Learn what to expect from DBR therapy and find out if it’s the right fit for your needs.

If you’ve recently come across DBR therapy and felt curious—but also a little unsure—you’re not alone. Many people are drawn to this newer approach because it speaks to something deeper than traditional talk therapy, but they hesitate when they don’t know exactly what to expect.

The truth is, therapy can feel intimidating when the process is unfamiliar. This guide gives a warm and clear explanation of what DBR therapy is, what a session might look like, and how it can support people who grew up feeling unseen, neglected, or hurt.

You’re Curious About DBR, But Don’t Know What to Expect

For many people, the idea of trying a new therapy can spark two conflicting reactions: hope and hesitation. Hope that maybe—just maybe—this could help untangle the patterns that keep you stuck. Hesitation because you don’t want to waste time, feel vulnerable without a roadmap, or commit to something you don’t fully understand.

DBR therapy can sound mysterious at first. Unlike more widely known approaches, you won’t find as many books or pop-culture references that explain it in detail. That’s okay. You don’t have to know everything before you start. What matters most is your willingness to explore a new way of healing that works with the body and the brain—gently and at your pace.

What Is Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), Really?

DBR, or Deep Brain Reorienting, is a deep brain and body-focused trauma therapy developed by psychiatrist Dr. Frank Corrigan. It focuses on the very first moments of how the brain and body respond to stress or threat. Instead of exploring thoughts, memories, or behaviors, DBR slows everything down to help you notice the subtle, often unconscious signals that arise deep within the nervous system.

These signals are part of your survival wiring—the automatic ways your body reacts when it senses danger, criticism, or pressure. By learning to track and stay with these early cues in a safe and supportive setting, you create the possibility for healing right at the root of the wound.

DBR therapy isn’t about going back over painful memories in detail or trying to change your beliefs. It’s about gently noticing what arises, allowing the nervous system to process what it couldn’t fully process before, and creating space for new, calmer patterns to emerge.

What Does a Typical Session Look Like?

Every DBR session is unique because every person’s nervous system and experiences are unique. That said, here’s a general sense of how a session might feel:

Settling In
At the start, your therapist will invite you to get comfortable and check in with how you are arriving that day, emotionally, mentally, and physically. You might briefly talk about something that has been on your mind. Together, you will agree on what to focus on for the session, usually connected to your overall goals in therapy.
Tuning Into Subtle Sensations
DBR is about slowing down and becoming deeply present. Your therapist will guide you through a “where-self” exercise, which helps you connect to your body along the vertical (axial gravitational) line. This is more than mindfulness, it is a way of anchoring into the here and now so you can feel safe and steady enough to notice what is happening inside.
Staying With the Experience
When you bring up the memory or theme you want to work on, the focus is not on re-telling the whole story but on noticing what shows up in your body as you think about the exact moment your body registered something was wrong. Maybe it is a very subtle tightening around your eyes, a furrowing in your forehead, or a tension in the base of your skull. Instead of rushing past it, your therapist will invite you to slow down and stay with these sensations, allowing them to gently unfold at their own pace.
Gradual Resolution
As you stay with the process, your body may begin to release what has been held. Tension may ease, emotions may come up and then soften, or you may notice a new sense of calm and steadiness spreading through you. Some people describe this as if a weight has quietly lifted, others simply feel more grounded and connected. Before closing, your therapist will help you return to this sense of ease so you can carry it with you into the rest of your day as your nervous system continues to settle.

It’s important to note: you are always in control. Nothing is forced. The pace is gentle, and the therapist is attuned to your capacity.

How DBR Helps Heal Old Wounds Like Feeling Unseen, Overwhelmed, or Never Good Enough

Many people who explore DBR therapy have done classic talk-therapy, even EMDR, but still feel a sense of intense emotional reactions to certain expereinces. They have a strong intellectual sense of why they do what they do, they have self regulation skills, and yet, their bodies continue to react to certain moments at 9 out of 10 rather than the 3 the moment is.

This is where DBR can be especially supportive.

Perfectionism: Perfectionism often stems from early experiences where love or safety felt tied to performance. DBR helps create space to process those old survival responses, which allows for self-compassion instead of relentless self-criticism.
Overwhelm: When your nervous system constantly feels “on,” it can be hard to rest or even breathe deeply. DBR works directly with the physiological patterns of overwhelm, helping you shift out of overdrive into steadier regulation.
Shutdown: Many people-pleasers and caretakers reach a point of burnout where they feel emotionally numb. DBR provides a safe, gradual way to reconnect with authentic feelings and needs—without judgment or pressure, by allowing the brain to process what’s stuck in the nervous system.

Because DBR therapy addresses the root reactions or initial shock in the nervous system, it can create changes that ripple outward into daily life—less reactivity, more ease in relationships, and a deeper sense of groundedness.

What Makes DBR Different From Other Therapies?

If you’ve tried traditional talk therapy or even body-based approaches like EMDR, you may wonder what sets DBR apart.

Slower and Deeper: While EMDR and DBR both work with trauma in the nervous system, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) helps you slow down enough to catch the very first hints that your body is feeling stressed or unsafe —often before you’ve even put a story or thought to it. By working at this deeper, body-based level, it gives your brain and nervous system a chance to heal what may never have been processed.
No Need for Detailed Narratives: In DBR therapy, you don’t have to retell traumatic memories in detail. Instead, the focus is on noticing and staying with the sensations in your body. Aside from a brief check-in at the beginning to decide what to focus on, the process doesn’t rely on a lot of talking, which can make it feel more accessible and less overwhelming
Gentle and Non-Directive: The therapist follows your nervous system’s lead, not the other way around. This can feel relieving if you’ve ever struggled with therapy that seemed too directive, fast, or analytical.

In short, DBR therapy offers a gentler, body-informed path that honors your pace and your innate capacity to heal.

Feeling Ready? You Don’t Have to Know Everything to Start

It’s natural to want clarity before beginning something new, especially when it comes to your emotional well-being. But the beauty of DBR therapy is that you don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need to prepare the “right” story or understand every detail of how it works.

What matters is your willingness to show up as you are—and to allow an attuned & trained therapist to guide the process with care.

If you’ve been living in a cycle of perfectionism, burnout, or emotional shutdown, you deserve support that reaches beyond surface-level coping. DBR therapy offers a way to gently unwind the patterns your nervous system has been carrying for far too long.

For residents of New York and Massachusetts, virtual therapy sessions are available, and if you’re local to Brooklyn, in-person sessions may also be an option. Reach out today to schedule an initial consultation. Wherever you are, know that you don’t have to walk this path alone. Healing doesn’t require perfection—it only asks for your presence, one step at a time.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or mental health care. The content reflects general knowledge and opinion, not personalized treatment. Reading this blog does not create a therapeutic relationship. Please consult a licensed professional for support.

What Happens in a Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) Therapy Session? A Gentle Guide