Unlocking Emotional Healing with Brainspotting Therapy in Lynnwood, WA

Understanding Brainspotting Therapy: A Revolutionary New Therapy for Deep Healing

If you've been carrying emotional pain that feels impossible to shake, if you're tired of going through the motions while feeling disconnected from yourself, or if traditional talk therapy left you feeling like something was still missing—brainspotting therapy might offer the breakthrough you've been seeking.

As a trained therapist who specializes in this revolutionary new therapy at Ebb and Flow Nutrition and Mental Health Counseling in Lynnwood, I've witnessed the profound shifts that can happen when we work directly with your nervous system rather than trying to think our way through emotional trauma. This brain-based therapy isn't about analyzing your problems or forcing yourself to relive distressing memories. It's about accessing your body's natural wisdom and allowing your system to process what it needs to heal.

What is Brainspotting Therapy?

Brainspotting therapy is a revolutionary new therapy that functions as both trauma therapy and alternative therapy, using specific eye positions to help you access and release stored emotional trauma and traumatic activation. Developed in 2003 by David Grand, this innovative approach operates on the principle that "where you look affects how you feel."

When I guide your gaze to specific positions in your visual field—what we call "brainspots"—you can access emotional material that might be nearly impossible to reach through traditional talk therapy alone. These pain points aren't random; they're connected to areas of activation in your brain where unprocessed trauma and distressing memories live.

David Grand observed that when clients focused on particular eye positions during sessions, they could access deeper levels of healing than with conventional approaches. This observation led David Grand to develop this technique that works directly with sensorimotor memories and traumatic activation stored in the body.

Key Elements of Brainspotting Therapy:

• Focused eye positions that connect to emotional trauma and pain points
• Body awareness and tracking internal sensations and physical discomfort
• Bilateral sound through headphones to engage both brain hemispheres
• Dual attunement between you and your therapist throughout each brainspotting session
• Bottom-up processing that starts with your body's wisdom rather than the conscious mind

How Brainspotting Works: Beyond Traditional Talk Therapy

Unlike traditional talk therapy approaches that work primarily with your conscious mind, brainspotting therapy targets the subcortical brain—those deeper areas where trauma and intense emotions actually get stored. Think of it as having a direct conversation with your nervous system, bypassing the mental chatter that sometimes keeps you stuck in old patterns.

Your brain has an incredible capacity for healing, but sometimes traumatic experiences or overwhelming emotions get frozen in your system. When you've learned to be the "good girl," to over-function, to stay busy rather than feel—your nervous system often holds onto traumatic activation that keeps you in that constant state of emotional stress and dysregulation.

This brain-based therapy works as a versatile tool for addressing not just emotional pain, but also physical pain and chronic pain that may be connected to unresolved trauma. The technique helps process sensorimotor memories—those body-based memories that traditional talk therapy often struggles to reach.

During our brainspotting sessions, I'll use gentle pointer tracking to guide your gaze across your visual field. As you follow along, you'll focus on what's happening in your body. When we hit a brainspot, you'll know it. Maybe your chest tightens, your breathing changes, or emotions start to surface. These responses aren't problems—they're your system's way of showing us where the healing process needs to happen.

What to Expect in Your Brainspotting Sessions

Initial Mental Health Assessment and Setup I always start with a free consultation because this trauma therapy requires the right fit between us. During our first meeting, we'll talk about what brought you here and whether brainspotting therapy feels aligned with your mental health goals. I want you to feel completely comfortable before we begin any deeper work addressing your specific pain points.

Brainspotting Session Structure (60-90 minutes) My brainspotting sessions run longer than traditional talk therapy because the healing process takes time. I won't rush you through this work or watch the clock when your nervous system is doing important healing work.

Finding Your Brainspot: Outside Window, Inside Window, and Gazespotting There are three ways we might identify your brainspot. The outside window approach means I'll track external signs—changes in your breathing, posture, or facial expressions as we work with different eye positions. The inside window approach puts you in control—you'll guide me based on what you're feeling internally as we focus on different spots. The gazespotting is a natural way to find your brainspot. While you talk about the issue, I'll point out where you are looking and ask you to keep your gaze there. You're always in control of this healing process.

Processing and Integration Once we've found your spot, you'll hold your gaze there while maintaining awareness of your internal experience. I step back and let your nervous system lead the way in this alternative therapy approach. This might feel intense, surprisingly calm, or anything in between. There's no "right" way to experience this healing process.

After Each Brainspotting Session Don't be surprised if you feel tired after treatment—your nervous system has been doing deep work processing emotional trauma. I'll always ensure you feel grounded before you leave, and we'll talk about self-care practices for the time between sessions to support your ongoing healing process.

Who Benefits from This Revolutionary New Therapy

My Ideal Client Profile I work with women who are tired of feeling like they're constantly performing, people-pleasing, or running on empty. If you're someone who has learned to cope through staying busy, toxic relationships, or other strategies that once protected you but now leave you feeling disconnected from yourself—this trauma therapy is for you.

