Brainspotting (BSP) is a therapeutic approach that evolved from EMDR and was developed by David Grand in 2003. It offers a beautiful and elegant way of addressing emotional distress through deep brain processing. Like IFS and EMDR, Brainspotting can be viewed as a neurophysiological approach with psychological consequences. However, many individuals find it more intuitive and easier to engage with, often reporting that it facilitates deeper processing than similar approaches.

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Brainspotting originates from the observation that where we look while speaking or thinking is not random. Since the eyes are an extension of the brain, they naturally orient toward specific positions that are neurologically linked—via the optic nerve—to the brain areas containing the information we are accessing. This intriguing connection led to the discovery of Brainspots. A Brainspot is therefore the eye position that corresponds to the emotional activation of an unresolved issue stored in the brain.

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During a Brainspotting session, while discussing an emotional issue, the therapist guides the client to their Brainspot. Maintaining a fixed gaze on that spot appears to open the brain’s "felt memory files." At this point, the client is invited to “go inside” and observe their internal experience with mindful focus. What follows is often described as a powerful, accelerated, yet effortless form of focused mindfulness. Clients experience this as a “torrential stream of consciousness” or “conscious release,” unfolding in the form of thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, memories, images, and reflexes. The client becomes a passive witness as the brain reviews fragments of unprocessed material and metabolizes the emotionally charged content until the activation clears and the neural network is reintegrated. Unlike rumination or meditation, this process requires no effort and is typically described as mild and not overwhelming.

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Two core elements serve as resources in Brainspotting: the Brainspot itself and the therapeutic relationship. The therapist attunes closely to the client’s system, actively tracking it wherever it leads. This dual attunement creates a safe environment where it is possible to feel every thought, emotion, memory, and sensation. It becomes a profoundly unique experience of being truly seen and connected to another person. Research shows that such deep attunement stabilizes neural pathways and supports internal attachment work in the way that co-regulation helps a young child. In other words, the therapist’s compassionate presence, combined with access to the Brainspot, creates optimal conditions for building new adaptive neural networks and clearing outdated ones—a process known as memory reconsolidation.

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During Brainspotting, the brain is re-stabilizing, re-regulating, reorganizing, resourcing, and rebooting itself. Often, the processing continues even after the session ends. This natural flow gives the brain space to sort through old material, retaining what’s useful and letting go of what no longer serves. The result is reduced emotional distress, increased insight, and greater access to a sense of safety—both within the body and in the world. As activation settles, individuals feel and function better.

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In the 20 years since its development, Brainspotting has spread rapidly across the therapeutic world, with over 25,000 trained therapists worldwide. I’ve personally convinced at least ten of my colleagues to train Brainspotting! Even pioneers of other trauma modalities have praised Brainspotting. For example, Somatic Experiencing developer Peter Levine was reportedly impressed by an early demonstration during a chance encounter. Renowned trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk listed Brainspotting among the approaches he believes have had “great success.” And Gabor Maté, another trauma specialist, noted that after just one session, he was able “to relax the grip of a burdensome perspective and its associated emotions, both of which I had carried for a long time.”

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As a relatively new therapy, the empirical research on Brainspotting is still growing. A study by Maréchal et al. (2018) found it effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in refugees. Another recent study, published in the Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, compared BSP with EMDR and concluded that BSP is a strong alternative for trauma treatment.

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Brainspotting can be integrated with most psychological therapies. Personally, I love combining it with Internal Family Systems Therapy and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and am continually humbled by its power and the positive changes it brings.