Terence Watts - The father of Brain Working Recursive Therapy

Terence Watts has been practicing different forms of psychotherapy since 1989. According to his LinkedIn page, his only goal is to grow continually. He is known as the father of Brain Working Recursive Therapy, a “breakthrough” therapy that he developed in 2011. In this video he explains how BWRT started, the science behind it, and how this non-invasive treatment brings about long term change, quickly and effectively.

Listen to his explanation:
https://youtu.be/VoehD7Umh6c

Eye Movement Integration (EMI) – An Introduction

Finding freedom from the entrapment of trauma

Trauma is a complex concept with far-reaching effects on individuals and on society. “Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside of you because of what happens to you,” explains Dr. Gabor Mate, bestselling author and well-known speaker.  This statement rings true when comparing the diverse ways in which trauma affects people.  Where some people seem to resolve trauma in a healthy and natural way, others remain stuck in the fight-or-flight response.  EMI accesses and integrates traumatic memories and experiences, freeing the client from the burden of unresolved memories.

Trauma causes the nervous system to go into fight, flight or freeze. The greater the trauma, the stronger the arousal.  Overwhelming activation of the nervous system causes a fragmentation pattern in the memory.  This fragmentated information is now stored in the sensory, emotional and cognitive systems.  When these memories are  triggered, by something as simple as a thought, a smell, or an emotion, it causes the person to relive the trauma over and over.  In the end, the ongoing effects of the trauma feel as traumatic as the trauma itself. 

The trauma memories do not go into the past tense, but remain in the present tense.  If the brain believes something is true, then for the brain it is the “truth” and the body will react to that “truth”, as if the threat is right here and now.

EMI accesses the fragmented information in a safe and controlled manner.  Guided eye movements and slow introduction of activating words or phrases, facilitates the retrieval of the physical, somatic, sensory and emotional memories. Unconscious neural networks are hereby activated and information is processed in such a way that it makes sense and can be integrated.  Negative memories lose the capacity and power to disrupt the person’s functionality.  This also leads to a drastic reduction of trauma symptoms.  EMI enables the brain to connect all the dots and it can now safely store all the traumatic information in the past tense.  The EMI creates a synergy that is not accessible during normal thought and reflection.

The following paragraphs come from ”Extract from Visagie and Keet’s research on EMI:  Social Work 2021: 57 (3).”

EMI is known as both a neurotherapy and psychotherapy (Van der Spuy, 2014) and has its roots in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) (Beaulieu, 2003). According to Beaulieu (2012), neuro-linguistic programming posits that our thought processes are neurologically based. This approach implies that our nervous system continuously transmits information to and from our brain. Our five senses help to gather, filter and store the information. Our perceived reality is a result of how information is processed through our nervous system, leading to our understanding of the experience. There is therefore a direct link between our thoughts and experience of reality, and how information is received through our senses. Connirae and Steve Andreas developed EMI in 1989 and Danie Beaulieu modified it in 2003 with their permission (Beaulieu, 2012). Since eye movements are part of our built-in resilience and a natural way to process information on a subconscious level, EMI is based upon guided eye movements and focuses on the relationship between eye movements and thought processes (Struwig & Van Breda, 2012).

In EMI, the clinician works with the client to consciously address their symptoms of trauma by accessing and integrating multi-sensory information from their memories. The aim is to integrate traumatic memories resulting from unintegrated sensory information of a traumatic experience and reduces symptoms and distress (Beaulieu, 2012; Struwig & Van Breda, 2012). The clinician creates and uses a secure anchorage by deciding along with the client on ways of anchoring for times when the client might need to be grounded. The client identifies a troubling memory and describes the internal representation of that memory in his or her own words from their perspective as they recall the traumatic event. The clinician determines the client’s visual range, preferred distance of the hand from the eyes, as well as the preferred speed of eye movements in accordance with the protocol. The clinician applies the EMI protocol by making use of 22 eye-movement patterns to assist the client in providing new patterns to access cues. The protocol specifies some aspects in terms of the sequence, number, duration, rhythm of the movements and technical details of the hand movements.

