DBR Therapy Session: A Visual Look at Deep Brain Reorienting

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) can be difficult to explain because much of the work happens beneath conscious awareness. Clients may notice changes in sensations, emotions, images, or body responses that can be hard to put into words.

One way to understand DBR is to look at what we often see as therapists as the process unfolds.

The following images provide a visual representation of what may happen during a DBR session. Every person’s experience is different, each DBR session can feel different, and not every client will experience each part of the process in the same way.

1. Activating Stimulus

The DBR process begins with an attuned and safe relationship with the therapist. The therapist assesses whether DBR may be a good fit for the client and what they are hoping to work on.

The client chooses what they would like to work on during the session. Generally, the therapist encourages the client to “let their deep brain decide” what it feels drawn to work on that day rather than trying to choose solely from a conscious or logical perspective.

At the beginning of DBR therapy, the therapist will often encourage the client to choose a current-day, or “contemporary,” non-relational activating stimulus. This might be something that is happening in the client’s life now that brings up a noticeable response in their body, emotions, or nervous system.

Starting with a contemporary, non-relational stimulus can provide a way for the client and therapist to become familiar with the DBR process without immediately going into a more intense past experience.

As the client becomes more familiar with DBR, relational activating stimuli and past events may also become appropriate to work with. The therapist continues to assess what is appropriate for the client and follows the client’s process rather than leading the work in a particular direction.

2. The Where-Self Exercise

Clients sit comfortably in a chair with their eyes either open or closed. The therapist guides them through the Where-Self exercise, a non-hypnotic exercise that helps them locate their body in time and space and become aware of themselves in relation to the space around them.

The client is encouraged to sense gravity as it supports them in the chair and notice their connection with the ground beneath them. They may also orient to the compass directions and notice the direction their head is facing.

The therapist gently guides the client to notice what is in front of them, beside them, behind them, above them, and below them. They may notice the walls, ceiling, floor, and the space surrounding their body. They may also notice sounds entering each ear and the direction from which each sound is coming.

The client is simply noticing where they are, how they are oriented, and how they experience themselves within their surroundings.

3. Orienting Tension

From the Where-Self exercise, the client is guided to ask their deep brain to turn toward the moment of activation they have chosen to work with.

The therapist then asks the client to notice whether they experience tension in specific areas, including the forehead, around the eyes, or at the base of the skull.

The client identifies where they notice the tension. The therapist then guides the client to stay with the tension and deepen into it, rather than trying to change it or make it go away.

This tension becomes an anchor that the client can return to during the DBR process.

From a DBR perspective, this process also helps “open the file” in the deep brain for what the client will be processing during the session.

4. Processing the Shock

The client is then asked to “be with” what is coming up in their head or body.

They may notice different shock sensations, such as sinking, hollowing, electric charge, shivers, shudders,  jolts or a single gasp to name a few.

The client is encouraged to let the sensations be there and to keep the process slow. This allows time for the processing of the shock sensations in the deep brain and body.

As the processing continues, the client may notice changes in body sensations, emotions, images, movement, temperature, pressure, or other experiences. The therapist continues to follow the client’s process and allows the deep brain to lead the work.

The therapist periodically checks in with the client to see how they are doing. There may be more periods of silence in this type of therapy than in other types of therapy. Even though the therapist may not be talking, they are still very attuned to the client, tracking their process and following the sequence of DBR.

Different Types of Shock May Emerge During Processing

As the DBR process continues, different types of shock may emerge . These sensations can vary significantly from one person to another.

The originator of DBR, Dr. Frank Corrigan , has identified six different types of shock . A person may experience one type of shock or several different types during processing.

Some types of shock may be concentrated in the head and may feel like pressure, brief stabs, or jabs. These are examples of impact shock and implosive shock.

Other types of shock may make you feel as though you have been knocked off your axis. You may experience a brief sensation of spinning or feel as though you are no longer sitting straight up in your chair. This is an example of what may be experienced as vestibular shock.

Another type of shock, called horror shock, may bring up a strong sensation of “ick” or a feeling of being repelled by something.

Clients are encouraged to “be with” the sensations as they move through the body. The therapist’s attunement and encouragement help support clients as they stay with the sensations and allow the processing to unfold.

The client does not need to understand or explain every sensation that comes up. The focus is on noticing what is happening and staying with the experience as the deep brain processes the shock.

5. Core Pain

A key element of DBR is that as the shock begins to dissipate, clients may be better able to get in touch with some of the core pain or deep hurt that underlies their traumatic experiences.

Although this deep hurt can be very painful, after a client has processed some of the shock, it can be easier for them to “be with” the core pain.

The core pain may be connected to experiences such as loneliness, shame, unworthiness, rejection, helplessness, or feeling unsafe. What emerges will be different for each person and may be connected to the particular experiences they are processing.

The client is encouraged to stay with what is coming up and allow the process to unfold slowly. The therapist remains attuned to the client and supports them as they process the deeper hurt.

Not every DBR session will involve reaching a core pain, and there is not necessarily one specific underlying pain beneath every traumatic experience. DBR follows what naturally emerges for each client during the process.

6. Affect May Emerge

In addition to core pain, affect may emerge during the DBR process. Generally, the affect that emerges is less intense than what a client might have experienced before processing the associated shock.

Emotions such as sadness, fear, or loss may come up while the client is also noticing shock sensations processing in their body. The client is encouraged to stay with the emotion and keep the process slow.

The therapist may also offer a release breathing technique to help the client “be with” the emotion as it comes up.

Generally, the emotions are tolerable for the client. They may come on like a wave, be present for a period of time, and then naturally dissipate.

As the processing continues, the client may notice that something that previously felt stuck, overwhelming, or intensely charged no longer feels the same way.

7. A New Perspective

As the shock, deep hurt, and emotions begin to subside, clients may notice a shift in their bodies and minds. Therapists may also notice a change in the client’s face and a softening in their body.

They may experience a calming effect, a sense of peace, or a feeling of settling. They may also experience a new “knowing” about themselves—something that feels compassionate, true, or connected to their own resilience.

Clients may find that they can turn toward an experience or something they have believed about themselves with a new understanding.

As they begin to shift out of the processing experience, the therapist may ask if they can identify a new perspective, awareness, or insight about themselves. They may also be asked if they have a new understanding about themselves after the work they have done that day.

The new perspective is not something the therapist gives the client. It is something that may naturally emerge from the client’s own processing.

What Happens After the Processing?

After processing, clients are encouraged to “be with” their new perspective for 3–4 hours following a DBR session. Bringing the new perspective back to mind can support integration and the development of new neural pathways.

Clients may feel a little fatigued after a session and may find themselves being more self-reflective for a period of time. They may also experience some subtle shock sensations continuing to move through them for a short period of time. If this happens, clients are encouraged to “just let them be there.”

When the client returns for their next session, their therapist will review how the previous session went for them and explore how their new perspective, if they experienced one, unfolded between sessions.

There is no typical “debriefing” or integration conversation immediately following a DBR session. In DBR, the client is understood to still be in the deep brain after processing has ended, so they are encouraged to take things slowly and allow the process to continue to unfold.

Clients are encouraged to take things slow after the session and engage in self-care as needed.

Interested in Learning More About DBR?

If you think DBR may be a good fit for you, contact us to learn more about DBR therapy and our approach. We can help you determine whether DBR may be appropriate for the concerns you would like to work on.