Brainspotting Therapy

Offering Individual Online Therapy in Oregon & Limited In-Person Therapy in SE Portland, OR

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a body-based, focused therapy that helps your brain and nervous system find and release stuck emotional and physical pain. By using gentle eye-positioning and mindful attention to bodily felt experience, Brainspotting locates where distress is held and creates a pathway for processing it. I often blend Brainspotting with IFS, somatic resource work, and relational approaches in a culturally-attuned, queer-affirming space.

Brainspotting was developed in 2003 by Dr. David Grand, a psychotherapist and EMDR trainer who noticed that certain eye positions during therapy seemed to unlock deeply held emotional and somatic material. Drawing on EMDR, somatic experiencing, and psychodynamic work, Brainspotting became a focused, body-informed method for accessing and processing trauma.

How Brainspotting can be supportive

  • Heal relational and sexual trauma (including experiences tied to coming-out or identity-based harm).

  • Reduce panic, anxiety, and intense physiological reactivity.

  • Ease depression, emotional numbness, and dissociation by reconnecting mind and body.

  • Release chronic somatic symptoms and body-held tension tied to past events.

  • Process complex or developmental trauma that feels stuck in the nervous system.

  • Soften shame and internalized oppression that gets in the way of self-acceptance.

  • Work with intimacy or performance anxiety (sexual, creative, or professional).

  • Deepen embodiment, resourcing, and access to grounded Self-leadership for clearer boundaries and connection.

If you’d like, I can briefly explain what a Brainspotting session looks like or offer a short demo during a consultation.

Brainspotting Trauma

I combine Brainspotting (a focused, body-informed method that helps the nervous system release stuck emotional and physical pain) with Internal Family Systems (IFS), a compassionate parts-work model that cultivates Self-leadership. Together these methods make it possible to safely access and process deep trauma — including racial, intergenerational, and identity-based wounds — while honoring the cultural and historical context of your experience.

How this can support you

  • Process racial, intergenerational, and developmental trauma held in the body.

  • Calm hypervigilance, panic, and chronic nervous-system reactivity.

  • Soften shame, internalized oppression, and body-based dissociation.

  • Reclaim embodied safety, desire, and agency in relationships and sexuality.

  • Strengthen Self-leadership so parts feel seen and your choices are clearer.

  • Build culturally attuned resourcing and daily practices that fit your life and identity.

  • Improve relational repair, boundaries, and communication after attachment or relational wounds.

What to expect in a session

I’ll offer grounding and resourcing first, then use gentle parts-work and targeted Brainspotting to locate where distress lives in your body. Sessions move at your pace. I’ll support containment, integration, and practical skills between sessions so changes feel useful in day-to-day life.

If you want, I’ll walk you through a sample session during a free consult so you can see whether this approach feels like the right fit.

 FAQs

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  • I work with people navigating life transitions, identity exploration, trauma, and mental health challenges. My practice is open to all people regardless of gender, race, orientation, or background, and I offer an affirming, supportive space where you can explore your experiences and build resilience.

    I specialize in working with:

    • Survivors of trauma healing from complex trauma, relational wounds, and emotional pain.

    • BIPOC individuals processing racial identity, intergenerational trauma, and systemic oppression.

    • LGBTQIA+ individuals exploring gender, sexuality, and identity-related challenges.

    • People in non-traditional relationships, including polyamorous, non-monogamous, or kink/BDSM dynamics.

    At this time, I only work with adults. If you’re seeking support for a teen or child, I’m happy to discuss options and help you find a provider who may be a better fit.

  • The standard fee for individual therapy is $185 per session. In our sessions, we’ll identify what matters most to you, create a custom care plan to help you move toward your goals, keep a pulse on progress, and adjust ongoing care as needed.

    Therapy is an investment in yourself and everything you do—your well-being, your relationships, your personal growth, and your future. Prioritizing your mental health creates lasting change that can positively impact every aspect of your life.

  • I currently accept self-pay through my private practice.