You might be the woman who appears to have it all together on the outside while feeling chaotic inside. You've probably been the "good girl" who takes care of everyone else's mental health needs while ignoring your own. In your quiet moments, you can hear that voice saying "I don't want THIS"—but you're not sure what the "this" is that you actually do want.

Conditions I Treat with Brainspotting Therapy:

• Anxiety that keeps you in a constant state of hypervigilance and emotional stress
• Depression symptoms that feel like a heavy fog you can't shake
• Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma responses
• Emotional trauma from narcissistic abuse or other harmful relationships
• Substance abuse patterns that started as coping mechanisms for unresolved pain
• Binge eating disorder and complicated relationships with food and body
• Performance anxiety that keeps you from showing up authentically
• Stress disorder symptoms that interfere with daily functioning

This versatile tool can address both mental health concerns and physical symptoms, as brainspotting works with the whole person rather than treating symptoms in isolation.

The Unique Approach at Ebb and Flow

My Philosophy as Your Therapist I believe healing happens in relationship, and my role as a trained therapist is to create a safe container where your nervous system can finally exhale. I'm not going to sit back and just say "mm-hmm, and how does that make you feel?" I'm fully engaged with you every minute of our brainspotting session because I take my role as a healer and mental health professional as seriously as I take my role as a mother.

I have both a compassionate side and what I call my "badass" side. I'll hold space for your emotional pain with deep empathy, and I'll also lovingly call you on your patterns when it serves your growth. This balance creates the conditions where rapid and effective change can happen through this revolutionary new therapy.

Integrative Mental Health Approach While brainspotting therapy is incredibly powerful on its own, I often integrate it with other modalities I practice to support your complete healing process:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help you clarify your values and focus on what matters most
• Intuitive Eating Therapy for those struggling with food and body image pain points
• Person-Centered Therapy to ensure you always feel heard and respected in our work together

This integrative approach recognizes that mental health healing often requires multiple techniques working together as one versatile tool for transformation.

Spiritual and Somatic Elements My own healing process has taught me that true transformation often includes spiritual and energetic components. If you're drawn to more holistic approaches to mental health, we can weave those elements into our brainspotting therapy work together. I honor the mind-body-spirit connection and believe your intuition is one of your greatest healing resources for processing emotional trauma.

Unlike eye movement desensitization approaches that follow rigid protocols, brainspotting therapy allows for this kind of personalized, holistic treatment that honors your unique healing process.

Practical Information About My Mental Health Practice

Brainspotting Session Scheduling I believe consistency supports the healing process, so I provide you with a regular day and time that remains yours (for example, Mondays at 10am). Rather than scheduling each brainspotting session individually, I book out three months at a time, which creates stability and helps your nervous system anticipate and prepare for our trauma therapy work together.

Treatment Format Options I offer both in-person brainspotting sessions at my Lynnwood office and virtual sessions throughout Washington state. Many clients find that brainspotting works beautifully online, especially when they're processing emotional trauma in the comfort of their own space. The technique translates seamlessly to virtual therapy, maintaining all the benefits of this revolutionary new therapy.

Between Sessions Support There may be gentle homework assignments if they feel useful for your specific mental health situation. I'm not available 24/7 for crisis support, but I do provide resources and grounding techniques to help you navigate whatever emotions or memories arise between our brainspotting sessions.

Group Offerings for Enhanced Mental Health In addition to individual brainspotting therapy sessions, I offer several group options to support your complete mental health journey:

• Women's Group Therapy for connection and shared healing of emotional trauma
• Binge Eating Support Group for those working on their relationship with food and body
• 12-Week Health Groups that integrate nutrition and mental health
• Intensives for Therapists who want to deepen their own healing process

What Makes Brainspotting Therapy Different from Other Approaches

Gentle Yet Powerful Treatment Brainspotting therapy allows you to access and process emotional trauma without having to relive painful memories in detail. Your nervous system knows how to heal—sometimes it just needs the right conditions and support from a trained therapist to do what it naturally wants to do. This technique offers rapid and effective change without the emotional overwhelm that some other trauma therapy approaches can create.

Works with Your Natural Healing Process Unlike structured protocols such as eye movement desensitization approaches, brainspotting therapy follows your internal wisdom. Your nervous system guides the pace and direction of the work through this brain-based therapy approach. This means healing happens at the speed that feels safe and sustainable for you, leading to more lasting and effective change.

Addresses Root Causes Rather Than Just Symptoms Rather than just managing depression symptoms or anxiety symptoms, brainspotting therapy helps you process the underlying traumatic activation that's been keeping you stuck. When we work at this level with this versatile tool, changes often feel more profound and integrated than surface-level symptom management.

Trauma-Informed and Body-Centered This revolutionary new therapy recognizes that trauma lives in the body, not just in your thoughts. By working somatically and incorporating somatic experiencing principles, we can create shifts that feel embodied rather than just intellectual. The technique helps heal sensorimotor memories that store emotional trauma physically in your system.