In EMI the client is secure and focused on the present, creating a sense of safety and security. The words “just take note of it” are often used during the EMI protocol. According to Levine (2015), those are important words in effective trauma interventions, because they help the client notice what is going on inside of them. This observation allows the left (rational) and right (emotional) parts of the brain to connect.

If memories of a traumatic incident are not integrated, it can be seen as a shattered puzzle and it is hard to see the complete picture. These pieces drift in and out of consciousness and act as triggers. With EMI each drifting puzzle piece can be picked up and be explored and emotions and bodily reactions can be experienced in a safe environment, gradually putting all the puzzle pieces together. At last the big picture becomes clear, the memories can become integrated and the image stored in the past. EMI activates unconscious neural networks and networks are processed in a new way, and this leads to selfhealing.

References:

1.     Beaulieu, Danie, PhD, 2012. Eye Movement Integration therapy:  The Comprehensive Clinical Guide.  Wales:  Crown House Publishing

2.     Keet, Annaline and Visagie, Andrea, 2020. Traumatised older persons’ experiences of Eye Movement Integration as Trauma Intervention.  https://socialwork.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/950/863

3.     Mate, Gabor Dr.  https://thewisdomoftrauma.com/berlin/

Resource Therapy – Introduction

Resource Therapy is a psychodynamic therapy that is based on the idea that a personality is composed of Parts  (or Resource States).  A personality has many  parts e.g. Work Part, Creative Part, Parent Part, Fun Part, Assertive Part, Sad Part, Child Part, Fragile Part etc. All Parts have a role or a skill or their own “personality”.  The person experience life from the Part that is currently in the person’s conscious.  Other Parts can be observing or  underlying. When a  person’s Parts are all functioning in a normal way, the person is psychologically healthy.   Ideally, all Parts should be able to communicate and accommodate each other.  Parts like to be useful and valued and appreciated by other Parts.

Some Parts can be imprinted by a traumatic or negative experience.   This Part can be familiar with the traumatic territory and will step to the fore when it recognises the territory or situation.  When that Part comes into the conscious, it brings with it the feelings, thoughts, behaviour and sensory experience associated with that Part’s past imprint and causes the person to react in an unhelpful and unhealthy way.  Pathological Parts can be brought back to a normal condition.  Resource Therapy assist these Pathological Parts to become healthy and empowered and gain feelings of safety and support from the  other Parts in the personality. 

For more information, visit  www.resourcetherapyinternational.com/what-is-resource-therapy

The ABC of BWRT®

According to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 2 March 2022, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was marked by a world-wide increase of 25% in depression and anxiety.  In 2021 the WHO reported that suicide is the cause of more than 700 000 deaths annually, and that it is the fourth leading cause of death in the age group between 15 and 19 years. (www.who.int)

Although the stigma around seeking help for mental health challenges is slowly decreasing, it can still be intimidating to make that first appointment with a professional, and even more so to walk through the door for your first session.  Images of desperately sad people lying on the same couch for years and years, re-telling and often re-living trauma of years gone by, can strike fear into the hearts of prospective help seekers. One therapy that bypasses these stereotypes and potentially works effectively and fast, is Brain-Working Recursive Therapy (BWRT®). 

To explain this technique, let us start by looking at what BWRT® is not.

BWRT® is not hypnosis

BWRT® is a completely conscious therapy and no trance like state is required in order to do the work.  It is a brain training therapy, using neuroscience to change the way in which you respond to stressors or triggers in your environment. Although it does work with your subconscious mind, you remain fully conscious throughout the process.

BWRT® is not hocus pocus

This ground-breaking therapy is supported by science and is consistent with the latest developments in neuroscience.  Research has shown that there is a measurable wait between the moment we react upon any stimulus and when we become aware of that action.  This means that we do something or react in a certain way even before we have made a conscious decision.  BWRT® creates an opportunity to hijack this reaction and teach our brain to react in new ways to old stimuli.

BWRT® is not never-ending, but the results are permanent

Rafiq Lockhat, a Cape Town based psychologist, was introduced to the concept of BWRT® (then called content-less therapy) in 2012. Where traditional methods, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling are unlikely to be effective within 3 sessions, BWRT® can solve various problems within a short timeframe.  In an article by Jamie Bell (https://www.ns-healthcare.com/analysis/south-africa-mental-health-bwrt-rafiq-lockhat/), Lockhat states that “many patients required no more than a single session before reporting significant improvements”.  In addition to the fact that it works very quickly, relapses of the mental health problems that were treated hardly ever occur.  Lockhat explains that it “gets into the hard drive” of the brain.  This produces deep and permanent change.

