What is BWRT®?

BrainWorking Recursive Therapy

BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT®) is a structured psychological approach developed by therapist Terence Watts. Practitioners use a specific sequence of mental exercises intended to help a person work with an unwanted response or recurring pattern.

The approach often focuses on an identifiable response — for example, reacting strongly to a particular situation despite knowing, on reflection, that there is little immediate danger. The work is carried out while awake; it is not hypnosis.

What does “recursive” mean?

In this context it refers to repeating or rehearsing a preferred response within a defined therapeutic process. The aim is to explore whether a familiar response can become less disruptive, although individual experiences and results vary.

What might you experience?

Your practitioner may ask you to briefly bring a situation to mind, identify an unwanted response and consider how you would prefer to respond. You do not ordinarily need to describe every detail of a difficult memory, but a suitable assessment still requires relevant personal and health information.

What does the evidence say?

BWRT® is a practitioner-developed approach. The evidence available for its clinical effectiveness remains limited compared with well-established treatments such as CBT for many conditions. Explanations involving brain function or neuroscience should not be treated as proof that BWRT® has a particular clinical outcome.

I can discuss the approach honestly with you, including its limitations, whether it may be appropriate, and when established or specialist treatments should be considered instead.