Brainspotting and Internal Family Systems-How to Effectively Brainspot the “Self,” Protector Parts, and “Exiles”.
“Brainspotting and Internal Family Systems-How to Effectively Brainspot the “Self,” Protector Parts, and “Exiles”” with Lisa Larson, LMFT
April 24th, 2026 from 12-1:30PM Mountain Time
Recording Available; 1.5 CEs
This course explores how to effectively integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS) concepts into Brainspotting while remaining fully aligned with Brainspotting’s core principles. While many Brainspotting practitioners are skilled at accessing and healing traumatized parts, this training expands clinical focus to include Brainspotting the Self and engaging Protector Parts that often sabotage clients’ lives—and impede therapeutic progress.
Participants will learn how to maintain fidelity to the Brainspotting Uncertainty Principle and stay in the “Tail of the Comet” while incorporating targeted IFS interventions. Special attention is given to helping clinicians accurately distinguish Self energy from protector-driven responses.
Healing Protector Parts requires facilitating a regulated, compassionate relationship between the Self and each Protector Part. This process will be explained through clinical teaching and illustrated with a live demonstration. Emphasis is placed on subcortical and somatic regulation, highlighting Brainspotting’s unique capacity to support nervous system stabilization. As regulation increases, clients are better able to access and live from Self energy—their highest and most adaptive state of functioning.
About Lisa:
Lisa Larson, a Marriage and Family Therapist for 26 years, faced a life-changing trauma when she and her son both experienced near-death allergic reactions. Traditional therapy failed to address her PTSD from the events, but EMDR provided swift relief. Driven by her recovery, she trained in EMDR and Brainspotting with Dr. David Grand. In 2012, she founded Pacific Counseling and Trauma Center and now trains therapists in Brainspotting, believing it offers profound healing for trauma. Lisa is also trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and is currently pursuing certification.