So, what makes BWRT® different?

According to Terence Watts, the developer of the BWRT®, this therapy really is different to other available therapies.  It does not rely on the practitioner’s intuitive or imaginative abilities, or on the client ‘baring their soul’ to the practitioner. 

“It works to a specific scientific structure that gets directly into the part of the psyche from where the problem originates and uses the client’s own individual thought processes to resolve the issue from the inside out, rather than from the outside in as most therapies do. This is what makes BWRT® so speedy and efficient”, he explains. (https://www.psychreg.org/brainworking-recursive-therapy/)

Among groups of people who generally are hesitant to open up, like teenagers, members of the police force or even people in the prison system, this method has proven to be successful.  It eliminates the need for a lot of talking, and delivers results after a limited number of sessions.

For example…

In practical terms, BWRT® could be used to treat exam anxiety.  One or 2 bad experiences could have caused your brain to over react to the perceived threat of taking an exam.  Before you have had the chance to evaluate the exam paper, or your knowledge of the subject, your heart starts racing, your breath becomes shallow and you cannot recall any of the facts or techniques you have memorised and practiced. This reaction is initiated by the amygdala or “lizard brain” and is out of your control. 

However, BWRT® teaches your brain to respond differently.  It creates the opportunity to pause and consider how you would prefer to feel in a situation, instead of inadvertently experiencing the same feelings that you have previously felt in this situation.  In the exam setting, you would be able to consider the questions asked and your preparation for the exam and respond calmly, instead of automatically going into panic mode.

Written by Marlize de Villiers

BWRT Level 3 brings hope to sufferers of chronic illnesses

Have you ever wondered whether people can truly change? It is an age-old question, that has sparked debate the world over. Maybe you have been frustrated by your own behaviours – habitual over-eating, trivial anxieties or emotional outbursts. You’ve seemingly tried everything – routinely conjuring a “new you” by sheer willpower – but the change just hasn’t stuck.

But all hope is not lost. There is an exciting new therapy that attempts to “reset” the neural pathways that inform your behaviours, reactions and beliefs. It is called Brain Working Recursive Therapy – or BWRT for short – and it has changed many people’s lives for good.

BWRT is based on the premise that neural pathways can be reimagined and changed, and that your “go to” reaction can therefore be altered. Neural pathways are the reactions to stimuli that is hardcoded into your brain. As you learn about the world, develop beliefs and experience feelings of pain and joy, patterns are created in the brain that act as shortcuts. Neural pathways contain information relating to sensory, physical and emotional experiences, as well as your thoughts, beliefs and behavioral patterns.Even information relating to chronic sickness and autoimmune disorders are stored in these pathways.

BWRT is organized into three distinct levels; each level addressing different issues, but closely connected to the others. Level 1 is an efficient short-term therapy where the original neural pathways – which often create fears, phobias, anxiety, panic, PTSD and depression – are replaced with the client’s preferred neural pathways. As soon as these pathways are “reset”, the brain will select the new neural pathways when the client is exposed to a related traumatic trigger.

BWRT Level 2 is used for more serious issues regarding identity and beliefs of the self. The work centers on the idea that behaviour and beliefs cannot be changed if a client is still clinging to an old identity. By reimagining the client’s identity, issues like depression, OCD, eating disorders, as well as addictions to alcohol, pornography and gambling can be addressed.

BWRT is based on belief that there are strong links between the brain, the body and the mind and that the brain can influence the biological processes in the body. After all, the brain controls all the physiology and workings of the systems in the body, and plays a very important part in the body’s immune system.

The brain also stores information regarding experiences of sickness and associated treatments, medications, symptoms, side effects, bodily experiences and pain. It even stores the emotional effects of the sickness, the prognosis, the opinions of medical professionals, and all the fear mongering articles you found during one of your exasperated Google searches. All of this information becomes part of the neural pathways in the brain relating to that ailment. Upon any trigger regarding the ailment, the brain automatically chooses a response – as quickly as in a third of a second, long before you are even aware that an action was taken. This rapid reaction, too, is stored within a neural pathway in the brain.

