Online Brainspotting intensives: can you work with a Brainspotting therapist from anywhere?
Brainspotting can be done online, and many Brainspotting therapists work with clients over video, including in intensive format. The main differences from in-person work are practical: how the eye position is found and held through a screen, your own private space, and a plan for if the connection drops. There is no research yet on online Brainspotting, but trials of other trauma therapies delivered by video have found results similar to in-person delivery.
Brainspotting through a screen
Brainspotting depends on two things: finding an eye position linked to what you feel in your body, and the therapist staying closely attuned while you hold your gaze there. Both can be done over video, with some adjustments.
Brainspotting's founding organisation describes the method as a tool within an attuned therapeutic relationship. Online, that attunement depends on the therapist being able to see you clearly and you being able to settle in your own space. Much of the preparation for an online Brainspotting intensive is about making both possible.
How the work differs online
| In person | Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Finding the spot | The therapist often guides your gaze with a pointer held in the room | The therapist guides your gaze across your screen or your room, and you notice where the feeling is strongest |
| Holding the spot | You keep your gaze on a point the therapist is holding | You keep your gaze on a point you can return to, such as a mark on the screen or an object in your room |
| Attunement | The therapist sees your whole body | The therapist sees what the camera shows, so framing matters |
| Your surroundings | The therapist's room | Your own space, which you set up |
| Breaks | In or near the therapist's room | In your own home, with your own food, garden or bed nearby |
| If something goes wrong | The therapist is in the room | An agreed plan for a dropped call, with a backup contact |
Practices vary between therapists, and your therapist will show you how they work. The table describes common adjustments, not a fixed protocol.
What the research shows
There is no published research on Brainspotting delivered online, and none on Brainspotting as an intensive. What exists is research on other trauma therapies delivered by video.
- A randomised trial of 126 women with PTSD compared cognitive processing therapy delivered by video with the same therapy in person. The improvement in PTSD symptoms with video delivery was not inferior to in-person delivery.
- A 2022 study of a fully online four-day intensive programme for PTSD and complex PTSD, using prolonged exposure and EMDR, reported no dropout and no adverse events among 73 participants. It had no comparison group.
These findings suggest that trauma work can be done safely and well by video. They do not test Brainspotting, so they are a reason for cautious confidence, not proof.
Why some people prefer an online intensive
- No travel. You can work with a therapist in another country without leaving home.
- Your own space. Some people settle more easily in familiar surroundings, and rest more easily in their own bed in the evenings.
- Continuity. If you move or travel often, you can keep the same therapist for the intensive and the follow-up.
- Time zones. Many therapists who work internationally schedule intensive days to fit the client's time zone.
Some people prefer to be in the room with their therapist, or find it hard to feel private at home. For them, an in-person intensive or a retreat may suit better.
Setting up your space
- A private room where you will not be interrupted or overheard for the whole day, including breaks.
- A computer, not a phone, on a stable surface at eye level, with the camera framing your head and shoulders, and ideally your upper body.
- A reliable connection, with a backup such as a phone hotspot.
- Headphones, if your therapist uses sound during processing.
- Something to look at that stays still, if your therapist asks you to use a point in your room.
- Comfort for breaks: water, food prepared in advance, somewhere to lie down and, if possible, somewhere to walk.
- A plan for a dropped call, agreed with your therapist before the first day.
The article on how to prepare for a therapy intensive covers the wider preparation, online and in person.
Choosing an online Brainspotting therapist
The same questions apply as for any trauma intensive: training, assessment, pacing and aftercare. Online work adds a few more:
- How do you find and hold a brainspot over video?
- What do you need me to set up at my end?
- Which time zones can you work in?
- What happens if the connection fails during processing?
- Where are you registered, and can you work with clients where I live?
Common questions
Is online Brainspotting as effective as in person?
Nobody knows yet, because it has not been studied. Research on other trauma therapies suggests video delivery can work as well as in person, but that evidence belongs to those therapies, not to Brainspotting.
What equipment do I need?
A laptop or desktop computer is easier than a phone, because the screen is larger and steadier. You also need a reliable connection, headphones if your therapist uses sound, and a private room where you will not be interrupted or overheard.
Can I do an online intensive from a hotel or while travelling?
Sometimes, if the room is private, free of noise and has a reliable connection. It is worth discussing in advance, because an unsettled setting can make the work harder.
What happens if the call drops in the middle of processing?
You and your therapist agree a plan beforehand. Usually you stay where you are, keep your feet on the floor and notice your surroundings while your therapist reconnects, and there is a backup way to reach each other.
Lucy Orton offers Brainspotting and IFS trauma intensives online worldwide, scheduled across time zones.
References
- Brainspotting. What is Brainspotting? brainspotting.com/about-bsp/what-is-brainspotting
- Morland, L. A., Mackintosh, M.-A., Rosen, C. S., et al. (2015). Telemedicine versus in-person delivery of cognitive processing therapy for women with posttraumatic stress disorder: A randomized noninferiority trial. Depression and Anxiety, 32(11), 811-820. doi:10.1002/da.22397
- Bongaerts, H., Voorendonk, E. M., van Minnen, A., Rozendaal, L., Telkamp, B. S. D., & de Jongh, A. (2022). Fully remote intensive trauma-focused treatment for PTSD and Complex PTSD. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(2), 2103287. doi:10.1080/20008066.2022.2103287
This page is general information about intensive therapy. It is not a substitute for individual assessment or advice, and reading it does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are in crisis or at risk of harm, contact local emergency services or a crisis line now. How these articles are written and checked: our editorial standards.