Deep Brain Reorienting in Toronto, Richmond Hill & Vaughan

Healing Trauma at Its Root: Where Talk Therapy Can’t Reach

You’ve done the work. So why do you still feel stuck?

For many of our clients, that’s where the story begins.

You’ve tried journaling. Yoga. Talk therapy. And for a while, it helps. But then an unexpected comment, a small argument, or even a quiet moment alone sends your nervous system spiraling.

It’s like something deeper is still carrying the weight. And you don’t know how to reach it.

That’s where Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) begins. It’s not just about processing thoughts—it’s about healing the body’s original trauma response, where it first took root.

What Is Deep Brain Reorienting Therapy?

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is a gentle, neuroscience-based therapy designed to resolve the shock, freeze, and overwhelm that traditional talk therapy often can’t touch.

Developed by Dr. Frank Corrigan, DBR targets pre-emotional brainstem responses — those early, unconscious reactions that happen in your neck, shoulders, and nervous system before the emotion ever arrives.

These are the body’s original alarm bells. The ones that get stuck when trauma occurs. They exist in the most ancient parts of the brain—far beneath conscious thought or language.

Deep Brain Reorienting helps you notice, track, and unwind these hidden patterns — without re-living the trauma.

The process is deeply somatic, slow, and safe. Many clients describe it as the first time they’ve felt truly present with their experience—without becoming overwhelmed by it.

Deep Brain Reorienting is an innovative trauma therapy that works where trauma actually begins — deep in the brainstem. And that changes everything.

Deep Brain Reorienting is an innovative trauma therapy that works where trauma actually begins — deep in the brainstem.

Why This Matters: Trauma Lives in the Body Before It Reaches the Mind

Trauma isn’t just a memory — it’s a survival sequence that lives in the body:

• • Neck tension before panic
  • Averted eyes before shame
  • Shallow breath before sadness

These reactions begin milliseconds before emotion or memory.

Most therapies start after the emotion arrives. But by then, the body has already gone into defense mode.

Deep Brain Reorienting starts before that — at the origin point of the trauma response.

It follows the path backward, tracing the sequence from shock to muscle contraction to emotion—and helping the nervous system unlearn its hair-trigger survival state.

This body-first, brainstem-centered approach makes DBR particularly effective for:

• • Complex PTSD and developmental trauma
  • Chronic anxiety or “shut-down” responses
  • Dissociation and freeze states
  • Unexplained somatic symptoms like fatigue, numbness, or pain without a clear medical cause

By meeting trauma where it first takes hold—in the body—Deep Brain Reorienting gives you a chance to heal what was once unreachable.

“My body knew what my brain didn’t. Deep Brain Reorienting gave my nervous system a way out.”

How Deep Brain Reorienting Works for Trauma

A DBR session may feel different from what you’re used to — because it is.

You’ll be guided to slow down and gently notice:

• • Micro-tensions in the face, eyes, or neck
  • Shifts in your breath or posture
  • The body’s subtle responses that signal stored trauma

The therapist helps you track these early signals, without pushing for story or catharsis.

Then, rather than rushing into the narrative or the emotion, we pause here — at the edge.

This pause creates a window of transformation. It allows the nervous system to reprocess the trauma sequence at its source, often leading to profound relief without needing to re-live the pain.

DBR Is:

• • Gentle and non-retraumatizing
  • Ideal for those who “freeze” or shut down in therapy
  • Rooted in neuroscience and trauma research
  • Effective in-person or online
  • Slow enough to be safe. Precise enough to create lasting change.

In this space of deep presence and gentle tracking, your nervous system can finally do what it was designed to do all along: find safety, and let go.

What Makes DBR Different from Talk Therapy?

If you’ve ever left a talk therapy session feeling like something deeper was missed, you’re not alone — Deep Brain Reorienting was developed for exactly that reason.

 

Understanding these differences is the first step toward choosing a therapy that doesn’t just process your thoughts, but helps your whole system feel safe again.

Who Is DBR For?

DBR is ideal for people who feel like traditional talk therapy hasn’t fully reached the core of their experience.

It may be right for you if:

• • You’ve experienced trauma that feels stored in the body
  • You shut down emotionally or physically in therapy sessions
  • You struggle with emotional regulation, chronic stress, or dissociation
  • You’ve said, “I don’t know why I feel this way — I just do.”
  • You’re ready to approach healing from a deeper, more integrative path

If that sounds like you, DBR may offer the shift you’ve been waiting for.

When talk therapy stops at the surface, DBR goes deeper—guiding your nervous system toward safety, from the inside out.

Our Team

At Inner Summits, you’ll find a team of deeply compassionate, highly trained psychotherapists dedicated to helping you heal—not just cope. Each of our therapists is certified in trauma-informed modalities and trained in Deep Brain Reorienting, with backgrounds in EMDR, IFS, and somatic therapies.

Below are just a few of our friendly faces, and you can learn more about us on Our Team page.

 

Deep Brain Reorienting in Toronto & York Region

Our psychotherapists are trained in DBR and offer integrative trauma therapy that blends DBR with EMDR, parts work (IFS), and nervous system support.

Whether in-person or virtually, we work at your pace — with science-based guidance and heartfelt connection.

We also offer:

• • Flexible scheduling with day and evening sessions
  • Match guarantee: If your therapist isn’t the right fit, we’ll rematch you—free of charge
  • Support for complex trauma, burnout, anxiety, attachment wounding, and dissociation
  • Therapy services available throughout Toronto and York Region, and virtually across Ontario

No matter where you’re starting from, you don’t have to navigate this alone — real healing begins with the right support, and we’re here to guide you forward.

The Outcome: A Calmer Body, a Clearer Mind, a Brighter Path

Most clients describe the results of Deep Brain Reorienting not in grand transformations — but in subtle shifts that change everything.

• • Feeling calmer without trying
  • Fewer shutdowns or panic spikes
  • Deeper sleep, easier relationships
  • Feeling safe in your body, not just in your thoughts

This is healing from the inside out. And it’s within reach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does DBR feel like?

Most people describe DBR as slow, safe, and surprisingly powerful. There is no need to re-tell or re-live traumatic events. The focus stays on your present-moment experience and how your body holds trauma patterns.

How is DBR different from somatic therapy?

While both involve the body, DBR specifically targets the brainstem’s orienting and tension sequence. It is highly precise and often used when other somatic therapies have plateaued.

Is Deep Brain Reorienting helpful for compex PTSD?

Yes, DBR is particularly effective for complex PTSD, developmental trauma, and dissociation. It works with early brainstem responses that drive many of the symptoms associated with these conditions.

Can I do DBR online?

Yes. Deep Brain Reorienting can be done effectively online with a trained therapist. Many clients experience powerful results through virtual sessions when guided safely and intentionally.

Where do you offer Deep Brain Reorienting?

We offer Deep Brain Reorienting therapy both in-person at our Toronto, Richmond Hill and Vaughan offices, and virtually across Ontario.

Do I need a diagnosis to begin DBR?

No. You don’t need a diagnosis or a referral. If you’re struggling with trauma, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm, we can help you assess if DBR is the right fit.

Interested in Deep Brain Reorienting?

You don’t have to explain it all. You don’t have to have the right words.

You just have to begin.

Book A Free Consultation

We’re here to make that first step easier. Get in touch.