Yes! Brainspotting adapts to virtual settings quite well. As long as you have a quiet, distraction-free space, a reliable internet connection, and a screen where we can see each other clearly, we can effectively do Brainspotting over telehealth. Anecdotally, I have been providing Brainspotting online in California for awhile now and have witnessed profound transformation in many clients. In fact, my Brainspotting training has been entirely online and specifically addressed providing Brainspoting via telehealth.

I often encourage clients to make the most out of virtual sessions by creating a safe, cozy, or comforting space where they can do therapy. If you have any props that bring you comfort (such as blankets, a warm beverage, or a fidget toy), those can be great supports during therapy sessions.

Brainspotting is not a protocol, so there is a ton of flexibility in what it looks like. Therefore, every Brainspotting session is a little different, because it’s guided by what you bring in that day and how your nervous system responds. We might begin by talking about something that’s been coming up — a recurring emotion, a stuck memory, or even physical tension in your body.

Throughout the session, I’ll be observing your eye movements. If I notice your eyes pausing or drifting toward a particular spot in your visual field, this can signal a meaningful “brainspot,” an access point to deeper emotional or somatic material. Other times, we may use a pointer to guide us to the appropriate brainspot.

Once we find a spot, you’ll be invited to rest your gaze there and notice what comes up internally — thoughts, emotions, sensations, memories, images, or anything else. There are no wrong answers and you don’t have to explain or analyze anything. My role is to hold a supportive space while your brain and body do the healing work they’re naturally wired to do. The process is gentle and intuitive, and you’re always in control of how deep we go.

We’ll end the session with a debrief and grounding practice to help you transition out of the work. After a Brainspotting session, some clients feel immediate shifts; others notice changes unfolding in the hours or days afterward.

Though typical therapy sessions are 50 minutes, a longer session time is often beneficial for Brainspotting therapy. I offer 90-minute sessions for folks who are interested in a more intensive Brainspotting experience that allows for deeper work.

If you’re interested in Brainspotting therapy but aren’t sure which session length is right for you, please reach out and we can discuss it!

Like other therapy approaches, this varies from person to person. Some folks experience significant relief within a few weeks or months, while others may need or want more time to work through complex trauma, deeply rooted issues, or growth work. We will always move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Both Brainspotting and EMDR are powerful tools for trauma and emotional processing, but they work in slightly different ways. EMDR uses structured sets of bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping), while Brainspotting focuses on a single eye position (a “brainspot”) to access deeper brain and body processes. Brainspotting tends to be more client-led, intuitive, and body-focused, and it can feel less structured or scripted than EMDR. Some clients prefer one over the other, and some benefit from both.

While talk therapy can help you make sense of your experiences, reflect on patterns, and find language for what you're going through, it works mostly through the prefrontal cortex — the thinking, analyzing, verbal part of the brain.

Brainspotting works differently. It bypasses the thinking brain and connects with the subcortical regions of the brain; these are the deeper areas responsible for emotion, memory, and the body's survival responses. This is where trauma and unprocessed experiences often get stored, especially when an event overwhelmed your system or couldn’t be fully resolved at the time.

This means that in Brainspotting therapy, you don’t have to retell the story or logically explain what’s wrong in order for healing to happen. You simply focus your gaze on a specific point while noticing what’s happening inside. Your brain and body can then process the experience directly.

If you’ve ever understood your patterns on a logical level but still felt stuck, or found yourself looping through the same insights without real relief, Brainspotting may be a great fit.

Yes, when appropriate! Yes. While Brainspotting is a powerful standalone tool, I often blend it with other modalities like IFS, EMDR, mindfulness, or somatic techniques, depending on what best supports your goals and your system’s needs. Therapy is always tailored to you, and we’ll adapt the process based on what feels most effective and supportive. Even if we are mostly engaging in traditional talk therapy, Brainspotting can be woven throughout as well.