Talking is often one of the first places people turn when they feel stuck. Many people come to therapy and find real relief through talking about their struggles, anxiety, depression, relationships, transitions, traumatic experiences, grief, and other weighty parts of life. Talking can help us feel seen, supported, and less alone. At the same time, many people eventually realize that talking about something does not always fully resolve what they feel in their body, emotions, or nervous system. Despite talking, they may still experience painful and distressing emotions throughout everyday life.
This is where Brainspotting can be helpful. Brainspotting is a therapeutic approach that goes a layer deeper than talking alone by helping the brain and body engage in the healing process. Brainspotting helps people process emotional pain, body distress, trauma, and other difficult symptoms that may be hard to access through talking alone. It is also built around the idea that “where you look affects how you feel.” In a Brainspotting session, a therapist may help you identify a specific eye position, or “brainspot,” connected to what you are processing. From there, you are invited to notice thoughts, emotions, memories, and body sensations as they come up, while the therapist supports you in staying present and regulated. Brainspotting can be used both in person and online, making it accessible for clients in different settings. When we feel anxious, angry, overwhelmed, shut down, or stuck, it often shows up not just in our thoughts but also in our bodies. Brainspotting helps create space to notice what is happening internally, stay connected to the body, and process experiences that may be difficult to access through words alone. In this way, it can help a person move toward greater regulation, awareness, and emotional healing.
Brainspotting is another way we can see that God has designed our bodies with remarkable capacities for healing. When we get cut, the body begins to repair itself. When we are sick, the immune system begins to work to bring the body back toward health. In a similar way, our minds and bodies have God-given resources that can be engaged and facilitated in therapy. If you feel stuck in your progress, continue to experience moments of dysregulation, or have felt unable to move forward through talking alone, Brainspotting may be a helpful additional support in the process of healing and growth.
At Northwest Family Counseling, multiple therapists use Brainspotting as a therapeutic intervention to support clients in their process of healing and growth. We would love to connect with you, hear more about your story, and talk with you further about whether Brainspotting may be a helpful fit for your counseling goals.
Josiah Rice, MA