This is where BWRT Level 3 comes in. New, preferred neural pathways are developed by the client on how to react to the sickness, as well as the symptoms and the beliefs regarding the sickness. With BWRT Level 3, the brain can be used to activate, accelerate or influence the body and associated physiological systems.

Before developing these new neural pathways, the client needs to understand a few things about the sickness, such as which part of the brain is involved, which organs are affected, the affected nerves and lymphatic systems, the role of hormones and enzymes, and the influence of the immune system. This information is simplified with diagrams indicating the routes of nerves and the inter linkages with the lymphatic systems.

With the BWRT Level 3 therapeutic process – or “protocols” – the new neural pathways are developed and cemented in the brain. Level 3 can initiate or accelerate processes in the body that have previously not functioned optimally, as well as manage the symptoms, side effects, discomfort or pain related to the condition. It is not suggested that these therapies can “cure” a medical condition; but it can help the client to deal as effectively as possible with the condition. 

An important requirement before undergoing Level 3 therapies, is that the client must have consulted a relevant professional medical practitioner. This medical practitioner will also be informed of the BWRT process. 

Additionally, relevant issues need to be resolved with Level 1 work before Level 3 work can commence. It is a known fact that stress can be involved in the development of a sickness. With Level 1 questionnaires, stress-related issues can be discovered and addressed, which may bring improvement on a psychological level.

 In my experience, clients suffering from serious sicknesses such as chronic autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions, can benefit from Level 3 therapy.  It can not only bring relief or improvement to the condition, but can also help the client adopt a better mindset about the sickness.

I saw a client a few months ago who suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (or CFS). After  the BWRT Level 3 therapy sessions, he reported: “I have been in stable health for the last couple of months , and although I’m as yet not as productive as I wish to be, I managed to be quite productive, which I’m very happy with it.”

So don’t beat yourself up for not changing by sheer willpower alone. The brain is incredibly effective in enforcing learnt behavior and reactions.  Next time, consider addressing hardcoded neural pathways through therapies such as BWRT in order to affect meaningful change.

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 To learn more about BWRT, go to www.bwrt.org

BWRT Level 3 brings relief in the pain burden of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is about pain, lots of pain.  Pain that robs your energy and life quality and movement.  Pain and stiffness that spreads through the body, in arms, legs, neck and back.  Getting out of bed, dressing, preparing food, cleaning, taking a bath, getting up from sitting or lying position, going up and down stairs, getting in and out of your car, working at a desk – all these things that have been taken for granted, they all become a painful challenge.  Feelings of discouragement and hopelessness and a negative affect on mood are common among the sufferers.

BWRT Level 3 is focused on psychobiology – where the interaction between the brain and the body are acknowledged as having a profound effect on health. All experiences and knowledge about a sickness are stored in neural pathways and this dictates the client’s feelings, thinking, experiences and behavior regarding the sickness. The level 3 protocols can be used for chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders and chronic pain.  Body diagrams are used to create a focus on what needs to happen in the brain and body to address the illness. Drawings and images are used so that the client can understand how all the systems that are involved with fibromyalgia, work and interact together.  This will include the interaction between parts of the brain; neural pathways, blood vessels, organs, glands, hormones and chemicals, all involved in the experience and effects of fibromyalgia.  The techniques of Level 3 are used to activate neural pathways in the brain and body to bring about the best possible functionality between systems in order to bring the best possible state of health for the client.

I have worked with a lady in her forties who was suffering from fibromyalgia for a number of years.  The therapy helped the client understand how the brain and body systems connect and interact.  After completing a session every week for  6 weeks, the client can now continue with her work, drive her car, walking around and going up and down stairs.  She has less pain and stiffness and is happy to report a better life quality and more positive and hopeful mindset.

BWRT 1 & 2 - Brain Working Recursive Therapy

Can people truly change? It is an age-old question that has sparked debate the world over. Maybe you have been frustrated by your own behaviors – habitual overeating, trivial anxieties or emotional outbursts. You’ve seemingly tried everything, even routinely conjuring a “new you” by sheer willpower, but the change just doesn’t stick.

