Brainspotting therapy for youth, teenagers, and young adults

Embark provides brainspotting therapy for youth, teens, and young adults facing mental health challenges like anxiety, trauma, and PTSD.  

This compassionate and effective therapy helps release traumatic or repressed memories stored in the nervous system, allowing young people to heal and lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. 

Young adults sharing peer support during a brainspotting therapy session for trauma processing.
Young adults sharing peer support during a brainspotting therapy session for trauma processing.
Parent supporting their teen during brainspotting therapy to process trauma and emotional stress.

What is brainspotting therapy?

Brainspotting therapy is a focused treatment that helps identify, process, and release core sources of emotional pain and trauma. It uses the brain-body connection to help youth, teens, and young adults access and overcome their mental health issues.  

Embark uses brainspotting therapy for trauma to help naturally release repressed memories stored in the nervous system. 

  • Accessing memories:

    Many memories are subconscious and difficult to retrieve. Brainspotting helps young people access these memories by focusing on their visual field, similar to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) but with a deeper focus on the nervous system.

  • Releasing trauma:

    Brainspotting allows youth, teens, and young adults to access and release deep memories and emotions through various therapeutic techniques. 

This evidence-based method effectively reaches the subconscious and helps release repressed traumatic memories. 

How does brainspotting therapy work to help youth, teens, and young adults process trauma?

Brainspotting identifies points in a young person’s visual field that connect to their emotional experiences. An Embark therapist helps them find specific 'brain spots'—eye positions that activate brain areas holding emotional distress. 

  • Accessing emotions:

    Focusing on these spots allows youth, adolescents, teens, or young adults to safely access and process difficult emotions, memories, and sensations, helping to release stored trauma. 

  • Trusting body intelligence:

    The body naturally knows how to release and process trauma when provided with a safe space.

Stages of brainspotting treatment: 

  • Building trust:

    The therapist establishes a secure relationship with the youth, teen, or young adult, creating a safe space for exploring difficult memories and emotions. 

  • Visual field access:

    The therapist helps the young person identify spots in their visual field to access emotional trauma or memories. 

  • Processing memories:

    The young person talks about distressing topics while maintaining eye contact with the visual spot. The therapist guides them to process and release these memories from the nervous system. 

  • Understanding trauma:

    As the young person recalls memories, they work with their therapist to make sense of them and understand their effects. 

Parent supporting their teen during brainspotting therapy to process trauma and emotional stress.
Teens participating in a brainspotting group therapy session to address emotional challenges.
Teen participating in art therapy as a brainspotting approach to process emotions and trauma.

What conditions and symptoms can brainspotting therapy help treat in youth, teens, and young adults?

Brainspotting therapy is used to treat a wide range of conditions and symptoms, including but not limited to:

  • Trauma and PTSD:

    Brainspotting treatment is particularly effective at helping youth, adolescents, teens, and young adults process traumatic experiences and alleviate symptoms of PTSD. 

  • Anxiety and depression:

    Brainspotting therapy can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression by addressing underlying emotional issues.

  • Behavioral issues

    Brainspotting techniques can help manage behavioral problems in youth and adolescents, like Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Out-of-Control Behavior.

  • Attention deficit disorders

    Brainspotting can improve focus and attention in youth, teens, or young adults with ADHD.

Find the mental health treatment that best meets your needs

Embark Behavioral Health delivers mental health care through a trusted nationwide network of more than 30 outpatient centers and inpatient programs across the U.S.

Start your healing journey today!

What are the benefits of brainspotting therapy for youth, adolescents, and teens?

With the right methods and a supportive therapist, brainspotting therapy can quickly offer several benefits, including:

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Better emotional regulation and trauma resolution

Brainspotting can help youth, teens, and young adults better understand and manage their emotions and process traumatic memories.

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Improved mental and behavioral health 

Brainspotting can help reduce anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. It can also improve behavior and coping skills for everyday life. 

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Increased focus and academic performance 

Brainspotting supports better attention and performance in academic and extracurricular activities. 

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Greater self-awareness and insight 

Brainspotting helps youth, teens, and young adults better understand their emotions and how their brain, body, and nervous system are connected. 

See how brainspotting therapy has helped other youth, teens, and young adults

We understand finding the right therapy for your youth, teen or young adult can be difficult.

Embark’s programs are led by compassionate, clinically-trained professionals who are deeply committed to providing high-quality mental health services. 

See how we’ve helped other youth, teens and young adults find healing through brainspotting therapy. 

Nora leaving a review and testimonial of Embark Behavioral Health's IOP and PHP in Cabin John, Maryland, sharing her experience with the programs.
Teen girl with a canine therapy dog leaving a testimonial about how CALO uses animal-assisted therapy to support healing at their residential treatment center.

We accept hundreds of insurance plans across all 50 states

We work with most insurance providers. Contact us, and we’ll help you find an insurance option that works for your family.

Mental health resources to guide your journey

Our resources can help you navigate the often confusing world of mental health treatment.

Expert blog and Embark company news

Stay up-to-date on the latest news from Embark and read our blog for expert advice and tips on topics like depression, social media, and self-care.

Parenting guides and podcasts

Explore our guides and listen to our podcasts, Roadmap to Joy and Embark Sessions, for insights on supporting the young people in your life.

Many families have been where you are today. Explore our mental health resources for guidance at any stage of your healing journey.