Somatic Psychology and Therapy
Olesya Ovchinnikova, PhD
 

Effective Chronic Pain Relief: Exploring Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Deep Brain Reorienting, and Brainspotting

If you’re living with chronic pain, you know it can impact every aspect of life—from physical health to emotional well-being, relationships, and even identity. While conventional treatments like medication and physical therapy are essential, addressing the emotional, neurological, and psychological roots of chronic pain can bring about profound and lasting change. I specialize in holistic mind-body therapies to help reframe and alleviate chronic pain by addressing both the physical and mental layers of your experience. Here’s an overview of how three powerful approaches—Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Deep Brain Reorienting, and Brainspotting—can work to release chronic pain and help you reclaim a sense of comfort and freedom in your life.
                                                       
1. Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a cutting-edge approach designed to retrain the brain to interpret pain signals differently. Chronic pain is often maintained by the brain’s perception that certain sensations are dangerous, even when there’s no real physical threat. PRT directly addresses this misunderstanding, helping to reduce pain by reframing how the brain interprets these signals.
How PRT Works

  • Awareness and Mindfulness: First, we’ll work together to identify and observe pain sensations without fear or judgment, allowing the brain to reinterpret these sensations as safe. This process can reduce the emotional reactivity that often exacerbates pain.
  • Cognitive Reframing: Through structured exercises, you’ll learn to reappraise pain signals, challenging the brain’s associations with danger. When the brain learns to see these signals as safe, pain intensity often decreases.
  • Targeted Somatic Work: PRT involves somatic (body-focused) practices to help you process pain-related sensations without stress or anxiety, helping to rewire neural pathways associated with chronic pain.

Recent studies show that PRT can significantly decrease the intensity and frequency of chronic pain by targeting the brain’s pain-processing circuits. A 2021 clinical trial by the University of Colorado found that PRT reduced pain in participants by 66% on average, with two-thirds of participants remaining pain-free after a one-year follow-up【University of Colorado Boulder, 2021】. By helping the brain “unlearn” pain patterns, PRT empowers clients to regain control and live with greater ease.

2. Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is an emerging therapeutic approach focused on healing trauma at its roots in the brainstem. Chronic pain is often intertwined with unresolved trauma or emotional distress stored deep in the body. DBR works by addressing the brainstem’s reaction to traumatic memories, helping you process and release pain tied to old emotional responses.

How DBR Helps with Chronic Pain

  • Accessing the Brainstem’s Reaction to Trauma: DBR targets the brainstem’s response to trauma, known as “preaffective shock,” which can hold intense feelings within the body. By addressing this deeply ingrained reaction, DBR helps soften emotional and physical pain.
  • Resolving Disconnection Pain: Often, chronic pain is compounded by a sense of emotional or relational disconnection. DBR identifies and works with this “disconnection pain,” helping reduce the sense of isolation or separation associated with chronic conditions.
  • Releasing Tension from Body Memory: Trauma often leaves physical traces that manifest as chronic pain. DBR guides clients to release these stored bodily sensations, promoting physical and emotional relief.

Research into DBR for chronic pain is still evolving, but early observations indicate that DBR’s focus on brainstem reactions offers significant promise. In addressing both trauma and chronic pain, DBR has been shown to help clients experience relief from pain that was previously unresponsive to other treatments. By addressing trauma’s effects at the core level, DBR helps release pain stored within the nervous system, offering a more holistic healing experience.