Brainspotting
Where you look affects how you feel
Best for: processing all types of trauma, bringing dysregulated brains into regulation
Brainspotting is built on the idea of “where we look affects how we feel.” It was discovered in 2003 by David Grand, Ph.D. Brainspotting uses a specific point or points in your visual field (a place where your eyes are looking) to light up the pathways to the deeper parts of your brain that are holding all of the fragmented aspects of traumatic experiences. These pathways allow your neocortex (the logical part of your brain) to access and process (understand and make sense of) traumatic experiences. This allows both your body and your mind to release the effects of the trauma, bringing you from dysregulation to regulation. It is a bottom up approach (connecting body sensations to thoughts and emotions) that leads to lasting change. For further explanation of the mechanisms behind Brainspotting, this video offers a great explanation.
We often interweave Brainspotting with other somatic processing methods (including EMDR and Internal Family Systems), as well as talk therapy. We will follow the client’s lead on what approach is most helpful each session.
EMDR vs Brainspotting
EMDR
Discovered first, EMDR is more well-known than Brainspotting. The standard EMDR protocols may not work for neurodivergent minds, so it is essential to do EMDR with a counsellor who is well-versed in ways to adjust the protocols for neurodivergent people. EMDR is most effective when there is a specific memory being targeted.
Specific to EMDR:
- Targets a specific memory
- Typically requires the ability to see images in your mind
- Typically requires talking during processing
- Uses bilateral stimulation (e.g., eyes moving left to right)
- Uses sets of bilateral stimulation with moments of verbal processing in between sets
Brainspotting
Research on the effectiveness of Brainspotting vs EMDR is limited, but what is available suggests that Brainspotting may be more effective than EMDR in general. Brainspotting may also be more effective for some neurodivergent people, particularly those who struggle with verbal processing while emotionally dysregulated.
Specific to Brainspotting:
- Targets whatever is causing distress
- Does not require mind-imagery (works for aphantasia)
- Does not require talking while processing
- Uses a fixed eye position
- The fixed eye position is typically maintained throughout with no requirement for verbal processing
Certain situations may be better suited to one over the other. Ultimately, both Brainspotting and EMDR can be very effective for neurodivergent people to process trauma when they are implemented by a neurodivergence-informed counsellor who adjusts them for the specific needs of each client.
