Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)® is a cutting-edge trauma therapy developed by Frank Corrigan (see www.deepbrainreorienting.com). It is designed to work with the brain’s natural ability to heal. It’s especially helpful for people who haven’t found success with more traditional approaches. Unlike therapies that focus on managing mental health symptoms and relationship problems from the top down (like talking about your thoughts or behaviors and trying to replace them with new thoughts and behaviours), DBR goes straight to the body’s core responses - those physiological reactions that happen deep in the brainstem.
How Does DBR Work?
DBR is all about working with the brainstem, the part of your brain that controls basic survival instincts like turning your head or shifting your eyes in response to what grabs its attention in the environment. Here are some of the key ideas behind it:
Brainstem and Trauma: When something threatening or dangerous happens, your brainstem kicks in immediately, triggering instinctive responses for survival. DBR zeroes in on these early reactions, including a part of the brainstem called the superior colliculus (SC). The SC is responsible for registering what's happening in the environment, controlling eye and head movements that allow for this, and instantaneously assessing the safety or danger of what's happening.
Finding the "Orienting Tension": Ever notice how your body tenses up when you’re startled or scared? These tensions are usually responses to one of two things - either 1) you're body is responding to something that is happening now (someone jumped out at you from around the corner or a bear is chasing you) or 2) it's responding to triggered memories of past overwhelming or traumatic experiences that are still held in your deep brain. DBR helps you gently bring awareness to this tension, which can ground you and make processing the trauma less overwhelming.
Getting to the Core of the Trauma: Traumatic memories that continue to be held deep in your brain often come layered with overwhelming emotions, distressing thoughts or rumination, problematic behaviours, dissociation, or relational pain. DBR works to heal below these layers, at deeper brain levels, to help you safely reconnect with the original physical responses that are often buried deep.
A Non-Verbal Approach: DBR doesn’t rely on talking through your trauma or analyzing your thoughts about it. Instead, it focuses on your body’s sensations and responses, making it a great option for people who struggle with dissociation or feel numb or overwhelmed when trying to address their trauma.
Who Can DBR Help?
DBR is particularly effective for people dealing with trauma-related conditions, especially when the trauma is deeply rooted or involves dissociation. Here are some examples of when DBR can be useful:
PTSD: If you’re dealing with flashbacks, nightmares, anger, or avoidance behaviors, DBR can help by addressing the body’s physical responses to those memories and breaking their grip on you.
Complex Trauma and Dissociation: For those with more layered trauma or dissociative symptoms (like feeling detached from reality), DBR can help integrate those fragmented experiences, particularly if they stem from early attachment disruptions.
Mental Health Problems: Many chronic mental health problems (these can include depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia) are caused by unhealed trauma. DBR works below the symptoms associated with mental health problems to provide deep and long-lasting healing.
Emotional Regulation Issues: Trauma often leads to struggles with emotions, which can show up as self-harm, substance use, or other coping mechanisms. DBR helps you get to the root cause, making it easier to process your feelings and regulate them.
Relational Trauma: If your trauma stems from attachment issues (for example, a physically or verbally abusive parent or caregivers who weren't attuned and lovingly responsive to you) or relational difficulties (for example bullying, racism, sexism, ableism, poverty, immigration), DBR is great at addressing those early responses to emotional hurt, fostering healthier emotional connections.
Why Try DBR?
DBR is a refreshing approach because it doesn’t just manage symptoms—it goes to the source. By focusing on the body’s natural responses to trauma, it offers a safe and gentle way to process even the most deeply buried memories. It’s ideal for people who’ve found traditional talk therapy overwhelming or ineffective, particularly if dissociation or emotional overwhelm has been a barrier. If you’re looking for a therapy that gets to the root of trauma in a grounded, body-based way, DBR might be the breakthrough you need.
Contact us if you'd like to learn more about this exciting therapy
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