The Science Behind This Brain-Based Therapy

David Grand developed brainspotting therapy after observing that certain eye positions seemed to connect directly with stored emotional trauma. David Grand noticed that when clients focused their gaze on specific spots, they could access deeper levels of healing than with traditional approaches.

This brain-based therapy works by targeting the midbrain and limbic system—areas where emotional trauma and stress disorders are stored. Unlike traditional talk therapy that primarily engages the neocortex, brainspotting therapy accesses these deeper brain regions where traumatic activation lives.

The technique helps process sensorimotor memories—those body-based trauma responses that often remain stuck even after years of traditional talk therapy. By working directly with these deeper brain structures, brainspotting therapy can create rapid and effective change in ways that surprise both clients and mental health professionals.

Preparing for Your Brainspotting Therapy Journey

Before We Begin Treatment Take some time to focus on what you're hoping to address. What emotional pain are you tired of carrying? What symptoms or patterns feel stuck or overwhelming? There's no need to have everything figured out—just an openness to explore what's beneath the surface through this alternative therapy approach.

Consider keeping a journal to track your emotions, physical sensations, and any distressing memories that surface. This awareness can help us identify the pain points that need attention during our brainspotting sessions.

During the Healing Process Trust your body's wisdom and your internal awareness. If something doesn't feel right, speak up. This is your healing process, and you're always in control. I'm here as your trained therapist to support and guide, not to push you anywhere your nervous system isn't ready to go.

Each brainspotting session will involve identifying the spots that hold emotional charge, then allowing your system to process whatever needs attention. The technique naturally leads to effective change as your brain and body work together to heal stored trauma.

Self-Care Support Between Sessions Healing work requires good mental health support. Between brainspotting sessions, focus on activities that help you feel grounded physically and emotionally. Your nervous system will be integrating our trauma therapy work even when you're not consciously thinking about it.

This might include gentle movement, time in nature, creative expression, or whatever helps you maintain awareness of your body and emotions without overwhelming your system.

Taking the Next Step Toward Healing

If you're reading this and feeling a sense of recognition—if something in you is saying "yes, this revolutionary new therapy is what I've been looking for"—I encourage you to trust that knowing. Your intuition has brought you here for a reason, and it's time to honor that inner guidance.

Healing doesn't have to be about grinding through your emotional pain or forcing yourself to "get over" trauma. It can be a gentle return to yourself through this brain-based therapy, a reclaiming of the parts of you that got buried under years of trying to be who you thought you needed to be.

At Ebb and Flow Nutrition and Mental Health Counseling, I create a space where you can stop performing and start being. Where you can set down the emotional pain you've been carrying and remember who you are underneath all of that protective armor.

Ready to Explore Brainspotting Therapy? I offer free consultations because I want to make sure we're a good fit before you invest in this trauma therapy work. During our conversation, we'll talk about your specific mental health situation and whether brainspotting therapy feels aligned with your healing goals.

You can reach out through my website at ebbandflowseattle.com or call to schedule your consultation. I'm here to answer any questions you have about this revolutionary new therapy and help you determine if this treatment approach feels right for your journey.

Investment and Scheduling For specific information about session fees and scheduling availability, please reach out directly. I believe everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, and I'm happy to discuss how we can make this brain-based therapy work within your budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brainspotting Therapy

How many brainspotting sessions will I need for effective change? Every person's healing process is unique, and I never want to put you in a box about how long your journey "should" take. Some clients notice rapid and effective change within the first few brainspotting sessions, while others find deeper healing happens over a longer period as we work through layers of emotional trauma. We'll check in regularly about your progress and adjust our trauma therapy approach as needed.

Is this revolutionary new therapy safe? Brainspotting therapy is designed to work within your window of tolerance, meaning we never push your nervous system beyond what it can handle physically or emotionally. You're always in control, and I'm trained as a mental health professional to track your capacity and help you stay regulated throughout the healing process.

What if traditional talk therapy didn't help my symptoms? Many of my clients come to me after previous therapeutic experiences that left them feeling unheard or stuck with persistent depression symptoms or anxiety. Brainspotting therapy offers a different entry point into healing—one that honors your body's wisdom and doesn't require you to analyze your way through emotional trauma.

This brain-based therapy can access pain points that traditional talk therapy struggles to reach, often leading to more rapid and effective change than approaches that work only with the conscious mind.

What conditions does brainspotting therapy treat? This versatile tool addresses a wide range of mental health concerns including post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression symptoms, emotional trauma, chronic pain, stress disorders, and many other symptoms that stem from unresolved traumatic activation.

Do you accept insurance for brainspotting therapy treatment? I currently accept Regence through August 2026. For other questions about coverage or self-pay options, please reach out directly so we can discuss what works best for your mental health care needs.

Your healing process is sacred, and it deserves to be honored with the gentleness, respect, and depth that this revolutionary new therapy offers. The path forward is here, contact me whenever you're ready to take it and begin experiencing the benefits of brainspotting therapy for yourself.