HealthJuly 21, 2026

brainspotting

/ˈbreɪnˌspɒtɪŋ/

Definition

A therapeutic technique that identifies and processes subconscious trauma and emotional tension by focusing on specific eye positions.

Etymology

The word is a modern compound formed by combining 'brain' (referring to the neural processing of trauma) and 'spotting' (referring to identifying specific visual points). It was coined by therapist David Grand to describe the practice of locating eye positions that correlate with deep-seated emotional responses.

In the news

The term appears in a sidebar link as a specific alternative therapy option for patients feeling stuck. It highlights the variety of specialized therapeutic approaches available beyond traditional talk therapy.

What’s the Difference Between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?

Read the full article ↗

Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.