Healing Beyond Words: Combining Brainspotting and IFS for the Neurodivergent Brain

In 2026, many clinicians are turning to the powerful integration of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Brainspotting to offer a more effective, neurodiversity-affirming path to healing.

I recently had the opportunity to complete the Brainspotting Phase I training and am excited to add it to my toolbox, especially with clients who may have challenges with verbal processing.

What is the IFS & Brainspotting Connection?

• Internal Family Systems (IFS): This model views the mind as a system of "parts"—like an inner family. For neurodivergent people, these parts often include masking parts that work hard to fit into neurotypical standards, or shamed parts that have internalized years of being told they are "too much" or "not enough".

• Brainspotting: Developed by Dr. David Grand, this neurobiological tool uses specific eye positions to access trauma and emotional regulation centers in the subcortical brain. It operates on the principle that "where you look affects how you feel".

  
  

Why This Duo Works for Neurodivergent Brains

1. Bypasses Verbal Overload: Neurodivergent individuals often experience "alexithymia" (difficulty naming emotions) or can become overwhelmed by the demand to talk through trauma. Brainspotting is a non-verbal, "bottom-up" approach that allows your nervous system to process information without needing to find the perfect words.

2. Validates the "Masking" Experience: IFS helps you identify and offer compassion to the parts of you that have had to hide your true self to survive. Instead of "fixing" your ADHD or Autism, IFS helps you understand how these traits are core to your identity while unburdening the trauma associated with them.

3. Honors Sensory and Somatic Wisdom: Many neurodivergent people have a heightened awareness of bodily sensations. Brainspotting taps directly into this somatic intelligence, helping to release physical tension and "stuck" energy that talk therapy often misses.

4. Flexibility and Autonomy: Unlike rigid therapy protocols, Brainspotting and IFS allow you to follow your own internal leads. This autonomy is vital for neurodivergent clients who may feel "stuck" when forced into traditional, highly structured therapeutic boxes.

   
   

What a Combined Session Looks Like

A session integrating these two modalities might follow this flow:

• Identify a Part: You might start by checking in with a "part" of you that feels overwhelmed or anxious.

• Find the Brainspot: Your therapist helps you find a specific eye position (a brainspot) that resonates with the physical or emotional sensation of that part.

• Process and Integrate: As you hold your gaze, your brain begins to process the underlying trauma or "unburden" that part, while your core Self—the calm, curious leader inside—remains present to witness the healing.

  
  

Conclusion: You Are Not Broken

The most transformative aspect of this work is the shift from "what is wrong with me?" to "how can I support my unique system?". By combining the somatic precision of Brainspotting with the compassionate framework of IFS, you can finally find a way to heal that honors exactly how your brain is wired.