Anxiety can be confusing, particularly when you understand that you’re safe but your body and emotions continue to react as though something is wrong.
You might know that a situation isn’t dangerous, yet still experience racing thoughts, tension, a feeling of dread, panic or the urge to avoid what is making you uncomfortable.
This is one of the reasons some people look into BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®) as an alternative therapeutic approach.
What is BWRT®?
BWRT® is a therapeutic approach developed by UK therapist Terence Watts. According to the BWRT Institute, Level 1 training includes work with anxiety, fears and phobias, performance anxiety and other unwanted responses.
The approach is based around working with automatic responses rather than simply trying to reason your way through them.
This can be relevant when you find yourself thinking:
“I know there’s nothing to worry about, but I still feel anxious.”
The important distinction is that understanding something intellectually doesn’t always mean your automatic emotional response changes with it.
https://www.bwrt.org/folders/What-is?.com
Why can anxiety feel automatic?
Anxiety isn’t simply a thought.
When you perceive a threat, your body can respond with physical changes including increased heart rate, sweating, changes in breathing and muscle tension. The NHS describes anxiety, fear and panic as responses involving the body’s stress response.
Sometimes the response can continue even when the original trigger is no longer an immediate danger.
For example, someone who has previously experienced panic while driving may subsequently feel anxious when approaching a particular road. They may know perfectly well that the road itself is safe, but their response can happen before they’ve consciously had time to reassure themselves.
This distinction between what you know and how you automatically respond is an important part of why some people investigate BWRT.
https://www.bwrt.org/cmsuploads/2/BWRT__A_Professional_Guide.pdf
Can BWRT help with anxiety?
BWRT practitioners use the approach to work with anxiety and unwanted emotional responses. The BWRT Institute specifically lists anxiety among the issues covered by Level 1 training.
However, it is important to be realistic about what this means.
BWRT isn’t currently listed by NICE as a recommended first-line treatment for generalised anxiety disorder or panic disorder. NICE and NHS guidance recommend established psychological treatments according to the particular anxiety disorder, with CBT being one of the main approaches used for anxiety and panic.
So, rather than claiming that BWRT is the treatment for anxiety, it is more accurate to describe it as an alternative therapeutic approach that some practitioners use when working with anxiety and related responses.
What types of anxiety can BWRT be used for?
The BWRT Institute’s Level 1 material includes a range of anxiety-related difficulties, including generalised anxiety, fears and phobias, performance anxiety and fear of failure.
At Mindfuel, BWRT may therefore be relevant to people experiencing things such as:
General anxiety
Persistent worry or anxious responses that can feel difficult to switch off.
Panic
Sudden episodes of intense fear or physical symptoms that can lead to worrying about having another attack.
Fears and phobias
A strong automatic response to a particular situation, object or activity.
Performance anxiety
Anxiety associated with situations where you feel under pressure to perform, such as speaking publicly, exams or other situations where you’re being evaluated.
Anxiety around particular situations
Sometimes anxiety is strongly connected to a specific place, activity, memory or circumstance rather than being present all the time.
Do I have to talk about everything that happened?
This is one of the aspects of BWRT that some people find appealing.
The BWRT approach allows for a degree of privacy, and its published material describes working without requiring clients to disclose every detail of an experience.
That doesn’t mean you have to keep everything to yourself. Your practitioner still needs enough information to understand what you’re experiencing and determine whether the approach is appropriate.
At Mindfuel, the focus can be on how you feel now and how you would prefer to feel, rather than requiring you to repeatedly go through personal experiences in detail.
What happens during a BWRT session?
BWRT is carried out while you remain conscious and aware. The BWRT Institute describes its method as working with automatic brain responses and does not use hypnosis or a trance state.
Your practitioner guides you through a structured process based around the response you want to change.
The experience will vary depending on what you’re working on, so your practitioner should explain the process and what to expect before beginning.
How many BWRT sessions are needed for anxiety?
There isn’t a reliable number of sessions that can be promised for everyone.
The BWRT Institute describes Level 1 as a brief approach and states that some issues may be addressed in one or two sessions.
That shouldn’t be interpreted as a guarantee. The number of sessions someone needs depends on the nature of the problem, its complexity and the individual.
Mindfuel can discuss your particular circumstances before deciding whether BWRT is an appropriate option.
BWRT or CBT for anxiety: which should I choose?
They’re different approaches.
CBT focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and is an established psychological treatment recommended within NHS services for anxiety disorders.
BWRT takes a different approach, focusing on automatic responses and using a structured process intended to alter those responses.
There isn’t a need to present one as universally better than the other. The appropriate choice depends on the individual, the problem being addressed and the type of support they’re looking for.
Could BWRT be suitable for you?
If you understand your anxiety logically but still feel that your automatic response is getting in the way, BWRT may be something worth discussing with a suitably trained practitioner.
At Mindfuel, you can talk through what you’re experiencing and explore whether BWRT Level 1 or Level 2 is appropriate for your circumstances.
If your anxiety is significantly affecting your everyday life, or you’re unsure what type of support you need, it’s also appropriate to speak with your GP or access NHS Talking Therapies. In England, adults can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression without necessarily needing a GP referral.
Interested in BWRT®?
If you’re considering BWRT for anxiety, get in touch with Mindfuel to discuss what you’re experiencing and whether this approach may be suitable for you.
