Some wounds live in the body—and need to be healed through the body
Brainspotting is a cutting-edge, somatic-based therapy that helps people process trauma by working directly with the brain and nervous system. For those living with chronic illness or who’ve experienced medical trauma—like painful procedures, hospitalizations, or being ignored by healthcare providers—it can provide profound relief, especially when talk therapy has reached its limits.
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting (BSP) was developed by Dr. David Grand in 2003. It is rooted in the idea that trauma is stored in the body and nervous system—not just in our conscious memory.
Using a combination of eye positioning and body awareness, Brainspotting allows you to access and process unresolved experiences without needing to recount them in detail.
In a session, a trained therapist helps you identify a “brainspot”—a specific eye gaze position that correlates with where your brain is holding onto unprocessed trauma. By maintaining that gaze while tuning into your internal sensations and emotions, you create an opening for the brain and body to begin healing from the inside out.
You don’t have to relive trauma verbally to release it somatically.
Why Brainspotting Works for Medical Trauma
Medical trauma often stems from experiences that left you feeling powerless, unseen, or violated, such as:
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Invasive procedures or surgeries
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Painful diagnostic testing
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Long hospital stays
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Being gaslit or dismissed by doctors
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Losing autonomy or bodily control
These events can become “frozen” in the brain and body. You might notice triggers you can’t explain—like anxiety before doctor appointments, hypervigilance in clinical settings, or shutdown responses to pain.
Brainspotting accesses the brain’s deeper emotional and survival centers (like the amygdala and brainstem) and allows you to gently metabolize these stuck trauma responses.
What a Brainspotting Session Feels Like
Unlike traditional talk therapy, Brainspotting is quiet, body-focused, and client-led. Here’s what to expect:
Focused Attunement
The therapist tracks your eye movement and body cues to find your brainspot, often using a pointer to help you find the optimal gaze position.
Mindful Presence
You’ll sit with what arises, noticing thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and memories. You don’t need to “figure it out” or explain everything.
Nonverbal Release
Many people experience deep emotional waves, physical shifts (like tingling, shaking, or warmth), or unexpected memories surfacing and resolving.
Safety and Regulation
Your therapist remains attuned to your nervous system, ensuring you stay grounded throughout the process.
You might leave a session feeling lighter, more relaxed, or deeply tired—as if your nervous system finally let go of something it’s carried for years.
Why It’s Ideal for Chronic Illness Survivors
Chronic illness and medical trauma often involve a mix of ongoing physical pain, emotional exhaustion, and invalidation from others. Traditional therapy may not always address these embodied experiences.
Brainspotting, however, allows the body to lead. This is especially valuable if:
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You’ve been retraumatized by the healthcare system
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You’re sensitive to overwhelm or overstimulation
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You struggle to verbalize your emotional experiences
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You carry shame or fear around your diagnosis
Brainspotting gives your nervous system space to heal—without reactivating it through endless storytelling.
Final Thoughts
Brainspotting is not magic—but it can feel magical. For many with medical trauma, it’s the first time they’ve felt their body truly exhale.
As always, it’s essential to work with a licensed and Brainspotting-certified therapist—someone who understands trauma, chronic illness, and how to guide the process gently.
You are not broken. Your body remembers, but it also knows how to heal—one brainspot at a time.
