New Trauma Therapy: What Is Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) and How It Works

What is Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)?

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is an innovative and emerging trauma therapy designed to address and resolve the deep-seated neurological responses that arise during traumatic experiences, particularly those related to attachment wounds and early developmental trauma. Unlike traditional talk therapies that focus on cognitive and emotional processing, DBR targets the brainstem and other subcortical structures—areas of the brain responsible for our most primal survival responses. This method aims to transform how the brain and body react to trauma, facilitating healing at a foundational level .
 

What to Expect in a DBR Session Session Length

The length of each session may vary depending on the therapist’s assessment of your needs and the specific goals of your treatment

Session Structure During a DBR session, you can expect a process focusing on subtle physiological shifts in your body. Here’s a general outline of what happens:

  • Initial Finding of the Where Self: Sessions often begin with an anchoring exercise to ground you in the “where self” or “proto self.” This exercise involves a script provided by your clinician and allows you to anchor into your brainstem—the place where we need to be to begin processing.

  • Guided Exploration: Your therapist will guide you in exploring the sensations, emotions, and memories that arise as you focus on a specific adverse life event or experience. DBR is not about talking through the trauma in a traditional sense but rather about noticing and attending to the body's responses, particularly those rooted in the brainstem.

  • Reorienting the Brainstem Response: The therapist will work with you to reorient the brainstem’s automatic responses to trauma. This process involves paying attention to the body’s natural sequence of orienting, tension, shock, and afect (OTAS) as they relate to the trauma. It allows them to process efectively at the deep brainstem and body level.

  • Integration: The session will typically conclude with a period of integration, where you’ll work on deepening into the shifts in perspective or changes in awareness that have occurred during DBR the session.


Will I Be Talking?

DBR sessions are less focused on verbal dialogue compared to other therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or even EMDR. Instead, the focus is on noticing and responding to your body’s internal cues and sensations. While you may share some aspects of your experience with the therapist, much of the work is done through silent observation of your physiological and emotional states.


What to Expect After a DBR Session

After a DBR session, you may feel a range of emotions or physical sensations as your body and brain integrate the work you’ve done. Some people report feeling a sense of relief or calm, while others might experience temporary discomfort or fatigue as their nervous system processes the changes.

  • Immediate Efects: You may feel more in touch with your emotions and body, or you might notice a reduction in anxiety or hypervigilance. These efects can vary from session to session.

  • Ongoing Integration: Healing through DBR is an ongoing process. After sessions, you might be encouraged to practice anchoring in the where self or proto self or additional grounding techniques to support the integration of the work done in therapy. Some people find that insights or shifts continue to emerge days or even weeks after a session.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

The number of DBR sessions required varies depending on the individual and the complexity of their trauma. Some people may start noticing changes after just a few sessions, while others may benefit from ongoing therapy over several months. Your therapist will work with you to assess your progress and determine the appropriate length of treatment.
 

Is DBR Right for You?

DBR may be particularly beneficial if you’ve experienced complex or early developmental trauma, especially if other therapies haven’t fully addressed your needs. It is also suited for individuals who have dificulty verbalizing their trauma or who feel disconnected from their bodies. By targeting the brain’s most primitive responses to trauma, DBR offers a unique and potentially transformative approach to healing.
 

Conclusion

Deep Brain Reorienting is a promising and powerful new approach to trauma therapy, particularly for those who have struggled with traditional therapeutic methods. By focusing on the brainstem’s role in trauma, DBR allows for healing that is deeply rooted in the body’s natural processes. If you’re interested in exploring DBR, consider contacting us at Evolve Therapy, where we specialize in this cutting-edge therapy, to discuss how it might benefit you.

 

References: Corrigan, F. M., & Christie-Sands, J. (2020). An innate brainstem self-other system involving orienting, afective responding, and polyvalent relational seeking: Some clinical implications for a “Deep Brain Reorienting” trauma psychotherapy approach. Medical Hypotheses, 136, 109502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109502 Kearney, B. E., Corrigan, F. M., Frewen, P. A., Nevill, S., Harricharan, S., Andrews, K., Jetly, R., McKinnon, M. C., & Lanius, R. A. (2023). A randomized controlled trial of Deep Brain Reorienting: A neuroscientifically guided treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(2), 2240691. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2240691