Brainspotting

Online in North Carolina & South Carolina

An Extraordinary Way To Heal Your Brain

Benefits of Brainspotting

Shorten your stay in therapy

Tackle the “big thing” that is hard to talk about or get to in one hour of therapy.

You’ll notice immediate changes in your day to day– for the better!

You can quickly get to the root cause of your struggle.

You don’t have to talk about “it” if you don’t want to. Brainspotting will be just as effective!

Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic modality that targets the mid-brain. Brainspotting is a bottom-up therapy approach. A certified brainspotting therapist in North Carolina and South Carolina provides brainspotting therapy. Call today to begin Brainspotting Therapy in NC or SC.

What may take months to years to target in traditional talk therapy, you may achieve results in just a few sessions of Brainspotting

Clients who have done Brainspotting with me have said things like:


WHERE YOU LOOK AFFECTS HOW YOU FEEL

Brainspotting For Healing

Developed in 2003 by David Grand, brainspotting is a newer therapeutic technique that focuses on the mind-body connection. It is a unique and powerful method that addresses

  • Stress
  • Trauma
  • Promotes Emotional Well-Being

A brainspotting session is a highly personalized and collaborative therapy process that makes it a promising option for those seeking profound healing and personal transformation.

Brainspotting for Trauma in North Carolina helps overcome extreme anxiety, increased startle, past abuse, and unsettling events. Brainspotting Therapy is available online in NC and SC. Call today to begin a Brainspotting Therapy appointment.

If you’re considering therapy or exploring alternative approaches to improving emotional well-being…

Brainspotting may be a valuable tool on your journey of healing.

Image of a Brain and the areas that Brainspotting targets. Brainspotting is an effective therapeutic modality to enhance the mind-body connection. Brainspotting Therapy is available in North Carolina and South Carolina. Call today to begin an Online Brainspotting Therapy session.

Brainspotting is a “bottom-up” therapeutic approach. It bypasses the frontal lobe or cognitive part of your brain and targets the nervous system and midbrain where memories, emotions, and traumatic events are stored.

What is an Online Brainspotting Session Like?

You and Eleena Hardzinski, LMFT will start by having an initial intake session. She may ask about any relevant personal history, current concerns, and goals.

The brainspotting session will start with Eleena asking what you would like to focus on for the session.

You may be instructed to turn on the bio-lateral music and listen at a soft volume through your headphones/earbuds.

From there, Eleena will help guide you into finding your brainspot. You may be looking at the tip of a pointer and asked to notice any differences in your body. The experience is highly individualized and unique. You may notice a dream like sequence playing out in your mind, various sensation in your body, or thoughts that could be connected or completely unrelated to your initial area of focus. Eleena will be right there with you to guide you through every moment of the process.

One Eye Brainspotting is a type of Brainspotting Therapy set-up to help target and heal extreme feelings and emotions stored deep in the brain. Brainspotting Therapy is available in NC and SC State-Wide. Call today to begin a brainspotting therapist if you live in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Supplies You Should Have For An Online Brainspotting Appointment

Online Intensive Brainspotting Sessions

Some people are looking for a deep and rapid approach to healing. Brainspotting intensives offer a short-term option for those looking for rapid and lasting relief. Brainspotting can be used during a traditional 50-minute session and may be incorporated into general therapy sessions. For those looking specifically for an intense experience or would like to include brainspotting in conjunction with your primary therapist, brainspotting intensives can be an option.

Questions before getting started?
Get in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Brainspotting is highly effective for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, phobias, performance anxiety, ADHD, and more. It’s also helpful for improving creativity and emotional regulation. If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this approach might work for you.

If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unable to move past certain emotions or experiences, Brainspotting may be a good fit. It’s especially helpful if traditional talk therapy hasn’t worked as well as you hoped. During our initial consultation, we’ll explore your needs and see if it’s a good match.

Brainspotting can also help with expanding to certain feelings or states of being. Perhaps you would like to feel at peace, calm, content, or happy toward certain situations. Brainspotting can help with this!

