Deep Brain Reorienting

DBR (Deep Brain Reorienting), developed by Dr. Frank Corrigan,  is a trauma-processing psychotherapy that tracks the original physiological sequence that occurs when the deep brain was first alerted to a threat or attachment disruption.  We can use DBR to process through the shock and the emotions of a traumatic or threatening event and/or interaction. When enough shock is cleared, processing emotions becomes more manageable (less overwhelming). A research paper was recently published about a study on DBR and it shows DBR had a statistically significant effect on PTSD symptoms. 

DBR therapy begins by engaging a part of the deep brain (the superior colliculus) that helps you to have a deep sense of where you are in the here and now and helps to prevent overwhelm during processing.  Through continued learning about the brain, we know that unhealed shock can contribute to a cascade of events in the brain that can lead to some of the symptoms you are experiencing. Shock can be in response to a traumatic event or even relational trauma (attachment shock/wounding – response to an unmet need). DBR can also help to access and heal core aloneness pain that is often at the root of traumatic experiences. 

The thing is that shock is experienced in the body very quickly, so we need a therapy that helps to slow down the shock held in the body so that it can be processed. Once emotions flood in they can take over, making it hard to process the shock.  DBR therapy focuses on noticing and being with sensations in the body and emotions, rather than trying to process the issue or memory cognitively.

Your therapist is present and with you during the whole session. They may be relatively quiet during the DBR session to let you be with what is coming up, but they will check in. If there’s something you need to share, you can do so. However, it is important to stay dropped into the experience and not get too “up in your head”.