Brainspotting (BSP) is a relatively new, neurobiological tool for accessing, diagnosing, and treating trauma, dissociative symptoms, and emotional distress. While traditional talk therapy addresses the “upstairs” brain (the prefrontal cortex), Brainspotting is designed to reach the “downstairs” brain—the subcortical system where traumatic memories and physiological stress are deeply bypassed and stored.
At Cedar Tree Counseling in Tulsa, OK, we utilize Brainspotting to help clients process experiences that are often “beyond words,” providing a direct path to the brain’s autonomous self-healing capacity.
What is Brainspotting?
Developed by Dr. David Grand, Brainspotting is based on the clinical discovery that “Where you look affects how you feel.” When you experience a trauma, the brain often “freezes” that experience in a subcortical loop. Brainspotting uses your visual field to find “spots” that correlate with the internal activation of that trauma. By maintaining a fixed eye position (a “Brainspot”), we can access the deep-seated midbrain where the trauma is held, allowing the nervous system to finally process and release the stuck energy.
The “Bottom-Up” Processing Power
Most people are used to “Top-Down” therapy (talking about problems to gain insight). However, for deep-seated trauma, the “Top-Down” approach can sometimes be limited because the survival brain doesn’t speak in language—it speaks in sensations and images.
| Feature | Talk Therapy (Top-Down) | Brainspotting (Bottom-Up) |
| Brain Target | Prefrontal Cortex (Logic/Reason) | Midbrain/Limbic System (Survival) |
| Communication | Verbal Narrative | Somatic (Body) Sensation & Vision |
| Goal | Insight and Cognitive Reframing | Physiological Release and Resolution |
| Speed | Can take months/years to reach roots | Often provides rapid neurobiological shifts |
How a Brainspotting Session Works
A session at Cedar Tree Counseling is a collaborative, “dual-attunement” process. We aren’t just looking at a pointer; we are staying deeply attuned to your nervous system.
- Activation: You identify a specific issue, memory, or body sensation you’d like to work on.
- Finding the Spot: Using a pointer, your therapist helps you scan your visual field to find a location where the physical or emotional activation feels most intense (or most grounded).
- Mindful Processing: You hold your gaze on that spot while practicing “focused mindfulness.” You allow your brain to follow its own internal path of associations, memories, and physical sensations without judgment or “trying” to make something happen.
- Integration: As the “spot” is processed, the original activation level typically drops, leading to a sense of resolution and relief.
What Can Brainspotting Treat?
Because it works at the level of the nervous system, Brainspotting is effective for a wide range of issues beyond traditional PTSD:
- Complex Trauma (C-PTSD): Healing the “slow-drip” trauma of childhood neglect or long-term stress.
- Performance Anxiety: Athletes, public speakers, and artists use Brainspotting to clear “blocks” and access “the zone.”
- Chronic Pain: Addressing the emotional and neurological components of physical pain that haven’t responded to medical treatment.
- Impulse Control: Helping the brain “un-pair” triggers from addictive or reactive behaviors.
In Brainspotting, the therapist is the ‘tail-light’ and the client’s brain is the ‘headlight.’ We believe that your brain is inherently wired for healing. Brainspotting simply provides the specialized visual ‘anchor’ that allows your brain to find where the work needs to be done and complete the healing process it started years ago.
Try Brainspotting Therapy in Tulsa, OK
Go Deeper. Heal Faster.
If you feel like you’ve talked about your trauma for years but still feel it “stuck” in your body, Brainspotting may be the missing piece of your recovery. At Cedar Tree Counseling in Tulsa, OK, our certified Brainspotting practitioners provide the expert, compassionate environment you need to finally move past your history.
Experience the power of neurobiological healing. Contact Cedar Tree Counseling today to learn more about Brainspotting or to schedule an initial session with one of our specialists.