Oregon Counselor Directory STAGING
Treatment Guide

Brainspotting: Accessing Deep Trauma Through Eye Position

A focused, body-based therapeutic approach that uses specific eye positions to access and process unresolved trauma stored in the subcortical brain.

What Is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting (BSP) is a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003, emerging from his work with EMDR therapy. It is based on the discovery that where you look affects how you feel — specific eye positions, called "brainspots," can access subcortical brain regions where traumatic memories, emotional pain, and body-based trauma are stored.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily engages the thinking brain (neocortex), Brainspotting bypasses the conscious mind to access the deeper, subcortical parts of the brain — the amygdala, hippocampus, and brainstem — where trauma is physiologically encoded. As Dr. Grand explains: "Where you look affects how you feel."

What is Brainspotting? — An Introduction

How Does Brainspotting Work?

During a Brainspotting session, the therapist helps you identify the relevant "brainspot" — the eye position connected to the issue being processed:

  • Outside Window BSP — The therapist slowly guides a pointer across your visual field while you notice changes in body sensation, reflexive responses (blinking, swallowing, facial twitches), or emotional shifts. The spot that produces the strongest activation is the brainspot.
  • Inside Window BSP — You self-identify where in your visual field the issue feels most activated. This empowers the client to lead the process.
  • Focused Mindfulness — Once the brainspot is located, you maintain your gaze on that point while the therapist provides attuned support. The brain's natural processing mechanisms activate.
  • BioLateral Sound — Music or nature sounds that alternate between left and right ears are often used to enhance bilateral stimulation and deepen processing.

Sessions typically last 50–60 minutes. Many clients report significant shifts in 1–3 sessions, though complex trauma may require longer treatment.

Brainspotting Specialists

Verified Oregon therapists

Brandon Huffman

Brandon Huffman

PRO

MA, LPC, NCC, CADC II · Eugene, OR 97404

Currently accepting new clients for NeuroFeedback only! Trauma isn't measured by what happened…

 Tim Moore

Tim Moore

PRO

MA, Licensed Professional Counselor, Co-Founder/Director · Bend, OR

Tim is a highly experienced and licensed psychotherapist in Oregon with over 27 years of…

 Caroline Wolf

Caroline Wolf

PRO

Licensed Professional Counselor · Bend, OR

Caroline focuses on insight at the intersection of emotional, somatic, cognitive, and spiritual…

 Brennon Moore

Brennon Moore

PRO

CTT, CADC-II, LPC, MS

Brennon Moore is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Co-founder of Broken Top Counseling.…

 Kianna Delabajan, HARTNW

Kianna Delabajan, HARTNW

Professional Counselor Associate · 9370 SW Greenburg Rd, Suite 601

I acknowledge the inherent worth in simply being human. You have a right to wellness and are…
View all Brainspotting providers

Who Can Benefit from Brainspotting?

Brainspotting has shown emerging effectiveness for a wide range of conditions, particularly those rooted in trauma or stored in the body:

  • PTSD and Complex Trauma
  • Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Phobias
  • Depression and Emotional Overwhelm
  • Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia
  • Performance Anxiety (athletes, performers, professionals)
  • Attachment Wounds and Relational Trauma
  • Grief and Loss
  • Substance Use Recovery

Brainspotting is often compared to EMDR, as both use eye-related techniques to process trauma. A key difference is that BSP uses a fixed gaze point rather than eye movements, and many clients find it gentler — it does not typically require detailed recounting of traumatic events.

Sources & Clinical Evidence

Search Brainspotting Providers
More Treatment Guides