Brainspotting Therapy for Trauma and Neurodivergence: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
- Kaitlyn Boudreault
- Mar 14
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 18
Did you know that trauma is a relatively common experience, and often misunderstood, especially among neurodivergent individuals?
In fact, one survey found that almost two-thirds (63%) of adults reported experiencing at least one traumatic event during their lifetime.
Years ago, people may have shrugged off these traumatic experiences and gone without support.
Fortunately, mental health challenges and trauma-informed care have come to the forefront recently as something that deserves treatment and support. This has laid the groundwork for increased research on trauma and how it shows up in diverse populations.
As society’s understanding of trauma increases, so do the neurodiversity-affirming therapy approaches used to treat it.
One of these innovative modalities is Brainspotting therapy.
This approach integrates elements of EMDR, mindfulness, and brain-based therapies to address PTSD or CPTSD and other mental health challenges that may contain a trauma-related component, such as anxiety or depression.
If you or someone you know has experienced trauma or is currently experiencing these symptoms, Rebecca at Blue Sky Learning could support you with Brainspotting therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming and somatic-based trauma therapy.
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Use this blog as a brief guide to understanding what trauma is, how Brainspotting therapy can help, and some common coping strategies that accompany this approach.
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that occurs as a result of witnessing or being a part of a traumatic event.
These traumatic events may include military combat, natural disasters, serious accidents, sexual assault, or other violent personal assaults.
It is important to note that not everyone who goes through these events will develop PTSD. The condition is only diagnosed if symptoms persist for months and interfere with daily functioning at work, school, or in relationships.
PTSD Versus CPTSD
PTSD and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) can both result from trauma, but there are important differences.
While PTSD is linked to a single short-term traumatic event, CPTSD develops after prolonged exposure to multiple traumatic events, especially interpersonal trauma such as childhood abuse, neglect, or long-term relationship violence.
How Does the Body React to Trauma?
Your sympathetic nervous system is responsible for responding to stress, danger, and the fight-or-flight response, while the parasympathetic nervous system supports rest and digestion.
When the nervous system is regulated, these systems work in harmony and respond to danger and the need for rest and digestion at the appropriate times.
But trauma dysregulates the balance between these two systems. Your nervous system remains on high alert consistently and has a difficult time going to rest, even when there is no real threat or danger.
Neurodivergent individuals may already experience heightened sensory processing or reactivity, making this dysregulation especially intense.
In addition to reminding in a fight state, trauma may trigger dorsal vagal shutdown, or a freeze response, where the body enters an immobilized state and shuts down automatic processes to conserve energy and manage overwhelm.
What Do Trauma Symptoms Look Like?
Usually, the symptoms of PTSD occur within the first three months of the traumatic event.
PTSD symptoms generally fall into four categories:
Intrusive Memories: Distressing, involuntary flashbacks or dreams.
Avoidance: Steering clear of thoughts, conversations, or locations tied to the trauma.
Mood and Thinking Changes: Persistent shame, guilt, or emotional numbness.
Physical and Emotional Behavioral Responses: Being on guard, easily startled, irritable, or having trouble sleeping.
CPTSD symptoms include those above, plus:
A distorted self-perception
Challenges in relationships
Feeling disconnected from oneself and the world
Difficulty with trusting others
Intersectionality and Trauma
Trauma can occur to anyone. However, trauma doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Intersectionality recognizes how marginalized identities can intersect to shape the nature and severity of trauma.
Members of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other underrepresented groups may experience:
Discrimination based on a specific aspect of identity, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, or race. This can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression.
Family Rejection, particularly among LGBTQ+ individuals when coming out. This can lead to feelings of isolation and trauma related to exclusion.
Systemic oppression, leading to chronic trauma.
This lens is crucial when applying trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care.
Treatment for Trauma
Effective treatment often includes:
Psychotherapy, like CBT or somatic therapies
Medication, such as SSRIs or mood stabilizers
Support groups and community-based resources
Brainspotting therapy is a promising alternative for those who may not respond to traditional talk therapy or prefer a more body-based trauma processing method.
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting therapy is a brain-based therapeutic approach developed by Dr. David Grand.
It aims to help clients access, process, and resolve stored emotional pain by using specific eye positions, known as brain spots.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, Brainspotting taps into bodily sensations and emotional responses to activate the brain's natural healing abilities.
It is especially effective for those with PTSD, CPTSD, or neurodivergent mental health needs to help you process trauma, emotional distress, and psychological challenges.
How Does Brainspotting Work?
Brainspotting operates on the principle that our emotional experiences are often stored in the body and can show up as physical sensations.
During a session, a therapist guides the client to identify eye positions that correlate with emotional discomfort, pain, or trauma.
By focusing on these spots while concurrently attuning to your feelings and sensations, this method accesses the subcortical brain, where trauma is often stored, making it ideal for deep trauma processing without needing to recount events in detail.
What Does a Brainspotting Session Look Like?
