The next frontier in trauma therapy integrates cutting-edge neuroscience with the subtle dynamics of a deeply attuned therapeutic relationship. Frank Corrigan’s Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) offers a revolutionary therapeutic model that merges brain-based intervention with the therapist’s mindful presence.
DBR stands apart by directly engaging these lower brain regions through a methodical, neurobiologically grounded sequence. This allows for more profound and lasting healing by addressing trauma at its roots—where automatic survival responses are encoded.
Unlike other somatic-based therapies, DBR uniquely utilizes the neuroanatomy of the midbrain to direct and attune the client’s awareness. This structured approach engages a precise sequence of responses, guiding both body and mind toward reorientation and healing.
At the core of trauma’s impact are neurophysiological patterns deeply embedded in the midbrain and brainstem—areas of the brain often untouched by traditional talk therapies. DBR doesn’t require detailed storytelling, making it accessible even when talking feels too hard.
Clients begin by recalling a mild, recent trigger—like a sharp tone of voice or sudden movement. The focus stays on a manageable moment, not the full traumatic event.
Next, attention shifts to subtle tension in the head, neck, shoulders, or face—the areas that instinctively react to threat before emotion even arises. This helps access trauma without needing to talk through details.
By staying present with these sensations in a slow, mindful way, the brain naturally begins to reorganize the memory. This can ease symptoms like anxiety, reactivity, or dissociation.
Before the body engages with emotions, it experiences shock, a precursor to emotional overwhelm. This reaction is mediated by the locus coeruleus (LC), a brain region involved in stress and arousal. DBR aims to slow down and deconstruct this early shock response, allowing individuals to process trauma without triggering overwhelming emotional reactions.
The emotional response, often the focus of traditional therapies, is facilitated by the periaqueductal grey (PAG), which governs pain modulation and emotional regulation. However, DBR emphasizes intervening in earlier stages, ensuring that by the time emotions emerge, they can be processed in a more regulated and integrated manner.
By working at the intersection of brain-based therapies and a nuanced therapeutic relationship, DBR provides a powerful framework for addressing trauma at its core. Through its precise focus on the lower brain’s automatic responses, DBR offers a path to more regulated, embodied, and lasting healing from trauma.
In 2023, published results (Kearney BE, Corrigan FM, Frewen PA, Nevill S, Harricharan S, Andrews K, Jetly R, McKinnon MC, Lanius RA (2023) showed that after receiving DBR therapy, many participants experienced a significant reduction in symptoms—and many no longer met the criteria for PTSD.
This research included psychological assessments and brain scans (fMRI) to better understand how DBR affects the brain’s response to trauma. The outcomes are encouraging and continue to support the use of DBR as a powerful new approach to trauma therapy.
Contact us via email at info@anpnj.com or through our contact form to discover how this innovative approach can support your healing journey.
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