Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a newer technique developed by David Grand's work with trauma survivors. Brainspotting is designed to help people access, process, and overcome trauma, negative emotions, and pain. The treatment works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of trauma, body and emotional pain and other mental health issues. Brainspotting is used as a tool to access buried experiences in the subconscious mind. Those experiences are then released and processed which can lead to profound healing. Brainspotting can sometimes provide faster results when compared to EMDR. Often times this is the case due to how adaptable a therapist can be when utilizing brainspotting techniques. Find Portland therapists that specialize in brainspotting below.
Local experts in Brainspotting
Lindsay Bong, LPC (she/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
Brainspotting accesses the brain's healing mechanisms by identifying and processing trauma stored in subcortical regions. Its nonverbal approach is accessible to diverse clients, fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation. Clients experience profound shifts, empowering them to navigate life with resilience. As a therapist, Brainspotting enhances my ability to facilitate deep healing and transformation, empowering clients to reclaim agency and thrive.
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Margaret King (She/her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC, NCC
I offer Brainspotting therapy to a variety of clients and continue to see incredible results. To learn more, visit the website: www.brainspotting.com
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Debra Schnack (she/her/hers)
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist
LMFT
Many trauma experts believe that when we are overwhelmed by something traumatic, the emotional “charge” or memory from that event becomes trapped in our body. We’re often unaware this has even occurred, but our brain is altered as a result. It can cause emotional, mental, and physical problems. Brainspotting is designed to discover, dislodge, and ultimately release that trapped energy so it no longer causes problems in our life.
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Caty Buckley (she/her)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW
I have completed Level 1 Brainspotting.
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Christine Finucane (She/her/hers)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW, SUDP, LICSW, SEP
I have completed phase 1 of brainspotting and will be taking phase 2 soon. I use brainspotting in conjunction with other forms of therapy to help with repressed traumatic memories. Working with the eyes, places where we may unconsciously gaze to help process emotional material can help to bring repressed memories into awareness and allow them to release. Please see David Grand's work for more information.
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Nicole Corbett (she/her)
Hypnotherapist
Certified Hypnotherapist and Brainspotting Practitioner
Your brain is wired to heal itself. This cutting-edge therapy is a proven process for fast, effective healing. Each session is a powerhouse that continues well after you leave. The good news is you don't even need to understand how it works. Just be ready for fast result! Originally an offshoot of EMDR, this somatic experiencing process is like nothing else!
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Ravnoor Sahni (she/her)
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist
LMFT, MBBS
Trained in level 1, level 2 and Brainspotting with couples.
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Robin Bodhi (she/her)
Professional Counselor Associate
MA
Completed Phase One and Phase Two in 2022 - now a Brain Spotting practitioner. This technique has proven to be as effective as EMDR in treating trauma. It is a client led approach which allows clients to feel more empowered in their process.
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Madilyn Long (she/they)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW
I am a trained Brainspotting clinician and utilize this modality with many of my current clients to assist in processing traumas, both recent and past, and other emotionally significant events.
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JESSICA VAN DER MERWE (She/Her)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC, LMHC
Brainspotting therapy harnesses the body’s natural healing by locating a point of vision that correlates with inner neural, somatic, and emotional experiences. These eye positions, called Brainspots, access the subcortical brain, which is the inner part of our brain that holds emotional, non-verbal, and trauma memory. Accessing these brainspots lead to healing and resolution of issues that are held deeply held in the brain and body.
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Jen Yerty (They/She)
Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC, CADC I
I use brainspotting as one way to process trauma. This modality is similar to EMDR but with some differences in procedure. What I like about it is that clients don't need to talk to process their trauma, and I've seen real results from clients who have undergone this treatment. It's very challenging work and not something I will do right away with clients, as I want folks to have a good understanding of their system and how to regulate before they go into a brainspotting intensive session.
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PK Foss (She/her)
Licensed Marriage Family Therapist
LMFT
I’ve found Brainspotting to be such a helpful tool for moving things that are stuck for people, that I am not taking new clients who are not interested in it as part of our work together. It has been a focus of my professional development and personal growth in such an impactful way, that doing therapy without it feels like leaving my best tool out of the room.
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