What To Expect in a Deep Brain Reorienting Session
In my previous post, I discussed the theory behind Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), a newer trauma-focused therapy. If you're new to DBR, I'd recommend reading that post first. In this article, I'll walk you through what a typical DBR session looks like. While every session is a little different, most include choosing an activating stimulus, grounding in the Where Self, identifying the orienting tension, processing shock and affect, and noticing any new perspectives that emerge.
Choosing an Activating Stimulus
The first thing we'll do is decide what you'd like to work on that day. Let's say you'd like to work on a longstanding pattern of shutting down when you feel criticized. To explore this using DBR, we'll identify a specific time when this pattern showed up and look for the activating stimulus—the first cue to your nervous system that something wasn't right. It's often the very first internal "oh no..." or "oh shit..." moment. This might be the look of amusement you noticed on someone's face after you expressed yourself, or hearing them begin a sentence with "you always..." in a harsh tone.
The activating stimulus serves as the doorway into processing. Rather than processing the entire memory at once, DBR begins by focusing on that first moment when your brain detected potential danger.
Grounding in the Where Self
Once we've identified the activating stimulus, we'll mentally set the incident aside and move into an exercise called the Where Self. Many people choose to close their eyes during this exercise and keep them closed throughout the processing, though that's always your choice.
The Where Self is a specific grounding exercise that helps you connect with the deeper, subcortical parts of your brain that continuously monitor your surroundings. You'll be invited to notice the experience of gravity, the contact between your feet and the floor, and where you are in relation to different parts of your environment—from the walls around you to what's beyond the building you're in.
This isn't just a relaxation exercise. It's a way of helping your nervous system reconnect with the present moment before turning toward something difficult. That creates a stronger foundation for the processing that follows.
If the Where Self feels difficult at first, that's completely okay. I'll slow things down and help you practice before we move forward. I want to make sure you can connect with that pivot of awareness that knows you're here, in this moment.
Identifying the Orienting Tension
After the Where Self, I'll invite you to release tension from your head, neck, and shoulders. This makes it easier to notice what comes next.
I'll then invite you to notice the muscles in your forehead, around your eyes, or at the base of your skull as you gently turn your attention toward the activating stimulus. I might say something like, "As you turn your attention toward the look of amusement on her face..."
Rather than replaying the entire memory, I'll simply ask you to notice whether any faint tension or sensation appears in one of those muscle areas. We're looking for the orienting tension, the subtle sensation that occurs as your subcortical brain begins turning toward or away from the stimulus.
Sometimes shock sensations or emotions emerge very quickly. If that happens, we'll slow things down and gently return to identifying the orienting tension first. In DBR, moving slowly through the brain's natural sequence is essential to the process.
Once we've identified the orienting tension, we'll likely spend a few moments simply staying with it and allowing your attention to settle there. One reason we spend time here is that the orienting tension can become an anchor throughout the rest of the session. If you begin feeling overwhelmed, sleepy, dizzy, or disconnected during processing, returning your attention to the orienting tension can often help you stay present.
Processing Shock and Affect
From here, we'll slowly—and this really is the key word—scan for signs of shock.
As shock sensations emerge, you may hear me say something like, "That's a sign of shock, and I just want you to be with it, letting it be fully in your awareness."
By noticing these sensations slowly, your nervous system can release some of that shock energy. Shock may come in waves, so this part of the process may unfold gradually.
As the shock begins to settle, you may become aware of the emotions or pain that have been held beneath it. Sometimes this brings up another wave of shock. Other times, you may find you can stay with the emotion without feeling overwhelmed.
If the emotions come on too strongly, we'll use tools to help regulate their intensity before gently returning to the shock. The goal isn't to push through difficult feelings but to move at a pace that allows your nervous system to process them safely.
Checking for a New Perspective
Toward the end of the session, I'll invite you to slowly shift out of the deep processing space and back toward awareness of the room.
Together, we'll notice whether anything feels different. Sometimes people experience shifts in how they see themselves, other people, or what happened. Others notice a greater sense of calm, embodiment, or simply that something feels different.
These shifts aren't something we force or search for, but if shifts arise, we spend time noticing them so they can be more fully integrated.
A Couple of Important Notes
Although DBR is a very internal process, you won't be going through it alone. I'll be with you throughout the session, paying close attention to what's happening and offering guidance and support as needed.
Some people naturally narrate their experience as sensations shift, perhaps describing pressure moving from one part of the head to another. Others prefer long stretches of silence and only check in when they want support or guidance. Either approach is completely okay. From time to time, I'll check in to make sure you're able to stay with the process and aren't feeling overwhelmed or disconnected. Together, we'll find the level of communication that feels most supportive for you.
It's also important to know that meaningful changes don't always happen after a single session. Because DBR works gradually, it sometimes takes several sessions before you begin noticing a significant difference. If you're considering DBR, I generally encourage giving it at least three sessions before deciding whether it feels like a good fit.
Finally, while I believe DBR is an incredibly powerful therapy, it's not the only path to healing. EMDR, parts work, and simply having someone compassionately witness your experiences can all be deeply healing. The most important thing is finding an approach that feels like the right fit for you.
If you’d like to learn more about DBR or about therapy with me more generally, please reach out to schedule a consultation.
