Understanding the Difference Between Brainspotting and EMDR

Brainspotting vs. EMDR might sound like a therapy showdown, but in reality, both are powerful trauma-processing methods that help people heal from deeply rooted emotional distress. If you’ve wondered, What’s the difference between Brainspotting and EMDR? or Which approach is better for me? this comparison will help you understand how each method works and what sets them apart.

What Is EMDR and How Does It Work?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro. According to the EMDR Institute (2024), she discovered that moving her eyes to different positions while thinking about distressing memories decreased her emotional distress. This observation led to the formal development of EMDR, which has since become a gold-standard treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related symptoms.

EMDR Treatment Phases

EMDR therapy follows a structured eight-phase protocol:

1. History Taking

2. Preparation

3. Assessment

4. Desensitization

5. Installation

6. Body Scan

7. Closure

8. Reassessment

During the desensitization and reprocessing phases, the therapist guides the client to focus on an image, negative belief, emotion, and body sensation related to the traumatic memory — while engaging in bilateral stimulation (BLS).

Forms of Bilateral Stimulation in EMDR

• Visual (Light Bar): The client tracks a moving light back and forth with their eyes.

• Tactile (Handheld Paddles or Self-Tapping): Alternating vibrations or self-applied “Butterfly Hugs” stimulate each side of the body.

• Auditory (Tones or Music): Alternating sounds in each ear promote bilateral engagement.

This left-right pattern helps the brain reprocess traumatic experiences, reducing emotional distress and promoting adaptive resolution.

What Is Brainspotting Therapy?

Brainspotting was developed in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, a seasoned EMDR practitioner. While using EMDR, Dr. Grand observed a client’s eyes flutter at a particular point in the visual field. When he encouraged the client to hold that gaze, deep emotional processing occurred — leading to the discovery that specific eye positions (or “brainspots”) correlate with stored emotional or somatic experiences.

As Grand often says, “Where you look affects how you feel.”

How Brainspotting Works

The therapist begins by identifying an issue the client wants to address — for example, “I feel inadequate at work,” or “I want to feel more confident in meetings.” Using a pointer or observing natural eye movements, the therapist helps the client locate a brainspot, or visual position linked to the emotional activation.

Once identified, the client maintains focus on that spot while noticing internal sensations, emotions, or thoughts. This can occur silently or verbally. Biolateral music, developed by Dr. Grand, may be used to enhance the process through gentle, alternating tones that move unpredictably from left to right.

Throughout the session, the therapist uses dual attunement — maintaining a grounded, relational presence while tracking the client’s internal process — and provides closure once the client’s nervous system has reached a calmer state.

Similarities Between Brainspotting and EMDR

Both Brainspotting and EMDR:

• Use eye position and movement strategically to access and process trauma.

• Aim to reduce distressing symptoms and promote adaptive healing.

• Incorporate bilateral or biolateral stimulation (visual, tactile, or auditory).

• Show effectiveness in reducing anxiety, trauma, and stress-related symptoms according to clinical research.

Key Differences Between Brainspotting and EMDR

1. Flexibility vs. Protocol

• EMDR follows a standardized, eight-phase structure with specific steps and targets.

• Brainspotting is non-protocol-based, allowing for flexibility that adapts to each client’s process and pace.

2. Somatic vs. Cognitive Focus

• Brainspotting emphasizes somatic (body-based) and non-verbal processing, helping clients access pre-verbal or implicit memories.

• EMDR often includes more cognitive restructuring, pairing emotional processing with shifts in belief systems.

3. Biolateral vs. Bilateral Sound

• Brainspotting uses biolateral sound, which alternates in an unpredictable pattern to support deeper neural integration.

• EMDR uses bilateral sound, which alternates in a predictable rhythm for consistency during reprocessing.

4. Therapist Role

• In Brainspotting, the therapist maintains dual attunement, actively engaged and relationally present, often holding a pointer to anchor focus.

• In EMDR, the therapist may take a more facilitative or observer role, guiding the client through structured BLS cycles.

Why Clients Choose Brainspotting Over EMDR

1. Greater Flexibility and Cultural Integration

Because Brainspotting is not constrained by a fixed protocol, it is especially supportive for clients who have felt judged, pathologized, or “noncompliant” in past therapy experiences. Its integrative model allows for the inclusion of clients’ cultural, spiritual, and ancestral frameworks — offering a more holistic, decolonized approach.

Research also highlights Brainspotting’s liberatory potential for BIPOC clients and others seeking relief from Race-Based Traumatic Stress, where traditional models may have reinforced systemic biases (Berger, 2021).

2. Research-Backed and Long-Lasting Results

Emerging research identifies Brainspotting as a promising trauma therapy for anxiety, PTSD, and emotional dysregulation, with effects that often persist well after treatment (Kishpaugh, 2023).
Studies also demonstrate that online Brainspotting remains effective for trauma processing and symptom reduction (Foo & Yudistiro, 2022).

As Brainspotting research evolves, results continue to mirror what experienced clinicians observe in practice: Where you look affects how you feel and the human brain is capable of profound, self-directed healing.

Hi! I’m Halle, a Brainspotting Therapist in Colorado.

I work with anxious millennial professionals who are ready to trade in self-doubt for self-trust. You can work with me in either weekly therapy, or in a Brainspotting Therapy Intensive.

If you live in either Colorado or Oregon, I’d love to work with you! Book your free intro call to get started.