It leverages the brain's "cognitive gap," the period between the initial activation of a thought or emotional response and the moment it enters conscious awareness. This concept originated from studies like Benjamin Libet’s work in the 1980s, which demonstrated that the brain initiates responses milliseconds before we become consciously aware of them.

BWRT® works by intervening during this cognitive gap, targeting the brain's early processes. Unlike traditional therapies that focus on conscious thought or memory recall, BWRT® reprograms automatic responses at the neurological level. It directly engages the "Reptilian Complex" or "Lizard Brain," which is responsible for instinctual survival responses like fear, aggression, and self-preservation. This makes it particularly effective in treating conditions like phobias, PTSD, and anxiety, where these deep-seated responses are triggered before conscious intervention is possible.

The therapy's effectiveness is further enhanced by its ability to work without the need for clients to relive traumatic events or painful memories. BWRT® helps neutralise harmful thought patterns and emotional reactions by altering brain pathways before the amygdala (the brain’s emotional centre) even receives the threat signal. This neuroscientific foundation is what makes BWRT® so powerful—it allows rapid, long-lasting change by addressing the brain at its most fundamental level.

Sources:

BWRT.org. (n.d.). About us. https://www.bwrt.org/folders/about

Linden, D. E. J., & Jackson, M. C. (2021). BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT) for mental health treatment: A systematic review of clinical outcomes and mechanisms. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34696777/