Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
A Newer Approach To Unresolved Trauma
What is ART?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that helps your brain process distressing memories in a new way. You won't lose the memory or change the facts of what happened. Instead, the goal is to reduce the emotional distress attached to it so it no longer has the same impact on your daily life.
Similar to EMDR, ART. uses guided eye movements to help your brain process difficult experiences. One of the reasons many people choose ART. is because it's designed to work efficiently, often helping clients find relief without repeatedly revisiting the most painful details of their trauma.
What to Expect In a Session
1. Getting Grounded
Together, you'll identify a specific memory or experience to focus on while your therapist helps you settle into a relaxed, grounded state. This is typically done using gentle side-to-side eye movements, but if that's distracting or uncomfortable, handheld tactile buzzers can be used instead, giving you the option to close your eyes and concentrate on the memory.
2. Processing the Memory
While continuing the guided eye movements, you'll briefly recall the memory from beginning to end. Your therapist will help you notice any thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations that arise, repeating the process until the memory feels less emotionally intense.
3. Creating a New Mental Picture
Once the distress has decreased, your therapist will guide you through an imagery exercise to replace upsetting mental images with ones that feel more peaceful, empowering, or helpful. This is called Voluntary Image Replacement (VIR). The goal isn't to change what happened, but to change how your brain stores and responds to the memory.
4. Checking Your Progress
Before ending the session, your therapist will help you revisit the original memory to see how it feels now. Together, you'll make sure the memory no longer carries the same level of distress and that you feel grounded before wrapping up the session.
What can ART help with?
ART has been shown to help with:
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety
Depression
Addiction and substance use problems
Phobias
Performance anxiety
Grief and loss
If you had specific things in mind while reading this page and aren’t sure whether ART would help you, please reach out to us. We offer free 15-minute phone consultations to answer any questions you have about the process and its effectiveness.
What Makes ART Different From Other Trauma Therapies?
Faster Relief: ART. is designed to help many people experience progress quicker than traditional trauma therapies.
No Need to Relive It: Clients don’t need to recount their trauma verbally.
Research-Backed: An evidence-based approach shown to be effective for trauma and PTSD.
Whole-Person Healing: Trauma often affects more than one area of life, which is why ART. can also help with symptoms like anxiety, grief, and depression.
Long-Lasting Results: The goal is to change how the memory feels, so it no longer carries the same emotional weight.
Meet the Therapists Who Offer ART.
Erica and Collette are both trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and understand that processing trauma takes trust. They'll walk alongside you through the process, answer your questions, and tailor each session to your individual needs and comfort level.
Together, they'll meet you with compassion, guide you through the process at a pace that feels right, and help you determine whether ART is the best fit for your goals.
