Brainspotting Therapy in El Dorado Hills, San Anselmo, SF + Online
Access the self-healing power of the brain to heal trauma, anxiety and past pain
What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a powerful, body-based therapy that helps you process and heal from trauma, emotional pain, and deeply rooted patterns, often in ways that traditional talk therapy alone cannot reach. This gentle yet effective approach recognizes that where you look affects how you feel, and uses specific eye positions to access parts of your brain and nervous system where trauma and stress are stored.
At The Holistic Counseling Center, we see Brainspotting as a focused, intentional practice to access the healing intelligence of your mind-body system through the brain.
It's a therapy that goes beyond words, beyond logic, to access the subcortical brain, what Dr. Amen calls "the seat of instinct, thought, creativity and spirituality." This approach honors the truth that your brain has more synaptic connections than there are stars in the sky, and when we activate its self-healing power, integration and transformation is possible.
Unlike traditional talk therapy that relies primarily on the thinking brain, Brainspotting helps you put the past back in the past by accessing and releasing what's stuck in the deeper regions of your nervous system. You don't need to have clear memories or even words for your experience, you only have to trust that your system knows what to do when given the right conditions for healing.
“Where you look affects how you feel. By finding the right eye position, we can access the brain's natural capacity for healing and transformation." - Dr. David Grand
How Does Brainspotting Work?
In a Brainspotting session, we begin by identifying what you want to work on, this could be a painful memory, anxiety symptoms, a physical sensation, or a stuck emotional pattern. You are always in control of what we focus on and how deeply we go.
Your therapist will guide you in locating a "brainspot", which is a specific point in your visual field that connects through the brain to where that experience lives in your body. Think of it like turning up the volume on a specific area of your brain that is stuck on repeat, so it can be tended to, cared for, and ultimately healed.
The process unfolds like this:
We find the eye position that activates the issue you want to work on
We often add bilateral music, gentle sounds that move between your ears to calm your nervous system and help your brain hemispheres communicate
We slow down and create space for your brain to do its natural healing work
You stay present with what emerges, riding the waves of sensation and emotion
Your nervous system releases and reorganizes at its own pace
Many clients describe sessions like watching a soda bottle that's been shaken, fizz and then settle. The waves of emotions, sensations and images rise and settle a few times, and eventually there’s a shifting and a calming in the mind, body, heart and spirit.
One of the best things about Brainspotting is that you don't need to retell your story in detail or relive the trauma to heal. As one client shared, "I felt like I was releasing a panic attack that wasn't even mine."
The beauty of Brainspotting is that it works even when experiences are preverbal or too overwhelming for words. Your subcortical brain processes information ten times faster than your thinking brain, allowing for deep healing that happens "behind the scenes." Through this process, Brainspotting facilitates neuroplasticity, which is your brain's ability to rewire itself, and may even promote neurogenesis, the growth of new brain cells. This means you're not just managing symptoms; you're literally changing your brain.
Brainspotting at The Holistic Counseling Center
At The Holistic Counseling Center, we integrate Brainspotting as part of our holistic approach to psychotherapy. We recognize it as inherently spiritual work that connects you to the deeper wisdom and power of higher consciousness. Our approach is unique because we:
Honor the mind-body-spirit connection in every session, understanding that brainspots can be portals to expanded states of consciousness and psychospiritual healing.
Integrate seamlessly with other modalities including Internal Family Systems (matching brainspots with parts), somatic therapy, mindfulness practices, and spiritual therapy. We might incorporate breathwork, essential oils, or grounding practices to support your nervous system.
Create sacred space for transformation where you can safely explore the layers beneath the thinking mind. As our founder Kim shares about her personal work with Brainspotting, "This work feels sacred. Like stepping into the sacred cave of the self. I'm learning to get out of the way and let the brain do what it already knows how to do."
Offer both activation and resource models to ensure you stay within your window of tolerance while still accessing deep healing. We can even explore "Godspotting"—a variation that connects you to Source energy for spiritual integration and expansion.
Our therapists are clinically trained and intuitively guided; we stay deeply connected to you while facilitating your brain's natural healing process. We see ourselves as witnesses to your transformation, creating the conditions for your innate wisdom to emerge and guide the process.
What Issues Can Brainspotting Treat?
Brainspotting can help with a wide range of mental health concerns including:
Addiction and compulsive behaviors
Burnout
Chronic pain and mysterious physical symptoms
Chronic fatigue and autoimmune conditions
Dissociation and feeling disconnected
Emotional Abuse
Existential Crisis
Gaslighting
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Grief and Loss
Intergenerational Trauma
Life Purpose
Life Transitions
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Perfectionism
Performance anxiety and creative blocks
Phobias and specific fears
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Pre-verbal and attachment trauma
Relationship patterns and attachment issues
Self-sabotage and limiting beliefs
Techniques Used in Brainspotting
Traditional Therapy Elements:
Focused mindfulness and present-moment awareness
Somatic tracking and body awareness
Trauma-informed approaches
Attachment-based understanding
Nervous system regulation
Holistic Integration:
Bilateral music for brain integration
Essential oils and sensory grounding
Breathwork and energy practices
Resource building and stabilization
Spiritual attunement and intuitive guidance
Specific Brainspotting Approaches:
Outside Window - therapist-guided spot finding
Inside Window - client-directed activation
Gazespotting - working with natural eye positions
Resource Spotting - finding calm and grounded states
Godspotting - connecting to spiritual resources
Is Brainspotting Right for You?
