Brainspotting Therapy™ (BSP) is a brain-body based relational therapy that was discovered and developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003. This powerful, focused mindfulness method targets the mid and deep brain where trauma and strong emotions are stored by using specific eye positions within the client’s visual field. These positions, known as “brainspots,” are believed to correlate with areas in the subcortical brain (including the amygdala, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and brainstem) where these files of trauma and emotion are stored. By focusing on these spots, clients can access and process traumatic memories and emotional and physical pain that may otherwise be difficult to articulate or resolve through traditional talk therapy alone. This method is unique because it bypasses the neo cortex (the front part of the brain) where we think and analyze information and goes directly to the subcortical (mid and deep brain) which is where trauma and strong emptions can be accessed, processed and released.
What is Bodyspotting Therapy?
Bodyspotting Therapy™ (BdSP) is a specialized form of Brainspotting that directly addresses physical pain and chronic pain by focusing attention on specific areas in the body where trauma, tension, or discomfort is being held, with the goal of supporting its release and healing.
Bodyspotting involves guiding a client to become aware of and focus on physical sensations in their body such as pain, stiffness or numbness that may be the result of unresolved or unconscious trauma. The Brainspotting therapist helps the client to maintain focus on their body while finding a relevant eye position (or “brainspot”) that resonates with the bodily sensation. This dual focus between a body sensation and corresponding eye position can facilitate deeper processing and release of traumatic experiences stored both in the brain and body, often bypassing cognitive defenses.
Brainspotting, including bodyspotting acknowledges the profound link between psychological trauma and physical pain. Trauma and emotional distress can be somatically encoded in the body, leading to chronic pain, tension, and other psychiatric or physiological symptoms. By targeting these somatic markers, bodyspotting can access trauma that might not be available to cognitive or verbal therapies alone.
Bodyspotting supports:
- Deeper access to trauma stored in the body, especially for those who struggle to verbalize their experiences.
- Reduction of physical symptoms like chronic pain or tension after engaging in these therapies.
- Greater self-awareness and empowerment as clients become attuned to bodily sensations and their emotional meaning.
- Holistic healing, as it integrates psychological and physical dimensions of trauma.
Bodyspotting in the Brainspotting framework offers unique therapeutic value, particularly for those whose pain and symptoms have psychological origins or are connected to traumatic memories held in the body.
