Deep Brain Reorienting

Deep Brain Reorienting Psychotherapy

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is a trauma-focused psychotherapy developed by Dr Frank Corrigan. It builds the study of the neurobiology of trauma, and integration of principles from other modalities. DBR is considered a gentle method of trauma processing for many clients and is reported to facilitate deep shifts in autonomic state and core self-experience. Research is still early but indicates DBR may be a promising treatment for PTSD and complex trauma, including developmental and attachment trauma.

DBR is a body-led method that targets the brainstem-level orienting and shock responses believed to drive amplified emotional states (fear, rage, shame, panic) and associated defensive reactions (fight, flight, freeze, collapse, submit). The approach often enables access to early adverse experiences that are difficult to reach with standard top-down therapies.

Both EMDR and DBR are safe and effective when delivered by trained clinicians. Evidence for DBR is still emerging. Clinically, it appears useful for complex PTSD, childhood trauma, chronic shame states, somatic symptoms, difficulty recalling traumatic memories, and low tolerance for intense affect. DBR can also be effective when other modalities have reduced symptoms but core self-beliefs remain unchanged.

What a DBR session involves:

Your therapist helps you select a current trigger or issue as the entry point rather than beginning with past events.
You are guided to orient to the external environment and to your physical body.
You then locate the specific orienting tension linked to the selected issue. This tension becomes the anchor used to maintain grounding and to stabilise any dissociation.
The therapist then guides you through the shock responses that emerge, followed by the emotional and defensive sequences that may unfold. Near the end of the session, you are asked to notice what feels new or different. Shifts are often non-verbal and non-cognitive because most processing occurs beneath conscious thought. Some clients notice increased ease or spaciousness immediately; others notice changes in the hours or days afterward, as DBR processing continues post-session.

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