DBR & EMDR

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Some people assume since I’m an EMDR trainer, and because Intuitus Group specializes in EMDR therapy, that I am/we are married to EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Not so. 

EMDR is great, don’t get me wrong. It is one of the first-line recommended treatments for PTSD in adults worldwide, and has a continually growing evidence base for treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, compulsive behaviors, and many other issues. However, EMDR is not necessarily the ideal fit for every person and situation.

I searched high and low for a trauma processing approach that was more somatically-focused (physical/body-focused) than EMDR tends to be, for lots of reasons including the value of simply having options. Many such models out there are not scientific and/or did not begin as a psychotherapy, but rather grew out of the healing arts. In deep brain reorienting (DBR), I found a model that is based on a deep understanding of neuroanatomy and how it responds to and is affected by trauma; and DBR was intended to be employed within psychotherapy from the outset.

You can find information about DBR and EMDR elsewhere (see those links). In this piece, I will compare and contrast them in my clinical experience.

In both DBR and EMDR, there are some preparatory steps that I must take with a client to establish our treatment plan. The treatment plan includes what we will focus on, and the aim or goal of what we hope will be the outcome of that focus. The preparatory steps are somewhat similar: gathering information about the clients’ history of relationships, abuse and neglect, current symptoms, any medical or other issues that may overlap with the psychological ones, etc. In order for me to feel comfortable engaging in processing via DBR or EMDR, I need to confirm that clients are able to notice their present experience (affect, including emotion and sensation, thoughts, etc.) and share that with me fairly immediately so that I can do my job in guiding the processing.

DBR and EMDR differ in some significant ways. Here are a few of those.

     A1. EMDR therapy is a more structured process, with 8 phases and 3 temporal prongs.

A2. DBR is a more organic process after the initial setup with an Activating Stimulus.

B1. There are guideposts built into EMDR reprocessing phases to measure

‘progress’ in processing a memory network, and in a treatment plan- in 

addition to present symptoms.

B2. ‘Progress’ in DBR is most clearly measured by present symptoms. A 

‘new perspective’ may emerge during a session, but does not necessarily

mean we’re done processing that trigger or underlying material.

C1. In EMDR, we need to stay close to the established treatment plan for 

a period of time (5-15 sessions) as much as possible.

C2. DBR allows for working with a different present trigger each session.

We can follow a theme, but it’s okay if we don’t.

DBR training requires that clinicians have at least 2 years prior experience in working with trauma and complex trauma clients.

Overall, it’s great to have options and can shift tracks when needed. When clients have had a negative experience with EMDR, or haven't been fully helped by EMDR, it’s great to have the option of DBR - and vice versa.

Several other counselors at Intuitus Group have sought training in DBR. DBR training does require the clinician to have at least 2 years of experience in treating trauma and be independently licensed. So, you will see that only our more senior clinicians have this training.

Michelle Browning  Jody Schmit

Lorrie Saldivar   RL Turner

Jennifer Madere

Posted by Jennifer Madere on March 24, 2026