On this page, we provide answers to basic questions about brainspotting and how it is used in simple terms and using multimedia.
Links to specialist articles and (inter)national videos provide a deeper – professional – insight.

Brainspotting is a method for anyone who is suffering from the consequences of an emotional or physical injury, for example, or who is going through a life crisis or blockage.
It is often used effectively to develop potential in sport, art or personal development.
It can currently be used by psychologists, psychotherapists and doctors in Austria.

Brainspotting comes into play when stress overtaxes our natural self-healing powers.
Examples of this can be: inner restlessness, feeling paralyzed, sleep disorders, tension, fear of speaking, psychosomatic complaints, difficulties in dealing with a current situation and much more.

Hildegard von Bingen was already convinced that “Where we look influences how we feel”, and this is the guiding principle of brainspotting treatment.
Brainspotting uses the visual system and body awareness to access blockages caused by a traumatic or hurtful experience.
The method can thus provide long-lasting help in the effective processing and integration of such experiences.
Emotional effectiveness can be achieved through physical access.
Clients repeatedly report significant relief and even the disappearance of symptoms. See client feedback!

The following articles will give you a first insight into the multimedia world of brainspotting.
Monika Baumann briefly explains how the technology works and a cut-together live demo of a treatment gives you an impression of what such a session can look like.

This is a point in the visual field of vision that triggers a strong physical or emotional reaction in clients.
The brain activity associated with this eye position or orientation can specifically activate (un)conscious trauma memories.
Through the safe relationship with the practitioner, the now activated traumatic experiences can be reprocessed and thus integrated.

Once a trust-based relationship has been established, the brainspot is sought and found.
In most cases, the client’s eyes slowly follow a pointer in the hand of the respective professional.
If a point in the client’s field of vision is recognized as causing a physical reaction such as a strong blinking or a change in facial expression, a brainspot has been found!
It is this point that triggers the memory of a traumatic, hurtful episode or clients can feel their way there through their body.

Brainspotting was discovered in 2003 by New York psychotherapist Dr. David Grand and is still being further developed today.
Brainspotting Austria is the only institution in Austria certified by Dr. David Grand / Brainspotting Trainings LLC.
We teach the internationally recognized Brainspotting training and are always up to date with the latest developments.
Senior instructor Monika Baumann is responsible for ensuring that the training is always up to date at all levels.

It is assumed that brainspotting activates deep regions in the brain where traumatic and hurtful experiences are stored, as well as the associated body regions.
The method aims to integrate both the emotional stress and physical symptoms associated with this episode in such a way that they are less or no longer felt by clients.
The method is relatively new, but its rapid spread among therapists, psychologists and doctors is testimony to its effectiveness.
Initial studies can be found under“Publications“.
Brainspotting Austria is the official Austrian representative of brainspotting and is intensively supported and promoted by Dr. Grand.

Brainspotting work with children and young people has long been an important area for Baumann.
More details here.
After realizing how great the demand is, Monika Baumann expanded the seminar – originally developed together with Martha Jacobi – by a third day in 2020.
In the same year, she also summarized and published her knowledge of brainspotting work with young children in a book.
You can find “Brainspotting with Children and Adolescents: An attuned treatment approach for effective brain-body healing” in the publications.
She then revised the English work again and added a general section on brainspotting.
The reference book will be published by Carl Auer Verlag in 2023.
In addition to Austria, the expert has already given individual lectures and this seminar in Paraguay, Brazil (first international brainspotting congress), Germany, Spain and the USA.
You can read more about this in our news.
International interest in therapeutic brainspotting work with children and adolescents is growing enormously.
Dear brainspotters, take a look at the dates to find out when the next seminar is taking place in your area!

Here, for example, you can gain an insight into the course of a brainspotting session.

Brainspotting Austria can confirm for professionals certified by Brainspotting™ (with photo) that they have extensive practical experience with the technique and undergo ongoing training.
All other colleagues have completed the basic training (phase 1) and at least two hours of supervision with our supervisors.