What Is Brainspotting Really Doing? A Look at the Brain, Body, and Healing

Sometimes, we notice a deep reaction in our body: a sudden sense of heaviness, an unexpected emotion, or a tight feeling in the chest. We might not know why it’s happening, only that something inside us is stirring. Brainspotting is a therapy designed to work at that level; deep in the brain and body, beyond words or logic. But how does it work? And what does science say about it?

Let’s explore the science behind Brainspotting in everyday terms and why you might still feel your nervous system processing long after the session ends.

What Is Trauma?

When people hear the word “trauma,” they often think of big, dramatic events like a car crash, a natural disaster, or an assault. These are examples of acute trauma, and they can have serious impacts. But trauma can also be quieter, more ongoing, and harder to name.

Developmental trauma refers to the emotional wounds we carry from early relationships, often shaped by experiences of neglect, emotional unavailability, inconsistency, or unmet needs. These experiences can disrupt our sense of safety, worth, or connection, even if no one event stands out as traumatic.

In both acute and developmental trauma, the nervous system adapts to survive. These adaptations can become deeply ingrained, automatic patterns, like people-pleasing, emotional numbing, hyper-independence, or fear of conflict. Over time, they can affect our health, relationships, and sense of self.

Brainspotting is designed to work with all kinds of trauma, not just what happened to you, but what happened inside you. It meets the nervous system where it’s at, helping it release patterns that once kept you safe, but are no longer needed.

What Is Implicit Memory?

Not all memories live in our conscious mind. Some are stored beneath the surface, in what’s called implicit memory. These are the memories we don’t consciously recall, but they still shape how we feel, act, and react.

Trauma often hides in this type of memory. It may not be remembered as a story or image, but as a feeling in the body: a tightening in the chest, a jolt of fear, or a sudden shutdown in response to a seemingly harmless situation.

This is why trauma responses can feel confusing. The thinking part of the brain doesn’t always know what’s wrong, but the body does. Brainspotting helps bring these implicit memories into awareness by working with the parts of the brain that store them, not through storytelling, but through sensation and presence.

What Is the Autonomic Nervous System?

Our autonomic nervous system (ANS) runs behind the scenes, managing things like breathing, heart rate, digestion, and our response to danger.

It has two main branches:

• Sympathetic nervous system: the fight-or-flight response, which prepares us to act under threat.

• Parasympathetic nervous system: the rest-and-digest system, which calms us down and helps us recover.

When we experience trauma, the ANS can get stuck in high alert (hyperarousal) or freeze (shutdown). This can make everyday situations feel unsafe, even when they’re not. Brainspotting helps by giving the nervous system a way to discharge old stress and rewire itself for safety.

What Does “Brain Beyond the Skull” Mean?

While we usually think of the brain as being inside the skull, the nervous system is a whole-body experience. It runs through the spine, into the gut, heart, skin, and muscles. That’s why we can feel stress, safety, or fear physically — not just emotionally.

The phrase “brain beyond the skull” reminds us that our body remembers and sometimes, healing needs to happen there, not just in the thinking brain.

How Does a Brainspot Help?

A brainspot is a spot in your visual field that connects to a deep emotional or physical experience in the brain. Where you look can change how you feel and in Brainspotting, the therapist helps you find an eye position that links to where that memory or emotion lives in the brain.

Holding your gaze there while staying present with the body’s sensations allows the subcortical brain (the deeper, non-verbal part) to begin releasing what’s been stuck. This bypasses the need to explain or analyse, and taps into the body’s natural capacity to heal.

What to Expect After a Session

Because Brainspotting works at a deep level, your nervous system may continue processing after your session ends. You might feel more emotional, more tired, or more aware of sensations in your body.

These are signs your system is doing exactly what it’s meant to do: reorganising and healing.

You might notice:

• Emotional waves or mood shifts

• Body sensations (tingling, heaviness, shakiness)

• Vivid dreams or flashes of insight

• A sense of lightness or deep calm

To support your process:

• Rest and hydrate

• Eat something grounding

• Gently move your body

• Write down what you notice

• Reach out if something feels too intense

Processing is a sign of healing. Let your body do what it needs — it knows the way through.

Key Takeaways

• Trauma isn’t always about what happened to you, it’s also about how your nervous system had to adapt

• Implicit memories live in the body, not just the brain

• The nervous system responds to trauma automatically, without conscious control

• Brainspotting accesses the subcortical brain, where trauma is held

• Healing happens not through thinking, but through presence and regulation

• After a session, your body may continue processing and that’s a good thing

Conclusion

Your brain is wired to protect you, even when it overreacts. Brainspotting gently helps the deeper parts of your brain let go of what’s no longer needed. With time, presence, and support, your nervous system can find new patterns; ones that feel safer, calmer, and more in tune with the present.

If you’re curious about whether Brainspotting is right for you, feel free to get in touch. You don’t need to explain everything as your brain and body already know where to begin.

References

Craig, A. D. (2002). How do you feel? Interoception: the sense of the physiological condition of the body. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 3(8), 655–666. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn894

Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: The Revolutionary New Therapy for Rapid and Effective Change. Sounds True.

Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.

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

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical advice. The content is intended to support general wellbeing and personal growth, but it may not address specific individual needs. If you have mental health concerns or require personalised support, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Equal Psychology, Equal Breathwork, Reflective Pathways and its authors are not liable for any actions taken based on this information.