Healing in Motion: How Brainspotting Helped My Athlete Client Overcome Severe Anxiety and IBS
As a therapist, it’s always incredible to witness healing in real time — when someone who once felt stuck, overwhelmed, and fearful begins to reclaim their life with strength and ease. I recently worked with an athlete client whose transformation through Brainspotting was nothing short of remarkable.
She came to me struggling with severe anxiety, frequent panic attacks, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — a trio of symptoms that were deeply impacting her athletic performance and overall quality of life. Her anxiety was so severe that her GAD-7 score was 18, signaling a high level of generalized anxiety. She described her daily experience as a constant undercurrent of fear, tension, and bodily discomfort.
We began using Brainspotting, a powerful brain-body therapy designed to access and process trauma and emotional distress at a deep neurophysiological level. Over the course of her treatment, we used a variety of Brainspotting techniques including:
- Inside Window
- Outside Window
- Rolling Brainspotting
- Vergence BSP
- Resource Brainspotting
Each session was tailored to meet her exactly where she was. At times, she felt flooded with anxiety, and we used resourcing to anchor her nervous system. Other times, her body led the way, allowing her to process without needing to “figure it out” cognitively.
By the fourth session, something incredible happened: her GAD-7 score dropped from 18 to 2. That number alone reflects a dramatic shift in how her brain and body were relating to stress — but what truly confirmed the healing was how her body responded to real-life stressors.
She intentionally challenged herself by eating foods she had long avoided — foods she called her “triggers.” In the past, even a small bite of these foods would lead to gastrointestinal distress and panic symptoms. This time? No symptoms, no panic, no IBS flare-up. Her body stayed calm — a signal that healing had occurred not just mentally, but somatically.
This is why Brainspotting is such a powerful modality for high performers and athletes — it bypasses the limitations of talk therapy and taps into the stored trauma patterns held in the body and nervous system.
My client’s story is a powerful reminder that the body wants to heal — and with the right tools and support, it can.
If you’re someone who deals with chronic anxiety, panic, or stress-related symptoms (like IBS), or you’re a high performer feeling stuck or overwhelmed, Brainspotting could be the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for.
You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode. Healing is possible — and it’s often closer than you think.
Ready to feel more in control of your anxiety — and your body?
If you’ve been struggling with panic, chronic stress, or physical symptoms like IBS, Brainspotting may be the gentle but powerful approach you need.
Let’s connect. Book a free consultation with me at Vibrant Life Therapy in Utah and explore whether this is the right fit for your healing journey.
Alumita Young, LCSW
For more information on Brainspotting please see the following links:
https://www.vibrantlifetherapyutah.com/2025/06/06/brainspotting-healing-trauma-and-emotional-pain/
