Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is a trauma therapy that focuses especially on the body’s first response to shock. A frightening event or a painful moment in a relationship can be felt in the body before you have words for it. DBR works slowly with that early response, so therapy need not centre on retelling every detail of what happened.
You can read more about the approach on the official DBR website.
DBR and the Shock Response
In DBR, “shock” means the immediate response to something overwhelming or unexpected; it does not mean electric shock treatment. The therapist helps you notice how your body first oriented to the experience, and then any sense of shock, emotion or protective reaction that followed. These responses are not the same for everyone. The work moves at a pace you can manage.
What DBR Therapy May Help With
DBR may be considered when a distressing experience still brings a strong bodily response, even if you understand what happened. This might follow a sudden shock such as a road traffic accident or medical emergency, or a painful experience in a close relationship. Some people seek trauma therapy for attachment-related experiences or PTSD symptoms. We would first talk about your history, current support and goals, then decide together whether DBR is a suitable option. No therapy is right for everyone, and results vary.
What to Expect in a DBR Session
Starting with a Conversation
We begin by talking about what has brought you to therapy, what feels difficult now and what you hope will change. We discuss whether DBR is appropriate for you and how to keep the work manageable. You do not have to start by telling every detail of a traumatic event.
Noticing What Happens
When we have agreed on a focus, I may invite you to bring a brief moment to mind and notice what happens in your body. This can include subtle changes around the eyes, forehead or neck before clearer feelings or thoughts emerge. I will guide you with occasional questions; there can also be quiet stretches while you pay attention to what you notice. The process is described in a published DBR treatment study.
Keeping the Pace Manageable
We work slowly and check how you are doing. You can speak, ask a question or pause at any point. If the work feels too much, we can return to grounding rather than push on. We leave time to settle and talk about what you noticed before the session ends.
What Does DBR Feel Like?
One distinctive feature of DBR is that there may be periods of quiet. You may sit together with the therapist while noticing subtle changes in your body, thoughts or feelings, rather than talking continuously. This can feel unfamiliar if you expect therapy to involve a conversation throughout. The therapist remains present, offers guidance and checks the pace with you. You can speak, ask to pause or use grounding whenever you need to.
Do I Have to Talk About Everything?
No approach can remove the need for conversation altogether. A therapist needs enough information to understand your needs and work responsibly with you. During DBR itself, though, there can be periods of quiet attention, with brief descriptions of what you notice. You would not need to arrive with a carefully prepared account of your whole history.
If this question has held you back from seeking help, you can read more about my trauma therapy approach.
Understanding DBR and the Research
Psychiatrist Dr Frank Corrigan developed DBR around the idea that the body can register a distressing experience before we can name what we feel. The approach follows a proposed sequence: an initial orienting response, possible shock, and then emotions or protective reactions. This helps guide the therapy, although the precise brain mechanisms are still being studied.
Early research is promising, but it is still limited. In a study of 54 people with PTSD, those who received DBR improved more than those on a waiting list. Because the study was small and did not compare DBR with treatments such as EMDR, it cannot tell us which approach works best for a particular person. Larger studies are needed.
DBR Therapy in Corsham, Wiltshire and Online
I am Level 1 trained in Deep Brain Reorienting through an official DBR training provider. I offer trauma therapy in Corsham, Wiltshire, and online across the UK. If you are looking for help with a distressing memory, attachment trauma or a shock response that still feels present, we can discuss whether DBR therapy is suitable and currently available for you. We can also consider other trauma-focused approaches if they would fit better.
Explore Therapy With Me
If you are considering trauma therapy but feel unsure about how much you would need to talk, a free 15-minute consultation gives you space to ask. There is no obligation to continue.