    If you have OHP, Medicare, or another insurance provider, I’m also part of a group practice called Dian’s Well Counseling, where we can accept various insurance plans. If your plan isn’t accepted directly, you might still qualify for reimbursement through your insurance provider’s out-of-network benefits.

    In that case, you’d pay for sessions out-of-pocket up front, and I’d provide you with a superbill (a detailed invoice) that you submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement.

    Some clients, regardless of whether they have insurance, prefer private self-pay because it allows for:

    • More control over your care—without session limits or required diagnoses.

    • Greater confidentiality—insurance companies don’t have access to records.

    • Flexibility to choose a therapist who aligns with your values and needs.

    If cost is a concern, I offer a sliding scale with priority given to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks. If you're unsure whether you qualify, feel free to reach out—we can explore options together.

    Please reach out if you have any questions. My goal is to make therapy accessible and a good fit for you financially.

  • Absolutely! After our initial consultation and decision to move forward together, I will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate (GFE). This document is more than just a breakdown of costs—it’s a tool designed to empower you with clear, upfront information about the financial aspects of your care.

    The Good Faith Estimate ensures that all clients, especially those without insurance or choosing not to use insurance, are fully informed about the anticipated costs of therapy. It is part of a commitment to equity in healthcare, removing financial uncertainty so you can make decisions about your care with confidence.

    Your Good Faith Estimate will include:
    ✔ A detailed estimate of expected charges for non-emergency healthcare services, including therapy.
    ✔ Clear, transparent information to help you plan for the cost of your care.
    ✔ Protection from surprise billing—if you receive a bill at least $400 more than your estimate, you have the right to dispute it.

    I encourage you to save a copy of your Good Faith Estimate for your records.

    For more details about your rights under the No Surprises Act, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call (800) 985-3059. If you have any questions, I’m happy to go over it with you!

  • For most people, online therapy is the most accessible and flexible option, allowing you to receive support from anywhere in Oregon without the stress of commuting or adjusting your schedule. It’s just as effective as in-person therapy and makes it easier to integrate into your daily life.

    In-person therapy may be a better fit if:

    • You have limited privacy at home for virtual sessions.

    • You need a structured, external space to focus on therapy without distractions.

    Both options offer meaningful support, and we can discuss what works best for you. In-person sessions are available in SE Portland with limited availability—please reach out if you’d like to explore this option.

  • For individual therapy, we will begin by meeting weekly. Consistency is key—weekly sessions provide the structure needed to build trust, process experiences, and maintain progress. Meeting less often can slow momentum, making it harder to see meaningful change.

    If you’d like to explore meeting every other week, we can re-evaluate after an initial period of weekly sessions to determine what best supports your goals.

    In some cases, if you’re navigating especially intense challenges, meeting more than once a week temporarily may be beneficial for a period of time. We can discuss this option and adjust as needed. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I’ll help guide you toward a schedule that works best for your healing.

  • For New Clients:

    Getting started is simple!

    1. Book a Free Initial Consultation
      Submit a consultation request. Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable—this free 15-minute consultation is a chance for us to chat about your needs and for you to get a sense of my approach to therapy. It also helps us determine if we’re a good fit to work together.

    2. Receive a Good Faith Estimate
      If we decide to move forward, I'll provide you with a Good Faith Estimate, so you’ll have a clear understanding of expected costs. This ensures transparency and helps you plan for your care.

    3. Schedule an Initial Intake Session
      Once we’re ready to move forward, we’ll book an initial intake session to explore your needs, history, and goals in more depth.

    4. Set Up Regular Sessions
      After the intake, we’ll establish a schedule that works best for you.

    5. Telehealth & In-Person Appointments
      Sessions are primarily conducted via a confidential telehealth portal, providing flexibility and privacy. A limited number of in-person sessions are available in SE Portland—please reach out if you’re interested in this option.

    For Existing Clients:

    All current clients should schedule sessions through SimplePractice:

    No-Show & Late Cancellation Policy:

    Your appointment time is reserved specifically for you. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please notify me at least 24 hours in advance. No-shows and late cancellations will be charged the full session fee.