Yes! Brainspotting is backed by research and has helped millions of people process trauma and achieve breakthroughs when other therapy techniques didn’t. It taps directly into the brain’s natural ability to heal itself. While results vary, many clients report significant progress within a few sessions.

I was initially skeptical at first. After my first brainspotting session, I quickly learned that brainspotting helped “turn down the volume” to the emotions I was feeling toward the topic I processed. It has been a few years since that initial session and I feel the “volume is still down”. I remember what happened, but there isn’t the emotional tie to the situation anymore. Since then, I’ve been hooked. I had to get trained in this modality and share it with others. There will be times that I find myself thinking about something that’s bothering me and I can’t get those thoughts out of my head. Brainspotting will help quiet those thoughts so I can focus on what is important.

The healing effects of brainspotting are often long-lasting and potentially life line because the therapy works at a deep, neurological level, helping your brain process and release unresolved trauma and emotional pain.

You can actually heal from your past trauma!

The duration of the benefits can depend on several factors, including the nature of the issue, your personal healing journey, and how you continue to care for yourself after therapy.

Brainspotting is a deeply personal and unique experience, so the signs that it’s working can look different for everyone. Unlike traditional talk therapy, brainspotting works on a non-verbal, subcortical level, which means the effects can be subtle at first or feel profound right away. Here are some indicators to help you know it’s working:

1. Emotional or Physical Shifts During the Session

  • Emotional Release: You might experience tears, laughter, or a wave of emotion as your brain processes and releases stuck feelings.
  • Physical Sensations: Many clients feel physical changes, such as tingling, warmth, lightness, or a release of tension in the body.
  • Sense of Calm: Some feel a deep sense of relaxation or relief during the session, as if their body is letting go of a heavy weight.

2. Changes in How You Feel About the Issue

  • Less Emotional Intensity: After a session, the memory or issue you worked on might feel less overwhelming or charged. You may still remember it, but it no longer triggers the same emotional reaction.
  • New Perspective: You might find yourself thinking about the issue in a different, more constructive way.

3. Improved Body Awareness

  • Brainspotting encourages you to tune into your body. Over time, you might notice:
    • Reduced physical symptoms, like tension, headaches, or stomachaches, especially if they were linked to unresolved trauma.
    • Feeling more connected to your body and its signals, leading to better emotional regulation.

4. Subtle Changes in Behavior

  • You might notice you’re responding differently to situations that used to trigger you. For example:
    • Feeling calmer in stressful situations.
    • Reacting with more patience or understanding in relationships.
    • Having more energy or motivation to engage in daily life.

5. Breakthroughs or Insights

  • During or after a session, you might experience “aha” moments—new insights or realizations about yourself, your past, or your emotions. These can feel empowering and bring a sense of clarity.

6. Long-Term Progress

  • Cumulative Effects: Brainspotting often works on layers of trauma or stress, so the results may become more noticeable over time.
  • Greater Emotional Balance: Over multiple sessions, you might feel more grounded, resilient, and emotionally balanced.

What If You Don’t Feel Anything?

Sometimes, the effects of brainspotting are subtle or delayed. Healing doesn’t always happen in dramatic breakthroughs—it can unfold gradually. Here’s why you might not notice immediate changes:

  • Processing Takes Time: Your brain may still be working on the issue even after the session. Changes might show up days or weeks later.
  • Less Noticeable Layers: Some sessions focus on deeper or less conscious layers of trauma that you might not be fully aware of yet.

Trust the Process

Brainspotting works with your brain’s natural ability to heal. Even if you don’t feel much during a session, the process is still happening on a deep, neurological level. Over time, most clients notice meaningful changes in how they feel, think, and respond to life.

A session typically involves finding a comfortable position, discussing your concerns briefly, and then using a pointer to guide your gaze to specific spots. While focusing on these spots, we create a safe space for your brain to process thoughts, feelings, and memories naturally. You might feel emotional, relaxed, or even have vivid memories or sensations—it’s all part of your healing journey.

