Brainspotting
When talking about it isn't getting you where you want to go.
You can understand what happened. You can know why you feel the way you do. You can even talk about it until you're tired of hearing yourself explain it.
Sometimes that still isn't enough to change the way your body responds.
Brainspotting is a focused therapy approach that gives us another way to work with what you're experiencing—without having to find the perfect words for everything first.
So, what is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting uses your field of vision to help us identify a point that connects with what you're experiencing internally.
During a session, we'll focus on something you want to work on while paying attention to what happens in your body, emotions, thoughts, or sense of the experience. I'll help you find a position in your visual field that seems connected to what's coming up, and we'll work from there.
You don't have to spend the entire session explaining why you feel the way you do.
Sometimes you know exactly what you want to work on. Sometimes you just know that something feels stuck.
Either is a place we can start.
What does a Brainspotting session actually feel like?
There's no script you have to follow, and you don't have to perform therapy "correctly."
You might notice emotions, physical sensations, memories, thoughts, images, or nothing particularly dramatic at first. Your job isn't to figure everything out. My job is to help you stay oriented and notice what's happening without forcing the process.
Some sessions involve a lot of talking. Others involve very little.
We follow what's actually happening rather than trying to force the session into a particular shape.
That can make Brainspotting especially useful for experiences that are difficult to explain or that you already understand intellectually but continue to react to physically or emotionally.
Why I use Brainspotting at Firestorm
I use Brainspotting because I've seen how quickly it can help people get unstuck. Not everyone responds to it in the same way, but I've found that many people notice a difference fairly early in the process. That's one of the reasons I use it so often in my work.
I also like that it doesn't require you to have the right words or understand exactly why you're reacting the way you are. We can work with what's happening in the moment and let the process unfold from there.
Who might be a good fit?
Brainspotting may be worth exploring if:
you understand your patterns but still feel stuck in them
your body reacts even when your mind knows you're safe
you have trauma or experiences that are difficult to put into words
you've spent a lot of time talking about something without feeling like anything has really shifted
you want to try a more experiential approach to therapy
you want focused time to work on something rather than fitting it into a weekly hour
You don't need to know whether Brainspotting is exactly what you need before reaching out.
That's what the consultation is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to talk about my trauma?
No. You can talk as much or as little as is useful. Brainspotting doesn't require you to tell the entire story of what happened before you can begin working with it.
What if I don't know what I want to work on?
That's okay. You don't need to arrive with a perfectly defined treatment goal. We can figure out together what makes sense to focus on.
Is Brainspotting hypnosis?
No. You're awake, aware, and in control throughout the session.
Can Brainspotting replace traditional talk therapy?
It doesn't have to. Brainspotting can be used alongside other approaches, and the way I use it depends on what you're coming in to work on.
Is Brainspotting right for everyone?
No therapy approach is. That's one of the things we'll talk about during your consultation.
Ready to Try Something Different?
You don't have to know exactly what you need before you reach out.
Start with a free consultation and we'll figure out whether Brainspotting, an intensive, or another approach makes the most sense for you.