What is BWRT Therapy?

You are here: / What is BWRT Therapy?

  • What is BWRT Therapy?

    Brain working recursive therapy (BWRT) is a short-term therapy designed to quickly and permanently change the way your brain reacts to certain stressors.

    The aim is to reduce or end the anxiety, habit, or phobia the stressor usually led to.

    (By Andrea M. Darcy & reviewed by Dr. Jacobson | Sourced by Harley Therapy Platform)

Is BWRT for me?

During the session, you can work on an experience without telling the therapist any of the details, which does not affect the therapy results.

BWRT is perfect for people who want to work on an issue, but are really nervous to talk about their past. Or simply can’t, as it’s far too upsetting for them.

The great thing about BWRT is that you can work on a difficult past experience without ever having to talk much about it, or even tell your therapist about it. They only need to know what it is you want to work on, such as, “I feel anxious all the time”.

Brain working recursive therapy is also useful if you do want to commit to a certain type of long-term talk therapy, but need to reduce your anxiety or stress response first, so that the therapy doesn’t end up making you feel worse.

What issues can BWRT help with?

Brain working recursive therapy is a relatively new therapy, currently being researched by the NHS in the UK as a treatment for non-complex trauma.

According to the official site of BWRT, it’s being used in the South African police force to help officers with PTSD, as well as in correction facilities, hospitals, and schools.

  • Addictions
  • Anxiety & anxiety disorders
  • Bad habits (like nail biting)
  • Childhood trauma
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Eating disorders
  • General stress
  • Phobias
  • Performance anxiety
  • OCD
  • PTSD
  • Sleeping problems
  • Smoking

What’s the actual science behind it?

BWRT is based on research that shows that actually, a decision is made before we even mentally know about it, is an unconscious process, and is based on previous experiences over the current situation.

We like to think that when faced with a decision we mull over available choices, then consciously pick one.

Our early brain, colloquially called the ‘Reptilian brain’, is programmed to protect us. And this early brain, when faced with a stressful situation, seems to rapidly ‘pattern match’ to find a response. It scans all our previous experiences and simply picks the best match for the current situation.

But before we consciously register this choice, there is a tiny pause, or a ‘cognitive gap’. BWRT uses this gap to ‘reroute’ your brain and change your response pattern.

Terrence Watts explains:

“Many ‘symptoms’ are the result of a behavior or thought pattern ‘firing up’ that has been activated before. It might actually have been suitable or effective at one time but the fact that it isn’t now is of no consequence to the non-reasoning part of the brain. BWRT makes it possible, via a simple technique, to create a new response pattern to any stimulus so that the action the brain triggers is one that we want.”

Quick questions about BWRT

You briefly tell the therapist what it is you want to work on. You will then be asked to close your eyes and the therapist will talk you through different visualizing and sensing processes, and you simply follow their voice and instructions as best you can.

You might, for example, be asked to picture the situation that upset you, the way you would have liked the situation to go, your self in an ideal future, or different parts of your brain lighting up, amongst other things. (It might sound and indeed feel strange, but there is an exact order and speed to all of it that gets below conscious thought).

No. BWRT is not content-based, it’s more of a brain-training process. So you can choose how much or little you want to share with your therapist.

No. You are fully conscious and aware during sessions. BWRT works to fill the gap between response and awareness.

Some responses we learn are no longer relevant, so understanding that the reaction can be ‘rewritten’ makes all the difference.

Ready to start your healing journey?

Schedule an appointment today.

Book Now

Joni is an incredibly experienced and uber-qualified therapist..

[She] has worked with me on unpacking issues I have around separation, self-worth and things held onto from childhood.

I would highly recommend Joni to anyone who needs someone professional and experienced to work through things with!

Sara is a phenomenal therapist.

She is a very skilled and talented mental health professional.

My favorite thing is that Sara cares so deeply about her clients.

With BWRT, I’ve been able to overcome problems that I have been working on in talk therapy for 2 years. BWRT gets to the root of the problem and I feel empowered that I’m solving my problems.

It is like nothing I have experienced before.

I honestly have no major anxiety around today other than a few nerves.

Your sessions worked, and BWRT is amazing.

Still a work in progress- like we all are- but I’m wayyyy better than I was before. And more confident after BWRT.

Been crying out of gratitude! Thank You!!!

Today has been a lot lighter… Like a reset.

Basically, all my old drama went quiet…

When some of those people come to my mind, I see them as the present moment. The grief from the past feels muted. Almost as though seeing the present still makes boundaries but doesn’t have all the baggage.

Honestly relief 🙂 Thank you!

© Copyright - Elevating Therapy