Not at all! One of the great things about Brainspotting is that you don’t have to share every detail of your experiences. You can process things internally while focusing on the brainspot. This can feel safer and less overwhelming for many people.

The number of sessions varies depending on your goals and the issues you’re working on. Some clients notice changes after 1–3 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work. We’ll go at your pace and adjust as needed.

The main risk is emotional discomfort, as Brainspotting brings up intense feelings or memories. Some clients feel temporary fatigue or emotional overwhelm after a session. Sometimes sleep may be moderately affected for a night or two. Working with a skilled therapist ensures you are supported through the process, minimizing risks.

Some people cry, some people don’t. Crying is common and completely okay! It’s a natural release of emotions that have been stored in your body. Many people find this release incredibly healing and feel lighter afterward. However, if you don’t cry, that’s fine too. Everyone processes emotions differently. (I tend to cry during brainspotting and find that it is such a healing release.)

Clients often describe brainspotting as intense but deeply healing. Some feel waves of emotion, while others experience subtle shifts. It’s unique to each person, but the process is designed to let your brain and body guide the healing.

No, however Brainspotting and hypnosis share some similarities. They are distinct therapeutic approaches with different goals and techniques. Here’s a breakdown of the comparison:

Similarities

  1. Access to the Subconscious
    Both brainspotting and hypnosis aim to tap into deeper parts of the brain and mind where unresolved memories, emotions, and traumas might be stored.
  2. Relaxation
    Sessions in both methods often involve creating a calm and focused state, which helps the client feel safe to explore challenging experiences.
  3. Facilitating Insight
    Both approaches help clients uncover underlying issues and emotions that may not be accessible through traditional talk therapy.

Differences

BrainspottingHypnosis
Focuses on Eye Position: Uses where you look to access where the brain stores trauma or emotional distress. A “brainspot” is identified as a physical cue that connects to emotional or traumatic memories.Focuses on Suggestibility: Guides clients into a trance-like state, often using suggestions to influence thought patterns, behaviors, or feelings and the overall outcome.
Non-Directive: The therapist follows the client’s natural process, letting their brain lead the healing.Directive: The therapist often takes a more active role in leading the session and guiding outcomes.
Conscious Awareness: Clients remain fully aware and in control during the brainspotting session.Altered Consciousness: Clients enter a hypnotic trance, which may feel like a dreamlike state.
Trauma Healing: Primarily used for processing trauma, releasing emotional pain, and addressing physical symptoms tied to trauma.

Brainspotting can also be a beneficial modality for changing habits, managing fears or phobias, and promoting relaxation.
Behavioral Change: Often used for changing habits, managing fears or phobias, and promoting relaxation.


While both methods delve into the subconscious, brainspotting is more about using the body’s natural ability to process and heal trauma, while hypnosis often involves guided suggestions (from the therapist) to shift thoughts and behaviors. Think of brainspotting as tuning into your brain’s GPS and going at your own pace for emotional processing, while hypnosis is more like reprogramming your brain’s operating system at your therapists pace.

Brainspotting (BSP) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are two powerful trauma therapies, but their approaches and benefits differ. While both are highly effective, brainspotting may be more beneficial for certain individuals or situations. Let’s break it down.

Key Differences Between Brainspotting and EMDR

1. Technique

  • EMDR: Uses structured protocols, including guided eye movements, tapping, or tones, to help you reprocess specific traumatic memories. The therapist actively directs the process, focusing on desensitizing and reframing the memory.
  • Brainspotting: Identifies a “brainspot,” a point in your visual field tied to unresolved trauma or emotional tension. The therapist holds space while your brain naturally processes at its own pace. There’s no need to follow a strict protocol or revisit the trauma in detail.

2. Flexibility

  • EMDR: Highly structured, following an 8-phase protocol. While effective, this structure can feel rigid or overwhelming for some clients.
  • Brainspotting: More open-ended and client-led. It allows your body and brain to guide the session, working at a pace that feels safe and natural for you.

