Curious About Brainspotting? Here’s What Your First Session Could Look Like in NYC or Boston

Here’s What Your First Brainspotting Session Could Look Like

If you’re someone who’s navigated anxiety and trauma with talk therapy, maybe even done a lot of work on your inner world, yet still feel like there’s something beneath the surface you haven’t quite reached, you’re not alone. Healing isn’t always linear, and sometimes the mind alone can’t hold everything.

That’s where Brainspotting comes in—a gentle, powerful approach that helps you connect your mind and body to access deeper healing. If you’re curious about what a first Brainspotting session might feel like, especially if you’re navigating life in New York or Massachusetts and want a holistic way to move forward, this post is for you.

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a body-centered therapy that helps your brain and nervous system process stuck or overwhelming experiences by using where you naturally look to guide the healing. It’s based on the idea that where your eyes focus can point to deeper parts of your brain that hold onto trauma or emotional pain.

Unlike talk therapy, Brainspotting allows you to connect with those feelings on a somatic, nonverbal level—meaning your body can start to release tension and trauma in a way that feels natural and safe. It’s a way to access what words sometimes can’t fully capture.

No Rush to Dive In

When you come to your first session, there’s absolutely no pressure to jump straight into deep emotions or difficult memories. Healing happens in its own time, and I honor your pace every step of the way.

We’ll begin by creating a warm, welcoming space—often virtually, so you can be wherever you feel safest. This is your time to show up just as you are. We’ll talk about your current experience and what brought you here, and you’ll have the space to share what feels most important to you right now. Your goals can shift and change as we work together, and that’s perfectly okay.

Your Experience is Front and Center

I encourage you to take the lead in how much you want to explore during the session. If you want structure, I can gently guide us. If you already have a sense of where to begin, I’ll follow your intuition. Throughout the session, I’ll check in with you to see how you’re feeling and adjust the pace accordingly.

We’ll also take time to acknowledge your strengths and coping skills—the parts of you that have carried you this far. Recognizing these is important in grounding the work and supporting your nervous system as we move into Brainspotting.

How the Brainspotting Process Works

We’ll talk together about the Brainspotting process so you feel informed and empowered. Essentially, we use your eye position as a kind of map to locate where your brain holds tension or trauma. As you gently fix your gaze on that spot, your brain’s natural healing mechanisms can start to do their work.

You might feel a variety of sensations, emotions, or even just calmness—and all of those responses are normal. The process helps you access and release stuck experiences at a deeper level than talk therapy alone.

If you’ve been searching for a way to integrate your mind and body in healing, Brainspotting might be the missing piece.

It’s a deeply empathetic approach that meets you where you are, honors your pace, and supports your nervous system’s natural capacity to heal.

If you want to learn more or explore whether Brainspotting is right for you, I’m currently accepting new clients virtually in both New York and Massachusetts. If you’re interested in exploring Brainspotting and healing from anxiety or trauma, feel free to reach out to schedule a free consultation or learn more about how I can support your journey.