All hope is not lost. There is a therapy that attempts to “reset” the neural pathways that inform behaviors, reactions and beliefs. This therapy is known as BrainWorking Recursive Therapy® (BWRT) and it has changed many people’s lives for the better.

BWRT is based on the premise that neural pathways can be changed or rerouted, and that a person’s “go-to” reaction can, therefore, be altered. Neural pathways are hardwired into your brain in reaction to stimuli. As you learn about the world, develop beliefs and experience feelings of pain or joy, neural pathways are created in the brain that act as shortcuts. Neural pathways contain information relating to sensory, physical and emotional experiences, as well as your thoughts, beliefs and behavioral patterns. Even information relating to chronic sickness and autoimmune disorders are stored in these pathways.

BWRT is organized into three distinct levels; each level addresses different issues but is closely connected to the others.

BWRT Level 1

Level 1 is an efficient short-term therapy where the original neural pathways – which often induce fear, anxiety, panic, PTSD and depression – are replaced with the preferred neural pathways. As soon as these pathways are “reset” the brain will select the new neural pathways when the client is exposed to a related traumatic trigger.

BWRT Level 2

Level 2 is used for more serious issues regarding identity and beliefs of the self. The work centers on the idea that behavior and beliefs cannot be changed if a client is still clinging to an old identity. By reimagining the client’s identity, issues like depression, OCD, eating disorders, as well as addictions to alcohol, pornography and gambling can be addressed.

BWRT Level 3

Level 3 focuses on physical illnesses, such as autoimmune disorders and some inflammatory conditions. It deals with psychobiology and the links between the brain, body and mind.

BWRT level 3

BrainWorking Recursive Therapy® (BWRT) is based on the premise that neural pathways can be changed or rerouted, and that a person’s “go-to” reaction can, therefore, be altered. In order to understand the basics of BWRT read an introduction to BWRT here.

BWRT is based on the belief that there are strong links between the mind and the body and that the brain can influence the biological processes in the body. After all, the brain controls all the physiology and workings of the systems in the body and plays a very important part in the body’s immune system.

The brain also stores information regarding experiences of sickness and associated treatments, medications, symptoms, side effects, bodily experiences and pain. It even stores the emotional effects of the sickness, the prognosis and even the opinions of medical professionals. All of this information becomes part of the neural pathways in the brain relating to that ailment. Any trigger relating to the ailment causes the brain to automatically choose a response – in as quick as in a third of a second. This rapid reaction is also stored within a neural pathway in the brain.

BWRT Level 3

BWRT Level 3 can help the brain to activate, accelerate or influence the body and associated physiological systems. New, preferred neural pathways are developed by the client and change how they react to the sickness, as well as the symptoms and the beliefs regarding the sickness.

Before developing these new neural pathways, the client needs to understand a few things about the sickness, such as which part of the brain is involved, which organs are affected, the affected nerves and lymphatic systems, the role of hormones and enzymes, and the influence of the immune system. This information is simplified with diagrams indicating the routes of nerves and the interlinkages with the lymphatic system.

With the BWRT Level 3 therapeutic process – or “protocols” – the new neural pathways are developed and cemented into the brain. Level 3 BWRT can initiate or accelerate processes in the body that have previously not functioned optimally, as well as manage the symptoms, side effects, discomfort or pain related to the condition. It is not suggested that these therapies can “cure” a medical condition but it can help the client to deal as effectively as possible with the condition.

An important requirement before undergoing Level 3 therapies, is that the client must have consulted a professional medical practitioner. This medical practitioner will also be informed of the BWRT process.  Additionally, relevant issues need to be resolved with BWRT Level 1 work before Level 3 work can commence.

Clients suffering from serious sicknesses, such as chronic autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions, can benefit from Level 3 therapy.  It can not only bring relief or an improvement in the condition but can also help the client adopt a better mindset about the sickness.

Podcast link below gives good background to BWRT Level 3

 https://www.mariettesnyman.co.za/blog/bwrt-level-3-relief-from-chronic-illnesses

Enquire about an appointment with Doreen Hofmeyr on THIS LINK.