3. Processing Style

  • EMDR: Focuses on changing the narrative of a specific memory. It’s particularly useful when you can clearly identify the trauma or issue you want to work on.
  • Brainspotting: Works with the deep, non-verbal parts of the brain where trauma is often stored. This makes it ideal for processing emotions or experiences that feel “stuck” but don’t have clear memories attached—or for those who don’t feel ready to talk about their trauma.

4. Body Awareness

  • EMDR: Primarily focuses on mental and emotional processing, with some attention to physical sensations.
  • Brainspotting: Deeply integrates the mind-body connection, using your physical sensations as a guide. This makes it especially helpful for addressing trauma that’s stored in the body, such as chronic pain, tension, or other somatic symptoms.

5. Depth of Healing

  • EMDR: Effective for resolving specific memories and reducing their emotional charge.
  • Brainspotting: Often reaches deeper layers of the brain, addressing trauma and emotions that are difficult to verbalize or consciously access. Many clients find it feels more profound or transformative.

When Brainspotting May Be More Beneficial Than EMDR

  1. For Non-Verbal Trauma
    If your trauma feels hard to put into words or you don’t remember all the details, brainspotting may be a better fit. It doesn’t rely on recounting the event or attaching words to emotions, which can feel overwhelming for some.
  2. For Overwhelmed or Highly Sensitive Clients
    Brainspotting’s unstructured approach allows you to process at your own pace. For clients who feel flooded or retraumatized by revisiting specific memories, it can feel gentler and less directive than EMDR.
  3. For Physical Symptoms of Trauma
    If your trauma shows up as chronic pain, tension, or other physical symptoms, brainspotting’s focus on body awareness can lead to greater relief.
  4. For Complex or Layered Trauma
    Brainspotting allows the brain to choose what to process first, making it ideal for those with multiple layers of trauma or experiences that feel tangled together.
  5. For Wanting To Expand or Bring Forth A Desired State
    Brainspotting allows you to expand on your feelings or emotions to explore how you would like to feel. Perhaps it is at peace? calm? happy? content? By processing through the expansion model you can also gently process extremely distressing past trauma in a safe and effective way.

Think of It Like This

  • EMDR: Like a guided tour with a map—you revisit specific memories and reprocess them with clear, structured steps. (Rigid)
  • Brainspotting: Like wandering through a forest with a trusted guide, letting your body and brain lead you to what needs attention. (Flexible, gentle, powerful, and at your own pace)

Which One Is Right for You?

The best therapy depends on your unique needs, comfort level, and goals. If you’ve tried EMDR and found it too rigid, overwhelming, or focused on specific memories, brainspotting might be a more flexible, powerful, and body-centered alternative.

In the short answer, I like to describe brainspotting as just “magic”. Brainspotting is incredible, powerful, and transformative.

You don’t have to live with constant worry, guilt, feeling like you’re drowning, or crying every day. Brainspotting Therapy can help you…

Heal from the past

Let go of past resentments

Set healthy boundaries

Enjoy quality time with your loved ones

Feel confident in doing what you love

Mosaic Reflections Therapy serves clients online in North Carolina and South Carolina. Eleena specializes in helping women heal from past traumas, find balance in their lives, overcome guilt, have healthy boundaries, improve communication with their families, and regain confidence and joy in their lives. 

Step 1

Contact Eleena Hardzinski, LMFT to schedule your first appointment/intake session.

Step 2

Meet with Eleena Hardzinski, LMFT, Certified Brainspotting Therapist for an intake session.

Step 3

Start healing from the resentments and frustration you’re holding on to and begin to find joy in life while doing what you love with the people you love.

Certified Brainspotting Therapist, Eleena Hardzinski, LMFT provides Online Brainspotting Therapy in Matthews,  NC, Charlotte, NC, Statewide in North Carolina and State Wide in South Carolina. Call today to begin a brainspotting therapy session.
Let’s Discover How I can Help

Online Brainspotting In North Carolina and South Carolina

Reach Out Today to schedule a brainspotting session. Call or Text 1-910-833-1849.

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