Why combine IFS and Brainspotting for trauma?
Some therapists combine Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Brainspotting because each covers something the other does less: IFS gives a map of the parts involved in a trauma and a way to get their permission, and Brainspotting gives a body-based way to process what those parts carry. In a trauma intensive, the two can be moved between as the day requires. The combination has not been studied as such, so it rests on clinical experience and on how each method is designed, not on research.
What each method brings
IFS and Brainspotting start from different places. IFS works with the mind's parts and their relationships. Brainspotting works with what the body holds and where attention rests.
| Internal Family Systems | Brainspotting | |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by | Richard Schwartz, IFS Institute | David Grand |
| Main focus | Parts of the person, their roles, fears and burdens, and a core Self | Body sensation linked to a fixed eye position |
| How trauma is approached | Protective parts are asked for permission, then the part carrying the trauma shows what it experienced | Attention is held on a spot connected to the activation, and processing follows wherever it goes |
| What it offers trauma work | A map of who is involved, and a built-in way to check readiness | A way to process that does not depend on words or story |
| Where it can struggle | When a person cannot get enough distance from an overwhelming part | When the person is not ready, and the system has not agreed to approach the material |
The last row explains much of the appeal of combining them. Each can help where the other struggles.
How they fit together in practice
Therapists who combine the two usually describe a back-and-forth, not a fixed sequence. Common patterns include:
- IFS first, then Brainspotting. IFS identifies the protective parts involved and asks for their permission. When they agree, Brainspotting is used to process what the exiled part carries, with attention on the body.
- Brainspotting first, then IFS. Brainspotting brings up a sensation, image or feeling. IFS is used to get to know the part that holds it and to understand its role.
- Brainspotting for a part. A part identified in IFS is asked where it feels in the body, and the eye position linked to that part becomes the focus of processing.
- IFS when processing stalls. If Brainspotting processing stops or becomes overwhelming, the therapist may check which part has stepped in and what it is worried about.
In each case, IFS answers the question of readiness, and Brainspotting gives a route through the body. The method is chosen in the moment, based on what the person's system is doing.
Why the combination suits a trauma intensive
The combination needs time. Moving between parts work and body-based processing, with checks in between, rarely fits into fifty minutes. In weekly therapy, a session may end just after permission has been given, before any processing can follow.
In a trauma intensive, permission given in the morning can lead to processing the same day. Protective parts can be checked with again before the day ends. If processing becomes too intense, there is time to move to steadying work, or to return to IFS and listen to the part that has become alarmed. The article on what a trauma therapy intensive is explains how the days are usually arranged.
What the research does and does not show
The research on each method is at an early stage, and there is none on the combination.
- IFS. Small studies of IFS for depression and for PTSD after childhood trauma have reported positive findings. A 2026 randomised trial of a group-based IFS programme for PTSD found that both it and a matched control programme reduced symptoms, with no significant difference between them. The IFS Institute describes the evidence as emerging and says larger trials are needed.
- Brainspotting. The published research is mostly theoretical. One small experimental study found that single sessions of Brainspotting reduced distress about a memory more than a body scan meditation or a reading control, in people who were not seeking treatment.
- The combination. We have not found any published study of IFS and Brainspotting used together, in weekly or intensive form.
This does not mean the combination does not help. It means that the reasons for using it come from how the methods are designed and from clinical experience. A therapist who combines them should be able to say that plainly.
Questions to ask a therapist who combines them
- What training do you have in IFS, and in Brainspotting, and are you certified or trained in each?
- How do you decide which method to use at a given moment?
- What happens if a protective part does not want the work to go further?
- How do you keep the pace within what I can manage across a full day?
- What is in place for the weeks after the intensive?
Lucy Orton writes about how the two methods work together for neurodivergent clients in IFS and Brainspotting intensives for AuDHD.
Common questions
Is combining IFS and Brainspotting better than using one method?
There is no research comparing the combination with either method alone, so nobody can say it is better. It is a clinical choice that some therapists make because the two methods fit together in practice.
Do I need to know which method we are using at any moment?
No, although a good therapist will explain what they are doing if you ask. In practice, the shift between the two is often small: from talking with a part to holding your gaze on a spot while you notice what that part feels in your body.
Should a therapist who combines them be trained in both?
Yes. IFS and Brainspotting have separate training pathways through their founding organisations. It is reasonable to ask a therapist what level of training they have in each, and whether they are certified or trained.
Can the combination be used online?
Many therapists use both methods online. The IFS part of the work translates directly to video. Brainspotting needs some practical adjustments, which are covered in the article on online Brainspotting intensives.
Lucy Orton is IFS Level 3 trained and Brainspotting trained to Phase 5 and a Master Class with David Grand. Her trauma intensives combine the two, online worldwide.
References
- IFS Institute. The Internal Family Systems model outline. ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline
- IFS Institute. Internal Family Systems: An emerging evidence base, a strong foundation for more research. ifs-institute.com/resources/research
- Brainspotting. What is Brainspotting? brainspotting.com/about-bsp/what-is-brainspotting
- D'Antoni, F., Matiz, A., Fabbro, F., & Crescentini, C. (2022). Psychotherapeutic techniques for distressing memories: A comparative study between EMDR, Brainspotting, and Body Scan Meditation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1142. doi:10.3390/ijerph19031142
This page is general information about intensive therapy. It is not a substitute for individual assessment or advice, and reading it does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are in crisis or at risk of harm, contact local emergency services or a crisis line now. How these articles are written and checked: our editorial standards.