Brainspotting
A "Brainspot" is the eye position that activates a specific, unresolved issue in your nervous system. It’s a physiological marker for emotional memory.
The Core Idea: Finding Your "Brainspot"
Think of it like this: when you recall a painful memory, your eyes naturally shift to a specific position. This isn't a random movement; it's your brain pointing to where that memory is stored. Brainspotting intentionally locates these positions to facilitate a profound release.
Access the Source
Traditional talk therapy primarily engages the prefrontal cortex (the "thinking" brain). But trauma and deep shame are stored non-verbally in the amygdala, hippocampus, and brainstem, the subcortical brain. Brainspotting bypasses the thinking mind to access this core area directly.
The Body as a Resource
We attune to the somatic sensations; the "felt sense" of your issue. Your body’s feedback is our guide. This isn't about reliving your story; it's about listening to what your nervous system is ready to release.
The Brain-Body Connection
By holding your gaze on the identified Brainspot, we keep the neural network activated. This allows the brain's innate self-scanning and self-healing capabilities to process the trapped material naturally. Your system does the healing; I hold the safe and focused space for it to happen.
How it Works
A Brainspotting Intensive condenses the therapeutic process into longer, focused sessions, often 2-4 hours over consecutive days.
Brainspotting is a powerful, brain-based therapy that helps you access and heal deep emotional pain, trauma, and limiting beliefs that talk therapy alone often can't reach. By finding specific "spots" in your visual field, we can access where trauma and emotions are stored in your nervous system, allowing your brain to reprocess them naturally. In our sessions, we'll slow down, tune into your body, and let your brain guide the healing.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, Brainspotting goes beyond cognitive understanding to create real, lasting shifts at the somatic level. It's especially effective for trauma, anxiety, shame, and feeling stuck in patterns you can't seem to change.
Many clients report feeling lighter, more grounded, and more connected to themselves after even a single session, though deeper healing often unfolds over time.
Who is Brainspotting For?
This work is for those ready to move beyond the story and into the source.
It is particularly effective for:
Healing attachment trauma and deep-seated shame.
Resolving anxiety, PTSD, and phobias.
Releasing performance blocks (in work, arts, or sports).
Processing grief and loss.
Addressing physical symptoms of stress and trauma.
What to Expect in a Session
In a supported and gentle environment, we will work together to:
Identify a specific issue or somatic sensation you want to address.
Use a pointer or your own natural cues to locate the relevant Brainspot in your field of vision.
Hold that spot while your brain and body do the deep work of integration and release.
We process at a level your nervous system can handle, ensuring you remain resourced and grounded.
Is BrainSpotting Right for You?
You might be a great fit for Brainspotting if you already have good self-awareness; you know your patterns, you can name your triggers, and you understand why you do what you do but you still can't seem to actually shift your behaviors.
Maybe you're a perfectionist or an overachiever, constantly pushing yourself but never feeling like it's enough. Perhaps you struggle with food, movement, or performance in ways that feel stuck on repeat. You might notice shame showing up in your relationships, your communication, or your inner voice. You've likely done talk therapy before and appreciated it, but something still feels unresolved.
Brainspotting is for people who are ready to go beyond understanding and into actual change; at the level of the body deeper than the thinking mind. If this sounds like you, I'd love to connect and see if we're a good fit.
Sessions Offered
Sessions last from 2-4 hours (120-180 minutes) based on your individual needs.
Treatment Plans
Specialized treatment plans are tailored based on an individual’s needs and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Brainspotting is a powerful and efficient modality, but it's not a quick fix. Because we're working to rewire deep neural pathways and release trauma stored in the body, the process requires dedicated time. This is precisely why I work primarily with clients through structured intensives of 10-15 hours of focused Brainspotting work spread out over the course of 2-3 days or split into 2 hour intensives sessions.
This concentrated approach allows us to achieve in weeks what might otherwise take months or even years in traditional, once-a-week therapy
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This is the most important differentiator. While both Brainspotting and EMDR are powerful trauma healing tools, Brainspotting is often described as more fluid and client-led. We don't use bilateral stimulation or a prescribed set of steps. Instead, we follow your body's innate healing intelligence wherever it needs to go, which can feel less directive and more organic. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which engages the cognitive brain, Brainspotting works directly with the subcortical brain and body where trauma is stored, leading to deeper, often faster resolution without having to narrate the entire story.
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No, you do not. This is one of the most significant benefits of Brainspotting. While we may discuss the issue to locate the initial "Brainspot," the deep processing work is somatic and non-verbal. Your body's sensations and your own internal experience are the guide. Many clients find profound relief in being able to process and release trauma without having to constantly retell the story, which can sometimes feel re-traumatizing.
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The feeling of a Brainspot is unique to each person. Some common experiences are a slight physical pull in the eyes, a wave of emotion, a change in breathing, a somatic sensation (like tightness or warmth), or a sudden clarity. You don't have to "figure it out.” Your body's response will guide us. As for knowing it's working, clients often report feeling a sense of relief, lightness, or calm after a processing session. The "charge" or intensity around a memory or issue simply dissipates.
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Absolutely. Many of my clients are high-functioning individuals who appear successful on the outside but feel a constant internal pressure, anxiety, or a sense of being an "imposter" on the inside. Brainspotting is exceptionally effective at accessing and releasing these deep-seated drivers of perfectionism and shame that talk therapy often can't reach. This work is about healing the root, not just managing the symptoms, so you can truly thrive, not just perform.
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Due to the significant time and focus reserved for your intensive, I require a 50% deposit to secure your dates and 100% payment before we start the session, day of. Cancellations made with less than 14 days notice will forfeit the deposit. This policy ensures I can provide the highest level of commitment and preparation to all my intensive clients.
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The best way to know is through a complimentary discovery call. This is a 15-20 minute conversation where we'll discuss what you're hoping to achieve, I'll answer your questions, and we'll both get a sense of whether this feels like the right path forward. There is no pressure to commit. It's simply an opportunity to explore the fit.
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Please see my full explanation of insurance and cash pay on my “Payments and Fees” page.
For cash pay clients, accepted Forms of Payment:
I accept payment via:Cash
Zelle
Venmo
Payment is due in full at the time of your session. For intensive packages, a deposit is required to secure your dates, with the balance due on the first day of the intensive.
Please note that as I am licensed in the states of CA and OR and cannot see clients that reside outside of these states.
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For clients outside of San Diego in CA and OR, I can provide tele-services. If you live in the greater San Diego area, you can meet me at my office!
Where to Find Us
2525 Camino Del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108