Brainspotting for First Responders: Healing the Hidden Impact of the Job

By Kayla Easland, Trauma Therapist | Former LEO | | Woodfire Counseling | Monona, WI

First responders carry a weight that most people can’t see. Well that’s the weight I felt I had to carry. The long hours. The emergencies. The life-or-death decisions. The quiet aftermath. (A.k.a being alone in the squad). Over time, those experiences—especially the ones that go unprocessed—can build up in the body and mind, showing up as anxiety, irritability, emotional numbness, or a constant feeling of being “on edge.”

Brainspotting is a powerful therapy approach that helps first responders move through those experiences—not by talking through every detail, but by accessing the brain and body’s natural healing process.

Let’s explore what Brainspotting is, why it works, and how it can help first responders feel more present, grounded, and in control again.

What Is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a brain-body therapy that helps people process trauma, stress, and emotional overwhelm by using eye position to access where those experiences are stored in the nervous system.

When something traumatic happens, especially in high-intensity roles like law enforcement or firefighting, the brain sometimes can’t fully process the event in the moment. Instead, it stores that experience in a “stuck” place—often outside of conscious awareness.

Brainspotting allows us to locate that “stuckness” and gently work through it, without needing to retell the whole story. Clients often describe it as accessing deep emotional layers that talk therapy never reached.

Why Brainspotting Is Especially Helpful for First Responders

First responders are trained to push through. To stay focused under pressure. To keep going, even when things are hard. While that mindset saves lives, it can also make it difficult to slow down and process what’s happening internally.

Here’s why Brainspotting works so well for first responders:

• It bypasses the need for detailed storytelling.
  You don’t have to go over every event or memory out loud. Brainspotting allows healing to happen internally, without needing to explain everything.

• It works with the body—not just the mind.
  Trauma isn’t just something we remember. It’s something we carry. Brainspotting taps into the body’s natural capacity to release what’s been held.

• It’s private and contained.
  Many first responders worry about judgment or vulnerability. Brainspotting creates space to process without pressure.

• It’s adaptable.
  Whether you’re dealing with a single incident or years of cumulative stress, Brainspotting meets you where you are.

Common Issues Brainspotting Can Address

For first responders, Brainspotting can be effective for:

• Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts

• Irritability or emotional shutdown

• Sleep issues or nightmares

• Hypervigilance or anxiety

• Grief and survivor’s guilt

• Burnout and compassion fatigue

• Difficult calls or critical incidents that still “stick”

You don’t need to wait until things get “bad enough.” If your body and mind are telling you something doesn’t feel right, you deserve support.

What a Brainspotting Session Looks Like

Sessions are gentle, client-led, and grounded in safety. You don’t have to know where to start. We’ll begin by exploring what’s showing up for you—physically or emotionally—and use a simple technique to find the eye position (or “brainspot”) connected to that experience.

From there, we hold that spot while staying tuned in to your internal experience. I’ll guide you through what comes up, and your brain and body will do the rest—releasing what no longer needs to be held.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Carry It All Alone

First responders are wired to take care of others. But who takes care of you?

At Woodfire Counseling, I offer trauma-informed, brain-body therapy for first responders in Wisconsin. Whether you’re just beginning to notice the toll or have been carrying it for years, Brainspotting can help you reconnect with yourself and move forward with less weight with a therapist who has experienced this firsthand.

Ready to begin? Reach out for a free consultation. You’ve shown up for others—now it’s time to show up for you.