Brainspotting vs EMDR: Which Trauma Therapy Is Right for You?

When you’re carrying the weight of trauma, anxiety, or painful past experiences, talk therapy alone may not always feel like enough. At Heart Wide Open Wellness, we understand that healing is deeply personal. That’s why we offer specialized trauma therapies like Brainspotting and EMDR to help you move beyond survival mode and into true emotional freedom.

If you’re wondering about brainspotting vs EMDR, you’re not alone. Both approaches are powerful, evidence-based treatments designed to help you process trauma and emotional distress, but they work in slightly different ways.

Let’s break it down.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy designed to help people heal from traumatic or distressing experiences.

During EMDR:

• You briefly recall a traumatic memory.
• Your therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation (often side-to-side eye movements).
• This process helps your brain reprocess the memory so it no longer feels overwhelming.

Instead of reliving the trauma, EMDR allows your nervous system to “digest” the experience in a safer, more adaptive way.

EMDR Can Help With:

• PTSD
• Panic attacks
• Social anxiety
• Grief and loss
• Narcissistic abuse
• Performance anxiety
• Childhood trauma

At Heart Wide Open Wellness, EMDR is often used for individuals who want a structured, research-backed approach to trauma resolution.

What Is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a trauma-focused therapy that identifies specific eye positions (called “brainspots”) connected to unprocessed trauma stored in the body.

In a Brainspotting session:

• You focus on a specific memory, emotion, or physical sensation.
• Your therapist helps you locate a visual point that connects to that internal experience.
• While holding that eye position, you allow your brain and body to process at a deeper level.

Brainspotting is often described as:

• More intuitive
• Less structured
• More body-based
• Deeply attuned to the nervous system

It allows healing to unfold without needing to talk through every detail of the trauma.

Brainspotting vs EMDR: Key Differences

Which Therapy Is Better?

There is no “better”, only what’s better for you.

Some clients prefer EMDR because it feels structured and goal-oriented. Others feel drawn to Brainspotting because it allows deeper emotional exploration with less verbal processing.

At Heart Wide Open Wellness, our therapists are trained in both approaches. We often integrate Brainspotting and EMDR with traditional talk therapy to create a truly holistic healing experience.

Your treatment plan may depend on:

• Your comfort level
• The nature of your trauma
• How your nervous system responds
• Whether you prefer structure or open processing

A Holistic Approach to Trauma Healing

Healing trauma isn’t just about thinking differently, it’s about helping your body, brain, and heart feel safe again.

Founder Hannah’s journey into therapy began from her own experience with overwhelming stress, chronic fatigue, panic attacks, and deep emotional exhaustion. She understands firsthand how trauma can live in the body, and how transformative it is when healing begins from within.

At Heart Wide Open Wellness, we combine:

• Individual counseling
• Couples and family therapy
• Group therapy workshops
• Walk therapy (outdoor therapy in nature)
• EMDR
• Brainspotting

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, relationship struggles, or life transitions, you don’t have to do it alone.

Who Can Benefit From Brainspotting or EMDR?

These therapies are especially helpful if you:

• Feel “stuck” despite years of talk therapy
• Experience panic attacks or intrusive thoughts
• Have unresolved childhood trauma
• Struggle with chronic anxiety
• Notice physical symptoms connected to stress
• Want to break generational trauma cycles
• Feel triggered but don’t know why

Both approaches can be effective for adults, teens, and even adolescents when clinically appropriate.

What to Expect at Heart Wide Open Wellness

Your healing begins with a consultation, often scheduled with Hannah, to help match you with the right therapist and approach.

We take time to:

• Understand your story
• Identify your goals
• Assess what feels safe for your nervous system
• Create a personalized plan

We believe therapy should feel supportive, empowering, and grounded in compassion, not clinical and cold.

Ready to Begin?

Trauma does not define you. It may shape parts of your story, but it does not have to control your future. If you’re curious about Brainspotting vs EMDR and want guidance on what might be right for you, we’re here to help. Schedule a consultation with Hannah or the team and take the first step toward living with your Heart Wide Open.