Brainspotting Therapy in Torrance & the South Bay

Brainspotting is a brain-based therapy that helps your mind and body process experiences that talking alone hasn’t fully healed. Instead of only analyzing your story, we use eye positions and body sensations to access where trauma, anxiety, and emotional pain are “stuck” in your nervous system. I use Brainspotting to support adults dealing with trauma and PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and narcissistic abuse recovery in Torrance, the South Bay, and across California via telehealth.

We’ll move at your pace, and you always stay in control of what we work on.

Can you Benefit From Brainspotting?

When Brainspotting Helps

Brainspotting can be especially helpful if:

You’ve done talk therapy before and understand your story, but your body still reacts like you’re in danger
Certain people, tones of voice, or situations trigger intense reactions that feel way bigger than what’s happening
You feel waves of panic, shame, grief, or anger that seem to come out of nowhere and are hard to calm down
You shut down, go numb, or “check out” when things get intense, even when you want to stay present
You have experiences you can’t fully put into words, but your chest, stomach, or throat tighten whenever you think about them
You’re stuck in patterns—people-pleasing, overachieving, self-blame, or avoidance—that don’t match how you want to live
You’re curious about going deeper than talk therapy without being pushed to relive everything all at once

What Is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a type of therapy that uses where you look with your eyes to help your brain and body find and process unresolved experiences. Certain eye positions are linked to the emotional and body “files” of what you’ve been through. By gently focusing there while you notice what’s happening inside, your nervous system can start to release what’s been stuck—without you needing the perfect words.

Works with eye positions and body sensations to access deeper layers of emotion and memory
Helps process stuck experiences that show up as panic, tension, shutdown, or feeling “frozen”
Blends well with talk therapy, CBT and trauma work, so we can use it alongside other tools
You stay in control the whole time—we slow down, pause, or stop anytime something feels too much.

What Happens in a Brainspotting Session

We pick a focus.
We choose something to work on—like a recent trigger, a painful memory, a pattern you’re stuck in, or a feeling in your body you’re tired of carrying.
We find a brainspot.
Using a pointer or simple eye guidance, we find an eye position that seems connected to that issue—often where you feel the emotion or body sensation most strongly.
You notice what comes up while I track with you.
You simply notice thoughts, images, emotions, and body sensations as they rise and fall, while I stay with you, track your cues, and make sure you’re not overwhelmed.
We ground and notice any shifts.
Before you leave, we come back to the present—grounding in your body, your surroundings, and what feels different now (even if the change is small or subtle).

Brainspotting FAQ

Do I have to relive everything in detail?

No. You don’t have to give a play-by-play of your trauma or share anything you’re not ready to say out loud. Brainspotting can work even if you share very little. We focus on how it feels in your body now, and you stay in charge of what you do and don’t talk about.

Can we do Brainspotting online?

Yes. Brainspotting can be done effectively via telehealth for clients anywhere in California. We adjust the setup slightly for video, but the process is very similar: we pick a focus, find brainspots, and track your internal experience together while you stay in a safe, private space.

How will I know if it’s working?

Most people don’t walk out of one session feeling “fixed,” but over time they notice changes: triggers feel less intense, spirals are shorter, it’s easier to stay present, or situations that used to shut them down feel more manageable. We’ll check in regularly about what you’re noticing in real life, not just in session.

How does Brainspotting compare to EMDR/other therapies?

In Brainspotting, we don’t just talk about what happened—we also pay close attention to what your body is doing in the moment. Instead of moving your eyes back and forth like EMDR, we find a “brainspot” (a specific eye position) that seems to light up the issue, then stay there while you notice sensations, emotions, and memories that surface. I stay closely attuned and help you move through the experience at a pace that feels manageable, rather than analyzing every detail.

If you’d like a more technical overview, the official Brainspotting organization explains how Brainspotting is taught and used by therapists around the world.

Curious If Brainspotting Is Right for You?

If you’re tired of understanding your story but still feeling it in your body, Brainspotting might be a good next step. You don’t have to have it all figured out before reaching out—we can talk through what you’re dealing with and decide together if this approach fits your needs.