Sessions are tailored and client-centered. A typical Brainspotting session begins with the therapist and client discussing the individual's current experiences and emotional challenges.
After discussing current challenges, the therapist identifies a brain spot with the client and facilitates a mind-body awareness experience, where the client focuses on particular eye positions while noticing sensations and emotions.
The therapist remains attuned to the client's state and provides support and guidance as the individual processes their experiences.
Silence is often used therapeutically to support introspection and healing. This makes it accessible to those who struggle with verbal expression, such as some autistic or ADHD individuals.
Why is Brainspotting Therapy Used?
Traditional talk therapies, like CBT, require clients to talk through trauma with a therapist, which can be distressing and retraumatizing.
Brainspotting offers a gentler, non-verbal alternative approach when clients find limited success with these traditional talk therapies, and can be helpful for:
Individuals with sensory overload
Clients who have trouble verbalizing experiences
People seeking an alternative to talk therapy
Instead of having to go through the narratives of your trauma, you will focus on using eye movements to help you reprocess and manage your painful memories.
What Is Brainspotting Used For?
Brainspotting therapy can help individuals with a variety of psychological and emotional challenges. While primarily used to treat trauma, Brainspotting also supports:
Addiction and self-harm
Emotional dysregulation
For neurodivergent individuals, Brainspotting may help with:
ADHD and trauma: Research suggests that adults with ADHD are nearly seven times more likely to have PTSD than those without (Antshel et al., 2013).
Autism and trauma: Over 40% of autistic individuals showed probable PTSD within the last month (Rumball et al.).
Brainspotting Versus EMDR
Both Brainspotting and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are evidence-informed therapies for trauma and trauma-related conditions.
However, however, the concepts behind and approaches to treating trauma differ among these two therapeutic modalities.
Brainspotting is:
More client-led and flexible
Less structured
Focused on brain spot activation rather than bilateral stimulation
The choice between the two may depend on an individual's preferences, the nature of their trauma, and the expertise of the therapist. Many clients prefer Brainspotting’s gentle, attuned approach.
Strategies for Navigating Brainspotting Therapy
While engaging in trauma therapy, some intense emotions may occur from time to time. Coping strategies help manage intense emotions that may arise during trauma therapy:
Practicing Grounding Techniques: Practice the 5-4-3-2-1 method, which encourages you to focus on your senses to bring you back to the present moment. By engaging your senses, you anchor yourself in the here and now, reduce intrusive thoughts related to trauma, and foster a sense of safety and calm.
Using Creative Expression: Creative activities can serve as an outlet for emotions tied to CPTSD. They offer a valuable means of expression for those who may struggle with verbal communication.
Establishing a Routine to Build Structure: Incorporate self-care activities and designated relaxation times to create predictability. This approach can help manage stress by creating a greater sense of control.
Journaling: Keep a journal to aid in processing emotions and thoughts following sessions. Writing about experiences after therapy can foster insight and self-reflection.
Self-Care Practices: Engaging in self-care routines, such as meditation, exercise, and healthy eating, can create a sense of stability during difficult times.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR): Tense and then relax different muscle groups in the body. This aids in the release of stress.
Self-Compassion Breaks: Recognize your struggles, respond with kindness, and validate your emotions. Place a hand on your heart and say something soothing.
Mindful Walking: Choose a safe space to walk. Focus on the sensation of your feet making contact with the ground. If your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to the sensations of walking and your breath.
Radical Acceptance Visualization: A dialectical behavior therapy skill that involves completely and totally accepting reality as it is, without fighting it. First, identify what you need to accept. Write it down if that helps. Begin with a few slow, deep breaths and visualize yourself in a calm place.
TIPP: Change your temperature by placing ice on your wrist or having a warm bath. Engaging in a short burst of intense exercise. Practice paced breathing by inhaling through your nose for a count of 4, holding your breath for a count of 7, and exhaling through your mouth for a count of 8.
Brainspotting Therapy and Neurodivergent Individuals
Neurodivergent folks often face trauma from masking, discrimination, sensory distress, and systemic exclusion.
Brainspotting can:
Bypass verbal overload.
Honour non-linear processing.
Support emotional regulation in ADHD, autism, and beyond.
How to Find a Brainspotting Therapist
To find a qualified Brainspotting therapist:
Look for licensed professionals with Brainspotting certification.
Ask about experience with trauma-informed care and neurodivergent clients.
Seek referrals from healthcare providers or friends who may have insight into qualified professionals.
Schedule a free consultation to see if it’s a good fit.
Blue Sky Learning offers free 20-minute consultations with Rebecca, a Brainspotting-informed psychotherapist ready to support your healing journey.
Book a Free Consultation With Blue Sky Learning
Have traditional therapy methods felt overwhelming or ineffective? Are you seeking a more compassionate, body-based way to process trauma?
You don’t have to navigate it alone.
Book a free 20-minute consultation with Rebecca at Blue Sky Learning:
📞 1 (437) 291-8807
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