If you have Adult ADHD, you might be familiar with a specific kind of exhaustion: the fatigue that comes after a therapy session. What about a modality that goes Beyond Talk Therapy?
For many, therapy is supposed to be a relief. But for the neurodivergent brain, traditional “talk therapy” can sometimes feel like a high-stakes oral exam. You are asked to articulate your feelings, organize your chaotic thoughts into linear sentences, and analyze your behaviors.
This requires Executive Function—the very skill set that ADHD compromises. You are essentially using your brain’s weakest muscle to try and heal your brain’s deepest wounds. It is no wonder you leave feeling drained.
There is a different way. It’s called Brainspotting, and it doesn’t require you to “talk your way out” of a problem.
The Problem with “Top-Down” Processing
Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often a “top-down” approach. It engages the Neocortex (specifically the Prefrontal Cortex) to analyze thoughts and change behaviors.
For a neurotypical brain, this works well. But for the ADHD brain, the Prefrontal Cortex is often underactive or easily overwhelmed (Barkley, 2015). When you are anxious, overwhelmed, or triggered, this part of your brain goes offline. Trying to use logic to calm a panic attack or an ADHD meltdown is like trying to reason with a tornado.
Enter Brainspotting: “Where You Look Affects How You Feel”
Discovered by Dr. David Grand, Brainspotting is a therapeutic modality that bypasses the “thinking” brain and accesses the “feeling” brain.
The premise is simple yet profound: “Where you look affects how you feel” (Grand, 2013).
Have you ever noticed that when you are trying to recall a painful memory or finding the right word, you instinctively look away to a specific spot in the room? You aren’t just looking at the wall; your brain is physically locating the neural network where that information is stored.
In a Brainspotting session, we find that specific eye position—the “Brainspot”—that correlates with your distress. By holding your gaze on that spot, we open a door to the deeper parts of your brain.
Why Brainspotting is a Game-Changer for ADHD
Brainspotting is particularly effective for ADHD because it utilizes “bottom-up” processing. Instead of trying to think your way into safety, we use the body and the eyes to signal safety directly to the nervous system.
1. Accessing the Subcortical Brain
ADHD is not just a disorder of attention; it is a disorder of regulation. The restlessness, the emotional volatility, and the “motor” that won’t turn off originate in the subcortical brain (the limbic system and brainstem).
Talk therapy often struggles to reach these deep regions. Brainspotting accesses them directly (Corrigan & Grand, 2013). It allows us to release the “stuck” energy and anxiety without needing to translate it into language first.
2. Reducing the “Internal Motor”
Many adults with ADHD describe a constant internal vibration or anxiety—a feeling of being “driven by a motor.” This is somatic (physical) energy. Brainspotting allows the body to process and release this tension. Clients often report feeling a physical “settling” or quietness in their body that they cannot achieve through meditation or talk therapy alone.
3. Healing the “Small-t” Trauma
Living with undiagnosed ADHD often results in cumulative trauma—years of being told you are “lazy,” “messy,” or “too much.” These memories are stored in the body. Brainspotting is a powerful tool for reprocessing these memories, decoupling the shame from the experience so you can move forward with a clearer self-concept (Grand, 2013).
How I Can Help
In my counseling practice, I recognize that your ADHD brain works differently, and your therapy should reflect that. I don’t just sit back and ask, “How does that make you feel?” while you struggle to find the words.
I use Brainspotting to help you access the root of your dysregulation without the exhaustion of explaining it. Whether we are dealing with the anxiety of a deadline, the shame of a past failure, or the constant hum of overwhelm, we can use this modality to “reset” your nervous system.
If you are tired of talking about your problems and are ready to actually feel different, let’s schedule a consultation to see if Brainspotting is the right fit for you.
I am Jordan Nodelman, LCSW, LICSW, BCD. I am an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant and EMDRIA Certified. I am based in Fort Lauderdale with a virtual practice in the DMV (DC) area and Statewide in Florida, Virginia and Vermont (soon to come in Maryland).
References
Barkley, R. A. (2015). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Corrigan, F. M., & Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: Recruiting the midbrain for accessing and healing sensorimotor memories of traumatic activation. Medical Hypotheses, 80(6), 759-766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2013.03.005
Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: The revolutionary new therapy for rapid and effective change.
