I first learned about Brainspotting at a 2-hour CEU. The presenter spent most of the time on the psychoeducation piece — how trauma actually lives in the brain and body. Then came the demo.
A volunteer sat down across from the presenter, who held up a small pointer. "Where do you feel the shame?" she asked. The volunteer said, "My left pinky finger."
I'm sorry, what? I'd heard of feeling emotions in your chest, your stomach, your face — sure. But your left pinky finger? Bullsh*t. I was not buying it.
Fast forward to a live training. Same presenter, new demo, new volunteer — this time one of my own classmates. Somehow this woman got my classmate to say she felt her emotion in her throat. I remember thinking, how did you con her into saying that? How does this even work?
Here's the kicker: this presenter was also my personal therapist.
So the next week, I show up to my own session still annoyed about the whole thing. I actually almost didn't go — work had been a lot that day — but I figured I could at least use the break from my coworkers. I vented about my day, and she asked, "Do you want to brainspot that?"
Cue the eye roll. Sure, lady. Whatever you want.
Quick backstory first, because it matters: I was in my second year working at the university doctor's office. My boss knew me well by then — well enough to know I'd show up to work with a runny nose from allergies, insisting "I'm okay!" while she reminded me, every single time, "Kirsten, this is a doctor's office. If you need allergy medicine, we have it." I'd wave her off. To be clear, I'm not anti-medication — if I have strep, I want the antibiotic. Fever over 101, I'm treating it. But living in Louisiana with seasonal allergies, I generally let my body do what it can do on its own, just slower than the over-the-counter stuff would.
Okay — back to the session. I told her, "I feel it in my jaw." She gave me the usual prompt, and I sat with it for the next 30 minutes. I thought I was doing fine.
Then I left.
My jaw felt like it had an elephant sitting on it. I was holding it in place with my hand walking out the door. My head started throbbing right behind my ears. I got back to work and didn't even clock in — I walked straight to my boss and said, "Can I have a Tylenol or something?"
She looked at me like she'd seen a ghost. I knew exactly what she was thinking: You want medication?!
In November 2021, a Brainspotting training came to Southeastern Louisiana University, and I signed up. After that, I was hooked. Six months later, I took the second training.
Brainspotting might sound strange to you. You might be skeptical, unsure, or you've tried it and it just wasn't your thing — and that's completely okay. But for me? It's one of my favorite things to keep learning about.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only. While it may offer some therapeutic insight, it is not a replacement for therapy and does not establish a therapist-client relationship. Reading this post does not mean you are under my care. Therapy takes place within a HIPAA-protected, confidential setting tailored to your individual needs — something a blog post simply can't replicate. If you're struggling, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area.