Online Brainspotting Therapy Across California
A brief, no-pressure call to see if this work is the right fit.
Helping your mind and body process what words alone can’t.
For high-achieving, sensitive adults seeking more grounding, clarity, and steadiness. I’m Dr. Pipkins, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in mind-body-based therapeutic care.
Maybe it feels like…
You’re managing — but not settling.
Your coping strategies still work on the surface, yet your body stays tense, alert, or exhausted. You sense there’s a deeper level of healing that talking alone hasn’t reached.
Brainspotting is a somatic, brain-based therapy that works directly with the nervous system—supporting the processing and release of stress and trauma—including patterns rooted in attachment and relationships— without requiring you to relive or explain everything in detail.
People often seek brainspotting when they’re ready for a real shift—not just insight, but a change in how their body responds.
Likely, you’ve tried CBT, mindfulness, or even more intensive treatments—hoping something would finally shift what still feels unresolved beneath the surface.
And you sense there’s a deeper level of healing that talk therapy hasn’t reached.
You’re ready for a change in how your body responds — not just how you understand your experience.
When Talking Isn’t Enough
Brainspotting is a somatic, brain-based therapy designed to work directly with the nervous system. It supports the brain in processing and resolving stress and trauma without forcing you to relive or explain everything in detail.
→ Where you look affects how you feel
Our eyes are deeply connected to the nervous system, and they often settle into specific positions when the body is processing stress or emotion.
→ Brainspotting supports this natural process
By gently holding a visual focus point, we allow deeper, body-based systems to do the work they’re designed to do.
→ The thinking brain can finally rest
Rather than bypassing the cortex, we give it space to step back so midbrain and body-based systems that hold survival responses can speak.
→ Deeper patterns begin to shift
Because of this, brainspotting often reaches places that insight alone hasn’t been able to access.
Can Brainspotting Be Done Online?
Yes. Brainspotting can be done very effectively through secure video sessions.
Yes. Brainspotting can be done very effectively through secure video sessions.
We approach the work much like we would in person. You’ll want to choose a quiet, private space where your attention can be undivided and you feel comfortable enough to focus.
During sessions, you’ll be seated upright with your face visible so I can observe subtle eye movements and responses as we work.
Together, we move at a pace that feels manageable and supportive—allowing your nervous system to process without needing to force or explain everything in words.
What Begins to Shift
One of the first things many clients notice is a sense of recognition. Experiences that once felt confusing or hard to name begin to make more sense. Instead of wondering “Is this really happening?” or questioning their own reactions, they start to see their responses in a clearer light. That shift alone can quiet an internal struggle that has been running in the background for years.
Clients often say that once this understanding takes hold, things begin to slow down. They feel more present in their lives and more connected in their relationships, rather than constantly managing reactions they don’t fully understand.
Signs Brainspotting Maybe A Good Fit for You
Brainspotting can be especially helpful for people who have already done therapy and sense there’s another layer of healing their body still holds. Rather than relying only on insight, this approach works directly with the nervous system.
The work is collaborative and carefully paced. Some people notice meaningful shifts quickly, while deeper patterns tend to resolve gradually as the nervous system processes at its own speed.
During a consultation, we can explore together whether this approach aligns with what you’re hoping for.
A Gentle Next Step
If you’re curious about whether brainspotting is right for you, the next step is a brief consultation. This is a chance to ask questions, share what you’re hoping for, and get a feel for how we might work together — without pressure or commitment.
Brainspotting is not about pushing or performing. It’s about finding the right pace, the right support, and the right conditions for change.
A brief, no-pressure call to see if this work is the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Both Brainspotting and EMDR are effective, brain-based therapies that support the processing of stress and trauma through the nervous system.
EMDR follows a more structured protocol, often using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements) and a sequence of steps to guide processing.
Brainspotting is typically more flexible and less structured. It focuses on identifying specific eye positions connected to emotional or physical activation, then allowing the brain and body to process at their own pace—without needing to follow a set sequence or put everything into words.
Many people find Brainspotting especially helpful when they’ve already developed insight but are looking for a deeper, more felt shift in how their body responds.
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Many people who come to this work wouldn’t initially describe their experiences as trauma. Sometimes what shows up first is anxiety, burnout, or a sense that something in your reactions, relationships, or stress responses doesn’t fully make sense.
Trauma doesn’t always come from a single dramatic event, nor is it always from the past. For some people it develops through repeated experiences—such as social injustices or discrimination, emotionally difficult work environments, or professions where exposure to crisis and tragedy is simply part of the job. First responders, helping professionals, and others working in high-stress systems often carry experiences that accumulate over time.
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Many clients who seek this work already have strong insight into their patterns.
Brain-body approaches focus on the nervous system responses that sometimes remain even after we intellectually understand our experiences. Rather than relying only on discussion, this work helps your system process experiences at a deeper level.
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No. In many cases, the work can move forward without revisiting or describing every detail of a difficult experience.
We move at a pace that feels safe and manageable
You always have control over what you share
The goal is not to relive experiences, but to help your system process them differently
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The first session is a chance for us to understand what has been bringing you in and what you’re hoping will feel different.
We typically:
talk about what you’ve been experiencing
discuss possible approaches to the work
identify what might support you best moving forward
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The consultation is simply a chance to explore fit.
During that brief call we can:
talk about what you’re looking for
answer any questions you may have
decide whether this approach feels like the right next step