Developed by Dr Frank Corrigan, Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is a body-based therapeutic approach that works with the connection between the brain, the body, and emotion. The idea is that when specific needs go unmet, we experience a shock in the midbrain that creates tension in the body. This tension generates negative feelings such as fear, grief, rage, or shame, which can then shape our attachment styles and behavioural patterns.

When our needs go unmet, the shock and emotional response can lead us to develop automatic coping mechanisms. We might find ourselves getting angry, shutting down, avoiding, or even trying to please others, all in an effort to ease the pain or find another way to have those needs met.

For example, if a person repeatedly experiences confusion or responses that do not make sense, whether from others or themselves, this may indicate that shock or emotion remains stuck and unprocessed in the body. In those moments, it can feel tricky to tune into your own instincts or to know what feels right deep down.

DBR helps to process that shock and emotion slowly through the body. As the process unfolds, old neural pathways, bodily tensions, and emotional patterns can begin to release. This may create more space for a person to connect with their inner essence and experience a calmer, less reactive nervous system.

In practice, a session begins by choosing an activating stimulus, which is something that evokes emotion or discomfort, such as a memory, sentence, or situation. I guide the person to settle into what is called their “where self,” with eyes closed, while remaining aware of both their body and the space around them. From there, we slowly notice what happens in the body, especially around the eyes, forehead, and base of the skull, as the brainstem turns toward the trigger. The pace is slow, allowing the body to process the waves of tension, tingling, or emotion that appear naturally.

Often, people describe that the original trigger feels as if it has dissolved or softened. Sometimes another, related memory or emotion arises that becomes the next layer to explore.

For instance, a woman might begin a DBR session focused on her wish to have a partner and later realise that unresolved hurt from past relationships is blocking her openness. Recognising this can start to create real change. Or a man might notice physical tension linked to pressure or performance anxiety. After DBR, he may find that his body responds more freely, revealing a deeper emotional theme to work with. It is a gentle process, almost like clearing old files from a computer so the system can run smoothly again.