“Where you look affects how you feel.”

– David Grand

In our last blog post, we explored how deep healing often happens not through logic or analysis, but through the body. The trauma, stress, and emotional pain we carry are stored in the deeper layers of our nervous system, shaped by our lived experience. Brainspotting allows us to reach these places and process what’s stored beneath the surface: trauma, grief, chronic depression, or the vague sense of “offness” that can quietly take hold. These sensations often come from the parts of the brain and body that aren’t accessible through conscious thought. But how exactly does Brainspotting work—and is there science to support it?

Brainspotting was developed in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, a psychotherapist who noticed something transformational: when clients held their gaze on specific eye positions, they were able to process trauma more deeply. He began to understand that these “brainspots” corresponded with unprocessed emotional material—acting as access points to the parts of the brain where trauma had taken root.

This awareness is also supported by neuroscience. According to trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, trauma isn’t stored in the logical, verbal parts of the brain. Instead, it resides in subcortical regions—like the amygdala and brainstem—that govern emotion, instinct, and survival. These parts of the brain don’t respond to words. They respond to experience, sensation, and a felt sense of safety.

Neuropsychologist Dr. Frank Corrigan and Dr. Grand co-authored a paper exploring how Brainspotting engages the deeper brain structures, particularly the midbrain. The midbrain functions at a sensory, instinctive level—it’s where trauma responses often begin in the presence of danger, and where they can remain stuck long after the danger has passed. Corrigan and Grand propose that maintaining focused attention on a brainspot activates a kind of “processing reflex,” allowing the brain and body to work together to release what’s been trapped. This process doesn’t rely on storytelling or logical understanding—it’s a bottom-up form of healing.

Emerging research supports these insights. In a 2021 study led by Dr. Howard Schubiner, participants who engaged in Brainspotting showed significant reductions in symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Even after just a few sessions, many reported meaningful improvements. 

At Within Holistic, we offer Brainspotting as part of our integrative approach to healing. We trust the wisdom of the body and the intelligence of the present moment. This modality doesn’t ask you to force anything, perform in a certain way, or “figure it all out”—it invites you to listen inward and let healing emerge, naturally and in your own time.

If these words resonate with you, we’re here to support you—and we welcome any questions you might have.

Healing is possible. You don’t have to do it alone.

References:

Corrigan, F. M., & Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: Recruiting the midbrain for accessing and healing sensorimotor memories of traumatic activation. Medical Hypotheses, 80(6), 759–766.

Schubiner, H., et al. (2021). Brainspotting for posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized, controlled study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.

van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.