Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic approach that accesses the deep brain through specific eye positions. When you focus on a particular spot in your visual field, it correlates with stored trauma and emotional activation in your brain. For couples, this means we can access and process the underlying wounds that fuel repetitive conflicts, emotional shutdowns, and disconnection. Rather than just talking about your problems, Brainspotting allows both partners to heal at a neurobiological level, creating lasting change in how you relate to each other.

Traditional talk therapy primarily engages the thinking brain, which is helpful but often limited when deep trauma is involved. Brainspotting bypasses the cognitive mind and accesses the subcortical brain where trauma, emotions, and bodily sensations are stored. This means couples can resolve issues that have remained stuck despite years of talking about them. Many high-achieving couples find this approach refreshing because it produces tangible results rather than endless circular conversations about the same recurring issues.

Absolutely. In fact, Brainspotting is particularly effective when partners carry different trauma backgrounds because it allows each person to process their own unique experiences while building mutual understanding. I work with each partner individually within our couples sessions when needed, helping you both heal your personal wounds while also addressing how those wounds interact within your relationship. This dual approach creates deeper empathy and breaks cycles of triggering each other.

During a session, I guide you through identifying where you feel activation in your body when discussing relationship challenges. Using a pointer, I help locate the specific eye position that connects to that activation. You then focus on that spot while allowing your brain to process whatever arises. This might include emotions, memories, physical sensations, or insights. For couples work, I may work with one partner while the other witnesses, or guide you through parallel processing. Each session is tailored to what your relationship needs in that moment.

Many couples notice shifts within the first few sessions, particularly in how they feel when discussing previously charged topics. The brain processes trauma at its own pace, so timelines vary based on the depth and complexity of what you are working through. High-achieving couples often appreciate that Brainspotting tends to work more efficiently than traditional approaches because it targets the root cause rather than just managing symptoms. I will work with you to assess progress and adjust our approach as needed.

Brainspotting was specifically designed to be a gentle yet effective trauma processing method. Unlike some approaches that require you to retell traumatic stories in detail, Brainspotting allows your brain to process without overwhelming your nervous system. I am trained to monitor your activation levels throughout our sessions and ensure we stay within a window that feels challenging but manageable. My trauma-informed approach means your safety and stability are always the priority while we work toward healing.

Yes, Brainspotting can be valuable whether you ultimately stay together or separate. For couples on the brink, this approach helps clear the emotional fog created by years of accumulated hurt, resentment, and trauma responses. This clarity allows you to make decisions from a grounded place rather than from reactivity or numbness. Some couples discover renewed connection once underlying wounds are addressed. Others gain the peace and closure needed to separate with less conflict. Either way, Brainspotting supports you in moving forward with intention.

While both partners being open to the process creates the most powerful results, Brainspotting can still benefit your relationship even if one partner is more hesitant. I often work with one partner at a time within our couples sessions, allowing the other to witness the processing. This witnessing itself can be profoundly healing and create understanding that words alone cannot achieve. Over time, skeptical partners often become more willing to engage as they observe the positive changes in their relationship.

Online Brainspotting has proven highly effective and offers several advantages for busy couples. You can participate from the comfort and privacy of your own home, which often helps partners feel more relaxed and open. I guide the eye positioning through our video session, and many couples find the process just as powerful as in-person work. The convenience of online sessions also means you can prioritize your relationship without adding commute time to your already demanding schedules.

Brainspotting may be particularly well-suited for your relationship if you have tried traditional couples therapy without lasting results, if one or both of you carry significant trauma from childhood or past relationships, if you find yourselves having the same fights repeatedly, or if emotional walls and disconnection have built up over years. During our initial consultation, I will learn about your specific situation and help determine whether Brainspotting, alone or combined with other approaches I offer, is the best path forward for your unique relationship.