So… What Is Brainspotting, Anyway?

​

Healing can look a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s talking things through, sometimes it’s noticing what your body is holding onto, and sometimes it’s realizing that insight alone hasn’t fully eased what you’re feeling. Brainspotting is one of the many tools therapy can offer when you’re ready to go a little deeper, without forcing anything.

If you understand what you’re struggling with but feel stuck in actually moving through it, Brainspotting offers another way in.

Brainspotting is a trauma-informed therapy approach that helps access and process experiences that live below the level of words. Instead of spending the whole session talking about what happened, we pay attention to where your eyes naturally land when you think about a certain feeling, memory, or stressor. Those eye positions (called brainspots) connect directly to the parts of the brain and nervous system holding that experience. In short: your brain already knows where the issue is hiding. We’re just helping you find the door.

Why People Love It

Brainspotting can be especially helpful if you feel stuck, overwhelmed, emotionally flooded, or tired of explaining the same story over and over without much relief. Clients often describe it as gentle but powerful, less forced, and surprisingly clarifying. You don’t have to relive every detail, perform your trauma, or “do it right.” You get to move at your own pace while your nervous system does what it’s designed to do: process and regulate.

Is It Right for You?If traditional talk therapy hasn’t quite hit the mark, or you’re curious about a more body-based, brain-focused approach to healing, Brainspotting may be worth exploring. It works well for anxiety, trauma, chronic stress, and those “I don’t know why this still affects me” moments.

Interested in trying Brainspotting?

 

You can book a session with me (Ashley Pettway) at SAGE Mental Wellness Center.

 We’ll take it slow, stay grounded, and follow your brain’s lead. :)- Ashley Pettway, M.A., APC