Brainspotting works by using fixed eye positions to help the brain access and process deeply stored traumatic memories and emotional distress. The theory suggests that "where you look affects how you feel," and that specific eye positions, or "brainspots," are correlated with emotionally charged experiences held in the subcortical regions of the brain. By focusing on these spots, clients can release unresolved trauma that is stored both psychologically and physically in the body. 

The neurobiological explanation for brainspotting

The therapy's effect is achieved through direct access to the deeper, subcortical parts of the brain where trauma is processed and stored. In contrast, traditional "top-down" talk therapy primarily engages the neocortex, the brain's conscious, verbal, and analytical part. In this way, Brainspotting bypasses the need for extensive talking or analysis.

The specific neural pathways believed to be involved include:

• The midbrain: This area, which manages functions like vision, hearing, and motor control, can go into a "freeze" response during trauma. Brainspotting is thought to help unstick this process and promote healing.

• The limbic system: This system, which includes the amygdala and hippocampus, is responsible for emotional regulation, memory, and survival responses. By targeting a brainspot, the therapy engages these structures to process and integrate traumatic memories.

• The brainstem: This is the most primitive part of the brain, associated with pain control and defensive survival behaviours like anxiety and fear. 

How Brainspotting differs from other therapies

Brainspotting is considered a "bottom-up" therapy, meaning it begins by addressing the body's physiological responses to trauma rather than the mind's thoughts. This contrasts with "top-down" approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which focus on conscious thought patterns. 

Brainspotting originated from Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) but has distinct differences. While EMDR involves following a therapist's finger or object with rapid side-to-side eye movements, Brainspotting focuses on holding a fixed eye position on a specific "brainspot". The developer of brainspotting, Dr. David Grand, discovered this technique while observing that a client's processing became more profound when their eyes got "stuck" in one spot. 

What happens in a Brainspotting session

1. Initial discussion and body awareness: The client and therapist briefly discuss the issue they want to address. The therapist then asks the client to notice where they feel the most distress in their body and rate the intensity.

2. Finding the "brainspot": The therapist guides the client's eyes across their field of vision using a pointer. The client signals to the therapist when they find a spot where the physical distress or emotion feels the most intense. The therapist also observes involuntary physical reflexes, such as eye twitches, blinking, or swallowing, as clues.

3. Focused processing: The client maintains their gaze on the identified brainspot. While focused, they observe and allow any thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations to arise without judgment. The therapist acts as a compassionate witness, helping the client feel safe and supported during the release of trauma.

4. Integration and completion: Over time, the traumatic memories are reprocessed and integrated, leading to a reduction in emotional and physical pain. Many clients report a sense of release and feel less reactive to the memory, often in fewer sessions than other therapies. 

Many clients find it particularly helpful for processing experiences that feel "stuck" or difficult to put into words. It can be effective for trauma, anxiety, performance issues, physical pain with an emotional component, and deeply rooted emotional patterns.