EXPLORE
Two Powerful Paths
MODALITIES EXPLAINED
Two powerful paths into the same terrain
EMDR and Brainspotting are both trauma therapies that work below the level of conscious thought — reaching into the brain and body where traumatic memory actually lives.
Most talk therapy works from the top down — we think about our experiences, find language for them, and try to understand our way to healing. EMDR and Brainspotting work differently. They engage the deeper brain structures where trauma is stored — where it continues to drive our feelings and behaviors long after the original event has passed.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
Lynn is Certified & Approved
WHO endorsed
Widely researched
Developed by Francine Shapiro
When something traumatic happens, the brain sometimes cannot process the experience the way it would a normal memory. It gets stored raw — with all its original emotion, sensation, and meaning intact. EMDR engages the brain's natural processing system through bilateral stimulation, allowing the brain to do what it couldn't at the time: complete the processing, and file the experience as the past.
The memory does not disappear. But it loses its charge. What was once a raw wound becomes something more like a scar — present, but no longer bleeding.
What a session generally involves:
BRAIN SPOTTING
Brainspotting
Lynn is Trained
Subcortical & somatic focus
Emerged from EMDR
Developed by David Grand
Where you look affects how you feel. Specific eye positions — called brainspots — correspond to where trauma is stored in the subcortical brain. By locating and holding a relevant brainspot, we create a direct channel to the deeper brain, bypassing the analytical mind that so often gets in the way of healing.
Brainspotting is often described as quieter than EMDR. It can reach experiences that are pre-verbal, body-held, or too diffuse to have a clear narrative. It is particularly powerful for those who feel they have talked about everything and are still stuck.
What a session generally involves:
HOW THEY COMPARE
Same terrain, different doors.
| EMDR | Brainspotting | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Defined 8-phase protocol with clear stages | Fluid — the client's nervous system leads |
| Bilateral Stimulation | Active — eye movements, tapping, or audio tones | Stillness — one fixed eye position, often with bilateral sound |
| Best Suited For | Specific traumatic memories with a clear narrative | Diffuse, body-held, or pre-verbal experience; feeling stuck |
| Therapist Role | More active — guides the protocol and pacing | More witnessing — holds space while the client processes |
HOW LYNN OFTEN WORKS
The hybrid Approach
In practice, EMDR and Brainspotting are not mutually exclusive. I may begin with EMDR to target a specific memory, then shift into a Brainspotting hold when we encounter something that lives too deep for words or movement to reach. Or use Brainspotting to soften a body-held activation before moving into EMDR processing.
The decision is never mechanical. It comes from listening — to your nervous system, to where the work wants to go, and to what this particular moment of your healing needs.
"You don't need to know which approach is right for you before we begin. That is something we discover together."
WHICH MIGHT SUIT YOU
The Best Suit for You
You might be drawn to EMDR if...
• You have a specific event or memory to work through
• You appreciate structure and knowing what to expect
• You want an approach with a strong research base
You might be drawn to Brainspotting if...
• You feel stuck despite years of talk therapy
• Your pain feels body-held or hard to put into words
• Your experiences feel diffuse rather than tied to one event
A free consultation call is a good place to start. It's a conversation — nothing more.
Come as you are, bring your questions.
No commitment required · Online available