What Is Brainspotting Like?

When I first heard about Brainspotting, I was a graduate student who couldn’t even imagine what it was like. A peer told me about this new therapy method their own therapist had them trying and honestly? I thought it sounded like a joke.

Fast forward to completing my licensure requirements, and my supervisor at the time was a Brainspotting therapist who helped me get a bit more curious. It would take another year before I eventually got trained in Brainspotting, and when I did, everything about how I practice changed.

Now I know how powerful Brainspotting is and I use it with most of my clients in my therapy practice.

Speaking of which, I’m Halle, a Brainspotting therapist and anxiety specialist based out of Colorado (though I’m licensed to practice in Oregon too!). Clients see me for online therapy services that include Brainspotting.

What Brainspotting Is Like

If you’ve ever wondered, “What is brainspotting like?” I’m going to tell you something that might be a bit annoying: I can explain it as best as I can, but it really is something you have to experience for yourself. If you need a primer on how Brainspotting works, read over this information first.

Brainspotting is considered a somatic therapy because the body is so involved in the processing of emotions. Even people who’ve tried many forms of therapy often note how unique Brainspotting feels in comparison.

Brainspotting has some crossover with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

This is because the founder of Brainspotting, David Grand PhD, was originally trained in EMDR. But is Brainspotting EMDR? Nope, it’s not. 

Unlike EMDR which focuses on bilateral (side-to-side) eye movements and sensations, Brainspotting uses your entire visual field. I have another blog post all about the differences between Brainspotting and EMDR if you want to take a deeper dive.

Brainspotting is a body-based therapy where you’ll notice a lot of bodily sensations. 

Unlike traditional talk therapy where you might catch yourself saying things like, “I think I developed anxiety after x, y, z,” Brainspotting focuses on the bodily sensations that pair with the events you’ve experienced.

Because as much as you might try to avoid feeling the bodily sensation of anxiety for instance, you actually need to access those feelings in order to process them fully. 

In my own experience, clients commonly report the following sensations during a Brainspotting session: 

• Temperature changes in different areas of the body

• Weight on their chest 

• Sensations of lightness 

• Feelings of swirling energy 

• Pressure on their shoulders or head 

• Whole body muscle relaxation

And of course, these sensations are just a few examples. So instead of talking about what you think during a brainspotting session, you might make more statements about what you’re feeling. Or, you might simply notice what you’re feeling, without even talking.

You don’t have to talk during Brainspotting to benefit from it.

This is what tends to surprise people the most. Even the most talkative people have a tendency to go silent during a Brainspotting session, and with good reason! 

The processing portion Brainspotting is sometimes referred to as focused mindfulness. Your eyes are typically locked onto one visual point at this time and your brain is hard at work processing different bodily sensations and memories that come up. 

A lot of people also ask, Will I cry during Brainspotting? You might! Crying is simply one way that your body processes emotions.

Brainspotting can be psychedelic. 

And by psychedelic, I mean that Brainspotting can bring about experiences that expand your consciousness. In my own experience and the experiences of my clients, Brainspotting can lead to experiences like: 

• Time feeling like it’s going much faster or slower 

• Sensing the presence of your ancestors 

• Hearing the voice of a deceased relative or friend 

• Feeling tactile sensations (like a comforting hand on your shoulder) 

• Smelling or even tasting foods associated with certain memories 

This doesn’t happen for everyone, but I always like to give people an idea of what to expect in case it does come up.

Brainspotting is something you have to experience to fully understand it.

Brainspotting is a powerful therapy method that builds off the foundation laid by EMDR. So instead of being limited to talking during therapy sessions, Brainspotting gives you the option to process without needing to rehash your most traumatic memories. This type of therapy can also bring about experiences that are extra sensory and psychedelic.

Experience It For Yourself

If you want to experience Brainspotting for yourself, you’re in luck! I work with clients who are based in Colorado and Oregon for both weekly therapy and brainspotting therapy intensives. Click the button below to read over some FAQs and send in your contact form. You can expect to hear back from me within 24 hours.

I’m Halle! A brainspotting therapist based in Colorado.

I work with millennials of all genders who are ready to ditch anxiety. You can work with me in either 1:1 weekly therapy, or in a therapy intensive.

If you live in either Colorado or Oregon, I’d love to work with you. Book your free intro call to get started!