Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

What is it?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a cutting-edge, evidence-based form of therapy designed to help you rapidly process and resolve traumatic memories and emotional pain. ART combines elements of traditional talk therapy with innovative techniques that engage the brain’s natural ability to heal, often leading to significant improvements in just a few sessions.

ART Key Features

The key to ART’s effectiveness lies in its unique approach to addressing distressing memories and emotions. Instead of focusing on lengthy discussions about your past, ART uses guided imagery and specific eye movements to help you reprocess and reframe difficult experiences in a way that reduces their emotional impact. Key features of ART include:

1. Rapid Results: ART is designed to bring about noticeable improvements in a relatively short amount of time, often within just one to five sessions.

2. Reprocessing Trauma: ART helps you change the way your brain stores traumatic memories, reducing the emotional charge associated with them.

3. Voluntary Imagery Rescripting: You have the opportunity to replace distressing images and sensations with more positive or neutral ones, allowing you to see the past in a new light.

4. Minimal Verbalization: While you’ll discuss your goals and experiences with your therapist, ART doesn’t require you to relive or extensively verbalize traumatic events.

ART is particularly effective for individuals dealing with trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, phobias, and other stress-related issues. It’s also helpful for those who are looking for a therapy that can produce results quickly and with minimal emotional distress.

The ultimate goal of ART is to help you move past the pain of traumatic experiences and live a more peaceful, fulfilling life. By reprocessing troubling memories and emotions, ART enables you to break free from the past and regain control over your thoughts and feelings, allowing you to thrive in the present.

What to Expect in an ART Session

During an ART session, your therapist will guide you through a series of visualizations while using specific eye movement techniques that help your brain process and integrate difficult memories. You’ll be encouraged to notice and reframe the emotional and physical sensations that arise, leading to a reduction in symptoms like anxiety, depression, and flashbacks. Two primary concerns are addressed in the following ways:

1. Past Trauma: ART addresses past trauma with minimal exposure and the need for you to share any information with the therapist unless you choose to do so. Sessions are usually weekly for about six to eight weeks to address a particular trauma.

2. Daily Challenges: ART can also address daily challenges (e.g., anxiety/depression, addictions, eating disorders, outbursts, etc.) without going into past trauma. Sessions are usually twice a week for about two to four weeks to lock in new behaviors.