Brainspotting: Unlocking Peak Performance

Developed in 2003 by psychotherapist David Grand, it is a powerful brain-body therapy that builds on principles from Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) to release trauma stored in the subcortical brain regions. Its application in sports psychology has exploded in recent years, particularly for performance enhancement.

Athletes at all levels, from weekend warriors to Olympians, turn to BSP to overcome performance anxiety and reclaim their edge. It's especially appealing because it's fast-acting, non-verbal, and uses the body's natural healing mechanism; making it a game-changer in high-stakes situations where every millisecond counts.

Brainspotting Race Car Drivers

Benefits and Outcomes - Drivers report 80–90% resolution of blocks in 1–5 sessions, with measurable perks:

Performance Gains: Sharper focus, quicker threat detection, & consistent "flow" states for better lap times and overtakes.

Emotional Resilience: 50%+ anxiety reduction, faster trauma processing, and lower chronic pain via somatic release.

Long-Term Edge: Enhanced neuroplasticity from racing's physicality amplifies BSP's effects, turning it into a mental "upgrade" for career longevity.

In a sports session, a trained practitioner guides you to recall a performance issue, like a nagging injury fear or choking under pressure. Then you work together to find a spot in your visual field that enhances reaction.

Once a "brainspot" is locked in, you hold your gaze there, often with added bilateral brain stimulation like bilateral music or taps. It bypasses the "thinking brain" (neocortex) and dives into the instinctive, fight-or-flight responses that sabotage athletic flow.

Due to athletes' neuroplasticity from regular exercise, changes "stick" faster, and can yield results in just a few visits.

How Brainspotting Works

Athletes using BSP often describe feeling "lighter" and more present, with tangible gains like better focus under pressure, faster slumps-to-peak transitions and reduced anxiety (up to 50% in studies).

Research supports this: Small-scale studies show significant performance uplifts and anxiety drops post-sessions, while neuroplasticity research shows why active bodies respond so well.

David Grand and sport psychologist Alan Goldberg's book This Is Your Brain on Sports (2011) uses BSP to explain cases like Simone Biles' "twisties" at the 2020 Olympics—unprocessed pressure manifesting as disorienting mental fog.

High-profile adopters include pros in golf, tennis, and NASCAR, where split-second decisions rule. Therapists report 80-90% success rates for yips resolution, often in under five sessions, making it more efficient than CBT for deep-rooted issues.

Curious to try it for a specific sport?

Proven Benefits + Emerging Evidence

With mental health in sports under the spotlight—BSP offers a stigma-free, results-driven tool. It's mental training that integrates with physical prep or off-season tune-ups.

As one athlete put it after conquering his blocks: "It's like upgrading your brain's software for the game."

BSP isn't about fixing what's "broken"; it's about unleashing what's already there. It's proving that the biggest wins are gained from the mind-body connection.

Why It's Gaining Traction