The New “Best Trauma Therapy”: Introducing Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)
You may not have heard of Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR). Yet… My prediction is that in the coming years, you will start hearing about it more and more. DBR is a groundbreaking trauma therapy approach that was developed based on some of the latest research on trauma and brain science. It was developed by Frank Corrigan, a psychiatrist and experienced trauma therapist. He was trying to understand how to better help folks heal those deeply rooted emotional issues that are so hard to heal from, that often continue to trigger clients even after years of therapy. This is where DBR comes in.
What is DBR? An Explanation for my Neuroscience Nerds:
Unlike traditional therapy where you talk through past experiences, staying in the cognitive part of your brain, DBR dives into the brain's deeper structures - specifically the brainstem, where our primal stress response originates. These deep brain structures are linked to how traumatic, stressful and overwhelming material gets stored and sequenced neurophysiologically (meaning in our brain/body/nervous system). This stored ‘sequencing’ impacts how we react emotionally and behaviourally to things that happen in our current lives. By targeting this part of the brain and brain/body patterns, DBR can alleviate triggers and stubborn symptoms by treating them at the root of where they occur.
DBR targets our deep brain structures.
So I know the description might sound complicated and maybe a little intense - but in terms of approaches to trauma therapy, it is actually a pretty simple and gentle approach that most people can do without getting overwhelmed.
Ok, but what does this actually look like in a session?
Wondering how DBR actually works? Glad you asked. Here's a step-by-step outline of what DBR looks like in practice:
Creating Safety: We set the stage together for a safe and supportive environment, where you can feel secure and grounded.
Identify What to Work on: You identify what triggers, behavioural patterns, emotional responses, etc. you want to shift. Then we choose a recent example where this issue came up in your life, which we use as the ‘target’ for the session.
Ground in the Brainstem: In DBR, we start with a particular grounding process that helps you ground in your ‘where-self’ - the part of the brain that orients to external stimuli.
Turn towards the distress: We then have you put your attention towards the identified target and start tracking your body responses in a particular sequence.
Processing and rewiring the physiological sequence: As we track the body response sequence, we allow each incoming sensation to get our slow, focused attention, which we hypothesize allows for memory reconsolidation and brain/nervous system rewiring to occur.
Consolidating the shifts: Afterward, we work on integrating these changes into your life, with regular check-ins to monitor progress and address any new challenges.
My Top 3 Reasons that I love DBR:
It focuses on healing current triggers so that you get relief as soon as possible. DBR starts with what you want to shift in the here and now, without having to do lots of exploring and talking about the historical source of that current day issue.
You don’t have to talk at length, or at all, about the original traumatic event to heal from it. In fact, you don’t even have to know the source of what is causing you to feel triggered in your current life.
It is gentle. My clients generally report that they can do DBR without feeling overwhelmed during the session and without feeling ‘wrecked’ after a session. Tired, yes. Re-traumatized, no!
Who benefits from DBR?
Anyone who has faced significant trauma or chronic stress stands to gain from DBR. I have seen it be especially helpful for conditions like PTSD, complex and attachment/developmental trauma, burnout, and anxiety. By tapping into the brain's deeper layers, DBR helps process traumatic memories that might otherwise be inaccessible through regular therapy, leading to lasting emotional relief and better mental health. It is a great approach for those patterns or symptoms in your life that you have tried to shift and yet the issue persists.
Is DBR Evidence-Based?
What's the deal with research? While studies on DBR are still early days, initial findings are promising. These findings show DBR to significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD, including triggers, negative mood, and flashbacks. This particular research project is continuing to look at neuroimaging of people before and after DBR, with the hypothesis that DBR effectively targets and alters brain structures involved in trauma processing.
Anecdotally I have observed the ways that DBR can help with improving triggers and helping the disconnect between what we know intellectually and what we feel on a gut level. I used DBR myself to work on recovering from burnout as a parent and noticed that my ability to stay calm increased, as did my sense of being present and connected with my kids.
Some of the things that my clients have said about their DBR experience includes:
“I knew intellectually that it wasn’t my fault, but now I can feel that is true on a deep level in my core.”
“I feel more compassionate towards myself.”
“It’s weird, but now I just don’t get reactive in that situation anymore!”
But, of course, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effectiveness and applications of DBR across different groups and conditions.
In a nutshell, DBR offers hope and healing for those grappling with trauma and emotional pain. In my practice, I weave DBR into a tailored therapeutic approach for each individual. As research progresses, I'm dedicated to staying informed and integrating the best practices into my therapy to offer you the most effective care possible.
If you are interested in learning more about DBR or getting support, feel free to reach out.
Cheers,
Mackenzie Kinmond, MSW, RSW Psychotherapist
Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more entertaining and educational content.
Resources:
www.deepbrainreorienting.com