Frequently Asked Questions
We know you have questions!
What makes it different from other therapies, like CBT or EMDR?
All the older therapies work the same way, by trying to change what your conscious mind is doing. BWRT changes the subconscious response that creates what goes into the conscious mind – in fact, it’s likely that the last time you’ll ever feel the problem is for a few seconds during your therapy session.
Does it work every time?
There’s not a therapy in the world that can honestly make that claim – though BWRT does come close! Some people think it must be a scam because it seems too good to be true, but it’s been around since 2013 and the number of therapists training in it is increasing all the time as more and more people realise it does exactly what we say it does.
So, how does it actually work then?
That’s a big question! It works by using a special technique to interrupt, say, an unnecessary anxiety message from the subconscious so that it can be modified as necessary using your brain’s own processing power. We can do that with just about any unwanted or unnecessary psychological or emotional responses. It really is extraordinarily powerful and fast.
Is it just a single session?
Sometimes, especially if it’s for a phobia like the fear of spiders or wasps, for instance. That sort of thing usually takes just a single session. But even complicated stuff like severe PTSD, depression, or addiction can be sorted out much faster than by other therapies, more often than not.
Does it ever wear off?
No – because we don’t add anything, there’s nothing that could wear off! Part of the brain works like a kind of database and like all databases, it sometimes doesn’t always update as it should, so that something remains active that really isn’t needed any more. It just gets in the way. So, we use the BWRT process to update everything just as you would like it to be without adding anything.
What happens during a BWRT session?
Well, the practitioner will want to know what you want to happen of course, how you want to feel instead of how you feel already, so you will usually get asked a few questions. But you really don’t have to talk about anything you would prefer to keep private, even if you’re trying to sort out a really tricky situation that involves intimate parts of your life. Our practitioners are able to sort out almost everything without needing to delve too far!
Do you have to relive all your fears?
No, never! That’s called ‘exposure therapy’ and it’s a very old therapy model. It does work, because your brain eventually stops responding to the fears, but it takes ages and can be really uncomfortable while it’s going on. So, with BWRT we don’t have anything to do with that old way of working! We use the latest knowledge in neuroscience to make changes quickly and easily.
Have there been any clinical trials?
The University of Bergen conducted a trial between 2021 and 2024 – the results are said to be outstanding but the paper is yet to be published as at November 2025. There was a 2018 Ph.D. awarded to Dr Hayley Rose by Lincoln University, UK, on BWRT working with trauma, again with outstanding results. BWRThas also appeared in some academic publications.
I've been told it doesn't work with the subconscious?
That’s not strictly true – it works with what many people still call ‘subconscious’ (which is why we often refer to it as such) but which, in reality, is very probably part of the brain. It is often referred to as the Reptilian Complex or Lizard Brain and is biologically the Hindbrain. Neuroscience discoveries strongly suggest that this is indeed the ‘subconscious’, though in BWRT we use the term ‘Reptilian Complex’.
Do you have to keep a journal, like in CBT?
No, that’s not necessary, nor would it be of any use in BWRT. In CBT it’s used to keep track of how you respond to your thoughts over a period of time, but BWRT makes such rapid change, it’s just not necessary. There are some circumstances in which a brief home assignment is applied for 1 or 2 weeks, but it’s just to make sure the gains made during a session are maintained until the following session. When therapy is complete, there is no need to do anything except enjoy the freedom!
Do you have to keep on coming back for more work?
If you have been suffering from addiction, you might need to attend just a couple of check up sessions (a bit like dental check ups, only easier!) just to make sure that there have been no previously unrecognised triggers causing a problem. Other than that, when the work is done, it’s done and no backup work is needed. Of course, because BWRT is so easy and effective, you might decide to sort out another problem!
What happens if it just doesn't work?
It’s very rare for BWRT to not work at all, though we cannot claim that it gets a perfect result 100% of the time, because no therapy in the world does that. But because of the way BWRT works, it’s not possible for it to make any situation worse, as can happen with some therapies. On the odd occasion where it hasn’t worked as well as expected, the situation is usually resolved on a follow-up session and from client responses, BWRT appears to have the highest success rate of all therapies.
We have Registered Practitioners in many parts of the world and most of them work online. Also, their profiles on the professionals’ site lists all their skills, so you can select the best therapist for your needs.