Brainspotting might be especially helpful if you:
Feel "stuck" even after years of traditional therapy
Have trauma that's hard to put into words or fully remember
Experience anxiety or panic that seems to come from nowhere
Want a more body-based or intuitive approach to healing
Struggle to connect with body sensations in traditional somatic work
Are drawn to deeper, spiritual dimensions of healing
Find EMDR too intense or activating
What People are Saying
★★★★★"
"I don’t know what just happened, but that was amazing. I don't think I could ever explain it, but I feel lighter, clearer, and more free."
Brainspotting Client, San Francisco
★★★★★
”It felt like my brain was moving behind the scenes, faster than thought. I surrendered to the process and found healing I didn't know was possible."
Brainspotting Client, San Anselmo
★★★★★
”It's weird…I looked left and felt nothing, but when I looked right, I just started crying. I didn't expect that. Now I feel like something heavy has lifted."
Brainspotting Client, El Dorado Hills
Meet The Team
Brainspotting Therapists
Kim Burris
Founder, LIcensed THerapist, LMFT
Anxiety, Trauma, Shadow Work, Motherhood, Life Purpose + Spirituality
Kim Burris
Licensed Counselor, LPC
Associate Counselor, APCC
Anxiety, Trauma, Grief, Life Transitions, Spiritual Awakening + Motherhood
Ready to work together?
Here’s how to get started:
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Brainspotting works directly with the subcortical brain where trauma is stored, bypassing the need for extensive talking or cognitive processing. It's gentler than EMDR while being equally effective, and allows your brain to gather and heal multiple aspects of an issue simultaneously rather than targeting one specific memory.
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We offer both EMDR and brainspotting at The Holistic Counseling Center, as both are powerful trauma therapies. Here are the key differences:
EMDR uses rapid back-and-forth eye movements and follows specific protocols, targeting one memory at a time. It requires you to hold specific negative and positive beliefs while processing.
Brainspotting uses fixed eye positions and is more open and intuitive, there are no rigid protocols or targets to follow. Instead of focusing on one memory, brainspotting allows your brain to gather and connect multiple regions, collecting and rewiring various aspects of trauma simultaneously. Many clients find brainspotting gentler yet equally effective, as it lets your brain go deeper more comfortably.
With brainspotting, positive insights and beliefs emerge organically from your healing process rather than being predetermined. Your subcortical brain processes 10 times faster than your thinking brain, and brainspotting gives it the freedom to heal in its own natural way.
If you've found EMDR too intense, activating, or structured, brainspotting might be a perfect alternative. Both approaches can lead to deep healing, it's just a matter of which feels right for your nervous system.
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No. One of the beauties of Brainspotting is that healing can happen without verbalizing your experience. Your body may shake, cry, or release without needing to cognitively process or explain what's happening. The subcortical brain doesn't require words to heal.
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How do I prepare for a Brainspotting session? There's nothing specific you need to do to prepare. Come as you are, with openness and curiosity. We'll guide you through everything in the session. We will also provide headphones and music but you are welcome to bring your own headphones to use.
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You may experience waves of emotion that come and pass for several days as your brain continues processing. We recommend gentle self-care: plenty of water, nourishing food, detox baths with Epsom salts, yoga nidra, grounding in nature, gentle movement, and breathwork. We'll provide specific recommendations based on your needs.
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Yes! Brainspotting works powerfully online. Many clients report experiencing distinct emotional shifts and deep healing through virtual sessions. We'll help you set up your space for optimal comfort and processing.
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This varies greatly depending on your concerns and goals. Some people experience significant shifts in just a few sessions, while others benefit from ongoing work. We'll regularly check in about your progress and adjust our approach as needed.
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Absolutely. At THCC, we integrate brainspotting as part of our holistic approach to psychotherapy. We often combine it with modalities such as:
IFS Therapy
Somatic therapy
CBT
DBT
Mindfulness Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Depth Therapy
Shadow Work
Spiritual TherapyWhen you work with one of our Brainspotting therapists, we'll create a customized approach that draws from multiple modalities to support your unique healing journey.Absolutely. At THCC, we integrate brainspotting as part of our holistic approach to psychotherapy. We often combine it with modalities such as:
IFS Therapy
Somatic therapy
CBT
DBT
Mindfulness Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Depth Therapy
Shadow Work
Spiritual TherapyWhen you work with one of our Brainspotting therapists, we'll create a customized approach that draws from multiple modalities to support your unique healing journey.
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Yes. Brainspotting is based on neuroscience research about how the brain stores and processes trauma. Studies have shown its effectiveness for PTSD, anxiety, and various trauma-related conditions. It was even found to be the most effective therapy for Sandy Hook survivors.
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Brainspotting was discovered in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, a psychotherapist who practiced EMDR and Somatic Experiencing. While working with an ice skater struggling with performance issues, he noticed her eyes wobbled and locked in place at a particular spot. By holding her gaze there, she processed trauma that hadn't emerged in a year of therapy. This breakthrough led Dr. Grand to develop brainspotting as a powerful brain-body therapy that's now practiced by thousands of therapists worldwide.
FAQ’s about Brainspotting
Make an Appointment for Brainspotting in El Dorado Hills, SF, San Anselmo + Online
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