Brainspotting · Phase 2
Frame Set-Up 1 of 6
One-Eye Inside Window Frame Set-Up
Each eye is worked separately. Processing begins on the eye carrying the higher activation, then moves to the resource eye.
3
Take SUDs level : intensity of activation (0 to 10)
4
Identify location of activation in the body
5
Determine which eye carries higher activation
Cover one eye at a time and compare the felt activation.
6
Start with the activation eye: find the spot on the X axis
Find the highest activation tracking horizontally at eye level.
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Then the Y axis
Track above, at, and below eye level for the highest activation to locate the brainspot.
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Process on the primary activation eye until SUDs is 0
9
Squeeze the lemon until there is no activation
10
Switch to the opposite eye
Explore the X and Y axes to find the brainspot on the resource eye.
11
Process to 0 SUDs, then squeeze the lemon until there is no activation
12
Finish the process with both eyes open
Brainspotting Phase 2 · Frame set-up guides · August 2026 edition1 / 6
Brainspotting · Phase 2
Frame Set-Up 2 of 6
Z Axis Frame Set-Up
Adds depth to the brainspot: the client works between a near point (the pointer tip) and a far point along the same line of sight.
1
Determine the brainspot with Inside Window
2
Start by gazing at the tip of the pointer
3
Look straight through the pointer to the furthest point
Guide the client's gaze through the pointer to the furthest place in the room, usually the far wall.
4
Determine where activation is highest: close or far
The client compares the felt activation at each distance.
5
Start with the lower-activation distance
Usually far. After about 5 minutes, shift to the opposite distance.
6
Progressively reduce time at each distance
3 minutes, then 2, then 1.
7
Build to a rapid back-and-forth (vergence)
Eventually the shift is rapid, about 3 to 10 seconds at each distance.
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Brainspotting · Phase 2
Frame Set-Up 3 of 6
Vergence Therapy Frame Set-Up
A continuous near-to-far flow of the gaze along the Z axis, sustained while the client processes.
1
Determine the brainspot
Usually done on Inside Window.
2
Start by gazing at the tip of the pointer
3
Look straight through the pointer to the furthest point
Guide the client's gaze through the pointer to the furthest place in the room, usually the far wall.
4
Flow back and forth between the pointer and the far spot
Every 3 to 10 seconds, while you observe the client's processing.
If nausea or dizziness appears
These are occasional side effects of vergence work. Slow the back-and-forth down until the client is comfortable again.
Brainspotting Phase 2 · Frame set-up guides · August 2026 edition3 / 6
Brainspotting · Phase 2
Frame Set-Up 4 of 6
Outside-Inside Window Frame Set-Up
The therapist's observation and the client's felt sense work together: you scan for reflexive responses; the client chooses the spot.
1
Have the client choose the issue
4
Ask for the body location of activation
5
Explain the scan (Outside Window)
Tell the client you will scan their field of vision at eye level (X axis) and will stop when a reflexive response is observed.
6
Ask for feedback on each spot
Inform the client you will ask what they are experiencing on each spot of reflexive response.
7
The client chooses the spot to process on
Invite them to make a mindful, intuitive choice of the spot that seems most helpful for them.
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Brainspotting · Phase 2
Frame Set-Up 5 of 6
Rolling Brainspotting Frame Set-Up
Rather than holding one spot, the eyes roll slowly across the visual field, pausing on each Outside Window brainspot along the way.
The basic form
Rolling Brainspotting (RB) entails slow eye tracking, stopping briefly on each Outside Window brainspot and holding on it, either momentarily (a second or two) or for a more extended period (one to two minutes).
A second alternative
Ask the client on each rolling brainspot what they are experiencing. Where more intense activation is present, stay longer on that brainspot.
When a spot is very powerful
Shift over to full Outside Window and stay on the spot until it is released.
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Brainspotting · Phase 2
Frame Set-Up 6 of 6
Advanced Resource Frame Combined One-Eye & Z Axis Frame Set-Up
Stacks every resource dimension (eye, spot, distance and body) for the most contained, resourced frame available.
1
Determine the issue, activation, SUDs level, and identify the Body Resource
2
Find the eye with the lower SUDs
The eye that matches the Body Resource. This is the Resource Eye.
3
Find the Resource Spot on the Resource Eye
First on the X axis (right-left), then on the Y axis (up-down).
4
Find the Resource Distance on the Z axis
Far or close.
5
Process on the full resource frame
The Resource Eye, the Resource Spot, the Resource Distance, and the Body Resource together.
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