Brainspotting Therapy in Ontario

Break Free from the Patterns That Keep You Stuck

You’ve done the work. You’ve tried traditional talk therapy, read the self-help books, listened to podcasts, and maybe even been the person others turn to for advice. But despite all your insight and effort, something still isn’t shifting. You find yourself stuck in the same patterns—emotionally, mentally, or even physically—unable to fully break free.

What if the answers you’re searching for aren’t found in more thinking or talking, but in accessing the deeper parts of your brain where trauma and emotional blocks are stored?

Brainspotting therapy in Ontario is a powerful, brain-based therapy that helps you process and release what’s been keeping you stuck—without needing to relive painful memories in detail. By working with where you naturally hold emotional experiences in your body and mind, Brainspotting helps you access and heal at a deeper level than traditional talk therapy alone.

If you’re ready to go beyond surface-level coping, to go deeper, beyond words, to uncover and heal the root of what’s keeping you from real change, and finally move forward, Brainspotting might be the approach you’ve been looking for.

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a powerful and targeted trauma therapy designed to access and heal the deepest layers of emotional and physical distress. Developed by Dr. David Grand, a practitioner of EMDR, Brainspotting harnesses the brain’s natural ability to process and release unresolved trauma, as well as symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, and even chronic pain—often reaching places that traditional talk based psychotherapies may not fully address.

Dr. Grand explains, “What’s in the body is in the brain, and what’s in the brain is in the body.” This fundamental mind-body connection is at the core of Brainspotting, allowing for profound emotional and physiological healing. Unlike talk therapy, which primarily engages the thinking brain, Brainspotting works with the deeper, nonverbal areas where trauma is stored. This bypasses the tendency to intellectualize or minimize your experiences, making it possible to process and release unresolved issues at their source. 

How Does Brainspotting therapy in Ontario Work?

At its core, Brainspotting is a natural process that has been refined into a therapeutic approach.

Dr. Grand states, “Where you look affects how you feel.” You may have noticed that when recalling a memory or processing emotions, your gaze naturally shifts—looking down to the right, up to the left, or fixing on a certain spot. This isn’t random; it’s your brain’s way of accessing stored experiences.

Neuroscience has shown that our eyes are directly connected to brain structures involved in memory, emotion, and regulation of the nervous system. However, many of us have been taught to maintain eye contact in conversations, which can disrupt this natural processing. As a result, our brains often don’t get the uninterrupted space they need to fully process distressing experiences.

Brainspotting utilizes this connection by identifying an eye position—your “brainspot”—that corresponds to a stored trauma, distressing emotion, or even a sense of calm. Your therapist may observe where your eyes naturally move as you discuss an issue or help you find a fixed point that feels most connected to what you’re processing. By holding your gaze in that position, you allow your brain to fully engage in its innate healing process without distraction.

This process can be enhanced with specific forms of music that activate deep emotions and memories while promoting relaxation. Remarkably, Brainspotting doesn’t require you to verbalize your experiences—it works even without talking, making it an excellent option for those who struggle to put their trauma into words.

Brainspotting therapy can be done in person at our Burlington office or online through our secure video options for individuals residing in Ontario.