Your eyes hold more information than you think.
Brainspotting Therapy Online, Available Across Canada.
Registered therapists. Insurance accepted. Canadian-owned.
What is Brainspotting Therapy?
Brainspotting (BSP) is a brain-body therapy based on a well-supported idea: where you look affects how you feel.
Developed by Dr. David Grand, it uses specific eye positions to access the subcortical brain, where trauma and difficult experiences are stored outside of conscious thought. This is what makes it useful when insight and talking haven't been enough to shift something.
BSP is used to support people navigating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, and chronic pain. Brainspotting is a way to access emotions on a deeper level and target the effects of your trauma while your trained Brainspotting therapist helps you with the issues that you find hard to face on your own.
Featured Brainspotting Therapists
Our therapists are trained in Brainspotting and work with you at a pace that feels right.
How Brainspotting Works
Brainspotting is both focused and gentle. Your therapist guides your eyes across your visual field to locate a brainspot, an eye position that connects to a stored experience or emotion in the subcortical brain.
Holding that position, with bilateral sound and your therapist's presence, allows your nervous system to process what it hasn't been able to on its own. A second "resource spot" is also identified, an eye position associated with calm, used to support regulation throughout the session.
In virtual sessions, your therapist uses an on-screen pointer. The process translates well online, and many clients find their home environment a comfortable place for this work.
Fill out the therapist match form
It takes about five minutes. Based on your answers, we'll suggest one or two registered therapists. You can have a free consultation with one or both. If neither feels right, we can suggest someone else on our team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brainspotting
Does brainspotting work online?
Yes. Your therapist uses an on-screen pointer to guide your eye position, the same way they would use a physical pointer in person. Many clients find that working from their home environment actually supports the process, particularly for trauma work where feeling safe and comfortable matters.
How is brainspotting different from EMDR?
Both are brain-body therapies that use eye positions to process trauma. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, moving your eyes back and forth in a structured protocol. Brainspotting works differently: your therapist locates a fixed eye position connected to a specific experience and holds there, allowing your nervous system to process at its own pace. Some people who haven't responded to EMDR find brainspotting useful, and vice versa.
How many sessions does brainspotting take?
This varies depending on what you're working on and how your nervous system responds. Some people notice a shift within a few sessions. Others work with brainspotting over a longer period as part of ongoing therapy. Your therapist will check in with you regularly about how things are progressing.
Do I have to talk about what happened in detail?
No. Brainspotting doesn't require you to recount your experience in full. Your therapist works with what's present in your body and nervous system. Some people say very little during a session. Others find words come naturally. Both are fine.
What conditions is brainspotting used for?
Brainspotting is used to support people working through trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, chronic pain, and performance issues. It can be used on its own or alongside other therapeutic approaches.
Is brainspotting covered by insurance in Canada?
Coverage depends on your plan. Brainspotting sessions at The Dot are delivered by Registered Psychotherapists, which is covered under many extended health plans. We offer direct billing through Medavie Blue Cross, Sun Life, and Telus eClaims, which connects to 35+ insurers including Manulife, Canada Life, and Desjardins. Check your plan details or contact us and we can help clarify.
"Where you look affects how you feel."
– David Grand, Discoverer of the Brainspotting technique
Clinically Reviewed by Rory Nicol, RP on January 19, 2026