Brainspotting
Many of us experience moments in life when it feels like something is holding us back, even when we can’t fully explain what it is. It can show up as anxiety, addiction, triggers, self-doubt, the whole spectrum of uncomfortable emotions or patterns that keep repeating no matter how hard we try to change. We may understand the problem logically, but still feel stuck.
That is where Brainspotting is incredibly powerful.
As a coach who also needs coaching, I have personally experienced the relief and clarity Brainspotting can provide, using it to process trauma, develop insight into myself, and remove internal barriers that stood between me and the life I wanted to build. It is one of the most powerful tools I have encountered, not only professionally, but personally as well.
You can describe the experience as finally getting beneath the surface - A lot of my clients are justifiably skeptical when I bring up the possibility of Brainspotting, requesting further information on why it is different from other approaches.
My response: we often judge our past selves (who were usually children and if not, less wise versions of ourselves) with the current brain we have - ex. A 40 year old man judging his 7 year old self negatively about the way he responded to an abusive caretaker. We usually lack compassion, empathy and kindness for ourselves with an unconscious assumption that we had the skills then that we do now. Brainspotting has allowed me space to revisit painful memories from a different lens, where I can process why and how things happen in a way that I can accept so that the beliefs that stem from these events don’t weigh me down in my day to day life.
So what the heck is Brainspotting?, you ask.
Brainspotting is a mind- body healing approach developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003. The idea behind it is simple but packs a punch: where you look affects how you feel.
During a Brainspotting session, the client focuses on a specific issue, emotion, memory, or goal while identifying an eye position, otherwise known as a “brainspot” — that connects to that experience in the brain and nervous system. By maintaining focus on that spot while staying present with thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, the brain is able to process unresolved experiences at a deeper level.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, Brainspotting does not rely entirely on analyzing or explaining problems intellectually. Most talk therapy approaches cannot reach deep enough inside the brain, Brainspotting actually helps access the deeper parts where trauma, emotional pain, stress responses, and limiting beliefs are often stored.
Why Brainspotting Is Helpful
One of the reasons Brainspotting is so effective is because many of our struggles are not just “mental.” They live in our nervous system and body as well.
We can know we should feel confident and still feel fear.
We can want to move forward and still feel blocked.
We can understand our past and still carry its emotional weight.
Brainspotting can remove that blockade and pave the road towards self actualization.
What makes Brainspotting unique is that it allows the brain to process naturally instead of forcing outcomes. Often, breakthroughs come not from “trying harder,” but from creating enough safety and awareness for the nervous system to finally let go. One of the most powerful things about Brainspotting is that it is not only for trauma recovery. It can benefit almost anyone.
People use Brainspotting for:
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety and stress
Addiction recovery
Emotional regulation
Performance anxiety
Confidence building
Relationship struggles
Grief and loss
Self-discovery and personal growth
Breaking through mental or emotional barriers
I have also seen how helpful it can be for people pursuing goals. Sometimes the biggest obstacle standing between us and the life we want is not external — it is internal fear, unresolved pain, or subconscious beliefs telling us we are not capable or worthy.
Brainspotting helps bring those hidden barriers into awareness so healing and growth can begin.
One thing I often tell people is that healing does not always happen through talking alone. Sometimes the body and nervous system need space to process what words cannot fully explain.
That is what makes Brainspotting such a valuable tool.
It is not about being “fixed.” It is about becoming more connected to yourself, understanding what is beneath the surface, and creating space for healing, clarity, and forward movement.
Brainspotting has been part of my own journey of growth, recovery, and self-awareness. It has helped me become more grounded, aware, and more aligned with the person I want to be.
This is why is why I believe in it so deeply as a coach and client.
Sometimes the breakthrough we are searching for is not found by pushing harder — but by finally allowing ourselves to process what we have been carrying all along.
If you have been contemplating the idea of trying Brainspotting for yourself and wondering if it is for you, remember - Brainspotting is for everyone, and its just a matter of when you are ready.
Stay in the fight.
