Brainspotting

Brainspotting is a focused therapy that uses the position of the eyes to locate and process trauma, stress and difficult emotional experiences. It is used by trained therapists for issues such as PTSD, anxiety, performance difficulties and emotional overwhelm.

Sessions are typically calm and client-led, with the therapist providing a stable, attuned presence throughout.

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Brainspotting is a brain-body based psychotherapy developed by David Grand. It works on the principle that where you look affects how you feel — and that specific eye positions can access unprocessed experiences stored in the subcortical brain. Therapists use these "brainspots" to help the brain process material that has not been resolved through standard talking approaches alone.

What happens in a Brainspotting session?

Sessions typically begin with a discussion of what you want to work on and a brief assessment of current distress levels. The therapist may use a pointer or ask you to track their finger to identify a relevant eye position. Once a brainspot is found, you are invited to focus there while staying aware of internal sensations, emotions and thoughts. Bilateral music or sound is often used in the background to support processing.

The therapist maintains a quiet, attuned presence rather than directing the content of the session. Processing is internal and client-led, which many people find less intrusive than more structured approaches.

What can Brainspotting help with?

Trauma and PTSD (single-incident and complex)
Anxiety and stress responses
Phobias and performance anxiety
Emotional overwhelm and dysregulation
Sports and creative performance blocks
Grief and difficult life transitions

How many sessions do people need?

This depends on the issue, its complexity and how you respond. Some people notice significant shifts in a small number of sessions; complex or long-standing trauma typically requires more time. A good therapist will explain a plan, review progress and adapt the pace to your stability and readiness.

Safety and suitability

Brainspotting can bring up strong emotions and physical sensations during and after sessions. It should be delivered by a properly trained practitioner with a grounding and stabilisation plan in place. If you have significant dissociation, active psychosis, or very high-risk presentations, discuss suitability carefully and consider whether integrated support with other clinical services is needed.

Brainspotting is not a substitute for medical care. Seek urgent help if you are at risk of harming yourself or others.

History of Brainspotting

Brainspotting was developed by psychotherapist David Grand in 2003, emerging from his work with EMDR. Grand observed that specific eye positions seemed to correlate with deeper emotional processing, and developed a structured approach around this principle. The method has since grown internationally, with training programmes and research expanding across trauma therapy and performance psychology contexts.

In the UK, Brainspotting is used by trained therapists working with trauma, anxiety and emotional processing, often alongside other trauma-informed approaches. It is positioned within the broader family of brain-body and eye-based psychotherapies.

Typical conditions that use Brainspotting

Condition	Evidence	Notes
Anxiety	strong	Targets the stored emotional charge behind anxiety, often where trauma is a factor.
Attachment issues	strong	Brainspotting helps process the relational trauma underlying insecure attachment, easing distress carried since childhood.
Complex PTSD	strong	Uses fixed eye positions to access and process the deep, layered traumatic memories that often underlie complex PTSD.
Domestic abuse recovery support (sensitive)	strong	Brainspotting works with eye position to access and release where trauma from abuse is held in the body, easing distress that talking alone may not reach.
Intimacy difficulties	strong	May help release the stored bodily tension from past distressing experiences that keeps you guarded against intimacy.
Low mood	strong	Uses eye positions to process the stuck emotions that can underlie low mood, often where trauma is involved.
Painful sex (dyspareunia)	strong	By targeting where trauma is held in the body, it can help release the fear and bracing response that accompanies painful sex.
Performance anxiety	strong	Targets the bodily tension and locked-in stress responses tied to performance anxiety, helping the nervous system settle before key moments.
Shame	strong	Brainspotting uses focused eye positions to access where shame is held in the body, supporting deeper emotional release.
Vaginismus	strong	May help process distressing memories or body-held fear linked to the spasm, best used as part of a broader treatment plan.
Erectile dysfunction	moderate	May help process anxiety or distress linked to erectile difficulties, though evidence is limited and it is not a substitute for professional care.