Who does BrainSpotting work with?

BrainSpotting is effective in treating a wide variety of emotional and somatic conditions. It is particularly effective for trauma-based issues, including identity-based trauma. This therapy can identify and heal underlying trauma that contributes to anxiety, depression and other behavioral conditions. It is well documented that we hold onto traumatic memories in our bodies. A triggering memory can cause rapid heartbeat, tightness in our chests and stomach, and discomfort in other parts of the body. 

Somatic techniques like BrainSpotting tend to yield better, faster results than talk therapy alone. Clients who don’t have the words to describe the connection between their depression or anxiety and past or current trauma can describe what their body is feeling. They don’t even have to tell therapist what their body is feeling. Clients often make profound discoveries just by sitting quietly and observing the internal connection between what their body is feeling and their thoughts.

This is how we learned that for most people with marginalized Core Identity Factors™, trauma is deeply intertwined with core identity. Clients would surprise themselves and their therapist by making observations that linked their depression and anxiety to experiences associated with their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, poverty, and other characteristics.

When there is a disconnect between how society sees a person and how the person sees their authentic self, this discomfort is often felt in the body. We have had success with using brain-body therapies like BrainSpotting to help clients have significant “Ah ha!” moments and heal from trauma.