When You Understand the Problem but Still Feel Stuck

You can understand exactly why something affects you and still have the same reaction.

You know you are safe, but your body reacts like you are not. You recognize that something was not your fault, but the shame remains. You understand where a pattern came from, but understanding it has not made the pattern disappear.

Sometimes talking gives us insight without completely changing how an experience feels.

Brainspotting gives us another way to work with it.

At Pride in Self Counseling, I provide Brainspotting therapy for adults in Edmond, Oklahoma City, and throughout Oklahoma through telehealth.

What Is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a therapy approach developed by psychologist David Grand in 2003. It uses points within your visual field while you focus on an emotional experience, memory, thought, or physical sensation.

The basic idea is that where you look may influence what you feel.

During a Brainspotting session, I may ask you to think about something we are working on and notice what happens internally.

Maybe your chest gets tight.

Maybe your stomach drops.

Maybe you notice tension somewhere in your body.

Maybe you simply recognize that something feels uncomfortable.

We then slowly explore different points in your visual field while noticing how your internal experience changes.

When we identify a point connected with what you are experiencing, you focus your attention there while allowing thoughts, emotions, memories, images, and physical sensations to develop naturally.

What Does Brainspotting Feel Like?

There is no single Brainspotting experience.

You might notice memories coming up.

You may experience emotions such as sadness, anger, fear, grief, or relief.

You might notice physical sensations such as tension, warmth, heaviness, changes in breathing, or trembling.

You may suddenly recognize a connection between experiences that you had never considered before.

Or the experience might be surprisingly quiet.

You do not need to make something happen.

My role is to remain present with you while we pay attention to what is already happening.

Do I Have to Talk During Brainspotting?

Not necessarily.

You are welcome to talk as much as you want, but Brainspotting does not require you to verbally explain every thought, memory, or detail of an experience.

This can be helpful when something feels difficult to describe or when you simply do not want to discuss every detail of what happened.

Sometimes there are also experiences we understand emotionally or physically but struggle to put into words.

We can still work with them.

Are You in Control During Brainspotting?

Yes.

Brainspotting is not hypnosis.

You remain awake and aware throughout the process. You can talk, move your eyes, take a break, change what we are doing, or stop completely.

This is particularly important when working with trauma.

Therapy should not recreate an experience where you feel powerless.

What Can Brainspotting Help With?

I may incorporate Brainspotting when working with concerns such as:

Trauma and difficult past experiences

Anxiety and fear

Shame

Relationship and attachment wounds

Religious trauma

Sexual trauma and difficult sexual experiences

Grief and loss

Performance anxiety

Negative beliefs about yourself

Experiences that continue to create strong emotional reactions

Brainspotting may be particularly useful when you find yourself saying something like:

I know why I do this. I just cannot stop reacting this way.

Brainspotting for LGBTQIA+ Adults

Some painful experiences happen repeatedly rather than through one obvious traumatic event.

Rejection, discrimination, bullying, hiding parts of yourself, family conflict, religious messages, and being taught to feel ashamed of your sexuality or identity can influence the way you see yourself long after the situation has changed.

You may understand intellectually that those messages were wrong while still experiencing shame, anxiety, fear, or difficulty connecting with other people.

Brainspotting gives us another way to work with those reactions when talking about them has not been enough.

Brainspotting for Autistic and Neurodivergent Adults

Traditional therapy can sometimes require a lot of explaining.

For some autistic and neurodivergent adults, that can become exhausting.

You might be very good at analyzing yourself while having difficulty identifying exactly what you feel in the moment. You may experience emotions primarily as physical sensations. You may know something is happening internally without having the language to describe it.

Brainspotting does not require you to perfectly explain your internal experience.

We can work with thoughts, sensations, emotions, memories, images, or whatever else comes up for you.

Therapy should adapt to the way you process rather than expecting you to process exactly like everyone else.

Brainspotting for Trauma and Sexual Concerns

Trauma can influence sexuality in ways that are not always obvious.

Past experiences can affect intimacy, trust, desire, arousal, body image, boundaries, sexual confidence, and your ability to remain present during sex.

Sometimes you understand exactly where those reactions came from.

That does not necessarily make them stop.

Because my work includes both trauma and sexual health, we can address these experiences together rather than treating sexuality as something completely separate from the rest of your emotional life.

How Effective Is Brainspotting?

Research on Brainspotting is promising, but it is still developing.

Studies have reported improvements in trauma related symptoms and emotional distress following Brainspotting. However, Brainspotting currently has a smaller research base than established trauma treatments such as EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure.

I think clients deserve that distinction.

I do not present Brainspotting as a miracle treatment, and it will not be the right approach for everyone.

For some people, however, it provides a different way to engage with experiences that have been difficult to change through conversation alone.

Brainspotting Is One Tool

I do not believe therapy should revolve around a particular technique.

Brainspotting is one of the tools available to us.

Sometimes we use Brainspotting.

Sometimes we talk.

Sometimes EMDR may make more sense.

Sometimes we focus on relationships, communication, coping, sexuality, or understanding a pattern before trying to change it.

The goal is not to do Brainspotting.

The goal is to help you create meaningful change.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brainspotting

Is Brainspotting the same as EMDR?

No. Both may be used in trauma therapy and involve visual attention, but they are different therapeutic approaches with different procedures.

Is Brainspotting hypnosis?

No. You remain awake, aware, and in control throughout the process.

Do I have to talk about my trauma?

You do not necessarily have to describe every detail of an experience. You can choose how much you want to share while we work with the thoughts, emotions, and physical responses connected to it.

What if nothing happens?

There is no correct response to Brainspotting. Some sessions involve strong emotions or memories, while others are much quieter.

How many Brainspotting sessions will I need?

There is no standard number. The amount of therapy you need depends on what we are addressing, your history, your goals, and how you respond to treatment.

Brainspotting Therapy in Edmond, Oklahoma

I am Michael LeFever, MSW, LCSW, and I provide Brainspotting and trauma therapy through Pride in Self Counseling in Edmond, Oklahoma.

My work focuses on trauma, anxiety, sexuality, intimacy, shame, relationships, and experiences from the past that continue affecting the present. I specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ and autistic or neurodivergent adults.

If you have spent a lot of time understanding why you feel stuck but continue having the same emotional reactions, Brainspotting may give us another way to work with what is happening.

Sometimes insight is what you need.

Sometimes you already have the insight.

You are ready for something to actually change.