Brainspotting is an experiential trauma therapy developed by David Grand. It uses the relationship between eye position, bodily activation and focused attention to access and process emotionally charged material. The therapist helps the client find a "brainspot" — an eye position associated with activation, resource or processing — and then supports mindful, body-based processing.
BSP does not rely on cognitive disputation or detailed narrative reconstruction. It assumes that where the eyes orient can connect with subcortical and body-held material. The client keeps attention on the internal process while the therapist provides dual attunement: attunement to the client and to the brainspot.
David Grand developed Brainspotting after years of trauma work and EMDR practice. The method is often linked with the observation that a fixed eye position can open access to unresolved material in a way that is not fully explained by verbal memory.
BSP expanded into multiple variants: outside window, inside window, gazespotting, resource brainspotting, one-eye work, rolling brainspotting, BioLateral sound and applications for performance, creativity, pain and complex trauma.
Brainspot. An eye position that is clinically connected with activation, resource, memory, body sensation or processing.
Outside window. The therapist observes reflexive cues such as blinking, facial change, breath, swallow, twitch, gaze shift or body reaction while moving the pointer.
Inside window. The client reports where activation is strongest while following the pointer.
Dual attunement. The therapist attends both to the relational field and to the client's neurobiological processing at the spot.
Body activation. Processing is tracked through SUDS, sensation, image, emotion, memory and spontaneous change.
Resource spot. A spot associated with stability, support or positive activation.
Uncertainty and allowing. The therapist does not force meaning. The instruction is often to stay with what comes and let the process unfold.
A BSP session begins with preparation, target selection and SUDS rating. The therapist helps the client identify the issue, body activation and level of disturbance. Then the therapist locates a brainspot through outside window, inside window or gazespotting.
Once the spot is found, the client holds the gaze and notices what happens internally. The therapist uses minimal prompts, tracks the body and checks SUDS periodically. Processing may include images, sensations, emotions, memories, shifts in meaning, yawning, tears, heat, movement, quiet or settling.
The session closes with grounding, integration and aftercare. If activation remains high, the therapist uses resource work and stabilization before ending.
The evidence base for Brainspotting is emerging and smaller than for the most established trauma protocols. It is supported mainly by clinical literature, practitioner reports, pilot studies and its relationship to broader trauma, attention, body-processing and eye-position approaches.
The responsible claim is modest: BSP is a developed clinical method used in trauma and performance work, but it should be applied with careful assessment, informed consent and awareness of the current evidence limitations.
BSP can be misused when therapists treat eye positions as magical proof, push processing too hard, or fail to stabilize clients with severe dissociation or acute risk. It is also not a substitute for crisis intervention, medical care or psychiatric treatment when those are needed.
The method requires clinical humility. Eye position may open material, but the therapist must still protect consent, pacing, grounding and the therapeutic relationship.
Begin with informed consent and orientation. Explain that Brainspotting uses eye position, focused attention and body awareness to process material. The client does not need to perform or explain everything that happens.
Choose a target: a memory, image, body sensation, performance block, emotion or current issue. Ask for a SUDS rating and locate where activation is felt in the body.
Preparation also includes resource work. If the client is unstable, dissociative or overwhelmed, begin with a resource spot or stabilization rather than a high-activation target.
The therapist helps the client activate the target enough to locate the relevant spot, but not so much that the client floods. Activation may include image, emotion, body sensation, memory fragment, belief or impulse.
The therapist watches for reflexive cues and asks the client to notice the body. The process should remain collaborative.
If activation rises too quickly, pause, orient to the room, use grounding or shift to a resource spot.
The therapist may use the outside window, inside window or gazespotting.
In the outside window, the therapist slowly moves a pointer through the visual field and watches for reflexes: blink, swallow, facial shift, breath change, twitch, posture change, gaze pull or sudden affect.
In the inside window, the client reports where activation changes as the pointer moves.
In gazespotting, the client naturally finds a spot where the eyes want to rest.
Once a spot is found, the therapist asks the client to hold the gaze and notice what happens.
Processing is largely permissive. The client keeps attention on the spot and lets internal material unfold. The therapist uses minimal prompts and tracks regulation.
Material may shift through images, sensations, memories, emotions, thoughts, silence, trembling, tears, yawning, heat, relief or new associations. The therapist does not chase meaning. They support the process and intervene only when pacing, safety or contact is at risk.
SUDS is checked periodically, not obsessively. A drop in SUDS can indicate processing, but the therapist also watches body state, orientation and integration.
If SUDS increases, the therapist may stay with the process if the client remains regulated, or shift to resource if the client is losing tolerance.
The goal is not to force the number down. The goal is to support organic processing without overwhelm.
Close by orienting to the room, checking body state, and helping the client name what changed. If the process remains open, use grounding and resource before ending.
Give simple aftercare: hydration, rest, noticing dreams or body shifts, and bringing any significant material to the next session. Do not send the client out highly activated without a stabilization plan.
Outside Window Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Inside Window Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Gazespotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Resource Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
BioLateral Sound is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
One-Eye Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Rolling Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Z-Axis Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Vergence Therapy is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
PartSpotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Performance and Creativity Expansion is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Brainspotting Pain Reduction Setup is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Dual Attunement Frame is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
DoubleSpotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Advanced Gazespotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Self-Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Group Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Expansion Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Body Resource Brainspotting is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Phased Stabilization Protocol is used in Brainspotting to support eye-position and body-based trauma processing. The therapist applies it collaboratively, protects pacing and consent, and keeps the clinical focus on brainspot rather than on technique for its own sake.
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Brainspotting / David Grand
Checklist has not been added yet.
Brainspotting uses gaze direction to access deeper experience.
By noticing body sensations at the spot, you track processing.
Record the spot → sensation → thought → before/after intensity.