Without Words: A Different Way to Heal Trauma
By Emma Costa, LMFT-A
Talking about trauma can be hard. For many people, the experience feels too overwhelming or confusing to put into words. Sometimes you may not even have a clear memory of what happened. Instead, you might carry the impact in your body, showing up as tightness in your chest, constant fatigue, or sudden waves of anxiety. Traditional talk therapy can help you make sense of your story, but what happens when words are not enough?
This is where Brainspotting can offer something different. Brainspotting is a type of therapy that uses eye position to access areas in the brain where unresolved experiences are stored. Instead of asking you to explain everything in detail, it helps your body lead the way. By finding a “brainspot,” your nervous system begins to process the emotions and sensations connected to the trauma, even without you needing to talk through every moment.
Clients often describe Brainspotting as a relief because it allows them to work through what they have carried without feeling pressured to explain or justify it. You may notice feelings, images, or body sensations arise during a session, but you do not have to translate them into a story for the process to work. The body and brain already know what needs to be healed, and Brainspotting creates the space for that healing to happen.
For LGBTQ+ adults, this can be especially powerful. Many carry trauma connected to rejection, discrimination, or the stress of navigating identity in environments that were not safe. These wounds often live deep in the nervous system. You may find yourself shutting down when trying to talk about them or avoiding the conversation altogether. Brainspotting offers a path that honors your experience without forcing you to relive every painful detail out loud.
Over time, this process can lead to a sense of lightness and release. The memories do not disappear, but they lose their grip. The body feels calmer, the mind feels clearer, and you may notice yourself responding differently in situations that once triggered overwhelming reactions. Healing without words does not mean silence. It means allowing your whole self, not just your thoughts, to participate in recovery.
If you have ever struggled to talk about what you went through, Brainspotting might be the approach that makes healing feel possible. Therapy does not always have to rely on words. Sometimes the most powerful work happens in the quiet moments, when the body finally gets the chance to let go of what it has been holding in Brainspotting Therapy.
