While some people feel relief quickly, others need several sessions to notice changes. It’s a process that unfolds at your brain’s pace.
I’ll guide and support you through these experiences, checking in to make sure you feel grounded. Brainspotting can bring up strong emotions, but those moments are often where the most meaningful healing happens.
-
You might, and that’s okay. Crying is a natural way your body releases emotions, and it can be a part of the healing process. Brainspotting therapy helps you connect with feelings that might have been stuck or buried deep, so tears are often a sign that your brain is processing and letting go.
That said, not everyone cries during Brainspotting, and that’s okay too. Each person’s experience is unique. Whether you cry, feel quiet, or process in other ways, there’s no right or wrong way to heal. I’ll be here to hold space for whatever comes up and make sure you feel supported throughout the session.
-
Yes, Brainspotting works just as effective in online sessions! During a virtual session, I will guide you through the same process we’d use in person. We’ll use your natural gaze or a pointer I am holding to find your “brainspots.”
Brainspotting is all about your brain’s ability. So regardless, virtual or in person, you will experience the healing powers of brainspotting. Plus, being in the comfort of your own home can help you feel even more relaxed and safe during the process.
I’ll ensure everything is set up smoothly and stay attuned to you throughout the session, creating a supportive space for your healing, no matter where you are.
-
While Brainspotting therapy isn’t a “cure” for anxiety, it can be incredibly helpful in managing and reducing its symptoms. Brainspotting helps by getting to the root causes of anxiety—often tied to past trauma, stress, or deep emotional pain.
Through Brainspotting, your brain can process these underlying emotions and release the tension that’s contributing to your anxiety. This can help calm your nervous system, making it easier to feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
Everyone’s journey with anxiety is different, so while Brainspotting therapy may not “cure” it, many people find relief and a greater sense of calm and peace as they work through their anxiety.
Brainspotting Therapy isn’t my only service at my Idaho online therapy practice. Other mental health services at Mountain River Therapy include EMDR Therapy, Trauma Therapy for Moms, Emotional Eating Therapy, and Therapy for Disordered Eating & Body Image. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome disordered eating and body image struggles and reclaim your life!
Questions before getting started? Get in touch.
You don’t have to live with the constant triggers, overthinking, and feeling on edge. My online therapy practice can help you heal your trauma, emotional eating, and negative body image and help you find peace with yourself. Mountain River Therapy in Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, and Post Falls, Idaho specializes in helping women heal from trauma, disordered eating, and body image issues. To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps:
Step 1
Contact Mountain River Therapy
Step 2
Meet with Jarae, a Brainspotting Therapist for an intake session.
Step 3
Rediscover the joy of feeling fully connected to yourself, your body, and those you love!