Eye Movement Therapies: How Our Gaze Unlocks Healing

The eyes are not just connected to the brain—they are part of it. The retina is neural tissue that develops from the same embryonic layer as the central nervous system. Through direct pathways, the eyes send signals into brain regions that govern arousal, attention, and emotion. This means that where we place our gaze, and how we move our eyes, can influence not only what we see, but also how we feel.

Over the past few decades, therapies that make use of eye movement and gaze have offered powerful ways of working with trauma, anxiety, and unresolved emotional experiences. Two of the most well-known are Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting.

EMDR: Reprocessing Memories Through Eye Movements

Developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro, EMDR was the first widely recognised therapy to harness the link between the eyes and emotional healing. In an EMDR session, clients recall distressing memories while moving their eyes rapidly from side to side, guided by the therapist’s hand or a visual aid.

Research suggests that these rhythmic, alternating movements engage brain networks involved in memory, attention, and emotional regulation. By stimulating both hemispheres of the brain, EMDR may reduce overactivation in the amygdala (our threat detector), improve communication with the hippocampus (which organizes and contextualizes memories), and activate the prefrontal cortex (which helps us apply reasoning and perspective).

This process is thought to resemble the way the brain processes memories during REM sleep—a natural state where emotional material is re-evaluated and integrated. Over time, EMDR can lessen the emotional intensity of painful memories and help clients feel more grounded and resourced.

Brainspotting: Finding the Gaze That Unlocks Healing

Building on these insights, psychotherapist David Grand developed Brainspotting in the early 2000s. Unlike EMDR’s rapid movements, Brainspotting focuses on identifying a single eye position—known as a brainspot—that connects with an unresolved memory or distressing emotion.

In a session, the therapist helps the client notice subtle shifts in eye orientation while recalling a troubling memory or body sensation. Once the brainspot is located, the client maintains their gaze in that direction.

Clinical experience and emerging research suggest that holding the eyes steady in this position keeps the related neural circuits active long enough for the brain to process the memory more fully. This allows clients to revisit sensory details, emotions, and meanings in a way that supports integration rather than overwhelm.

Within the safety of a therapeutic relationship, the material can be reorganized into a less distressing narrative. Many clients experience Brainspotting as a gentle yet powerful way to release stored trauma and shift into new emotional states.

Why Eye Movement Matters

Both EMDR and Brainspotting remind us that healing is not just about talking through experiences—it’s also about accessing the body and brain directly. Because the eyes are an extension of the brain itself, eye position and movement can open pathways to deep processing that words alone may not reach.

For clients, this can mean relief from long-held distress, a sense of inner clarity, and the capacity to move forward with greater ease.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re curious about how EMDR or Brainspotting might support your healing, I’d be happy to talk with you. These approaches can help release old patterns, reduce emotional distress, and create space for greater calm and resilience.

Contact me to schedule a consultation and explore whether one of these methods may be the right fit for you.