Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Find relief from the roots up with Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
Accelerated resolution therapy (shortened to either ART or A.R.T.) is an innovative modality that uses eye movements to allow clients to process trauma and other forms of distress in a safe, predictable procedure.
One ART session empowers you to resolve unseen wounds and dramatically shift your emotions by shifting the sensations and images that come up for you about an event or idea. It allows you to process painful experiences creatively without verbalizing the memories. Unlike conventional psychotherapy which focuses largely on verbal cognitive processes, the focus of ART is on the functioning of the deeper levels of the nervous system using a somatic processing approach.
ART is commonly applied to resolve PTSD but is also used to address panic attacks, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, depression, grief, vicarious trauma, burnout, stress, and other adjustment issues.
What can you expect using Accelerated Resolution Therapy for trauma processing?
Each ART treatment consists of a 2 hour session. During the session, I sit across from you and guide you with back-and-forth eye movements to process your scene, moving at a pace you control, attending to difficult sensations as they arise, promoting relaxation, and gradually discovering new images and perspective.
ART does not require talking about your trauma. Words often fail when we try to describe experiences, especially traumas. Though there are opportunities for you to share, ART processing occurs internally, focusing on images and sensations, which leads to deeper more direct relief. For many trauma survivors, this freedom alone is an empowering gift.
ART works using the brain’s innate ability to heal. Though therapist-facilitated, clients find resolution as an organic unfolding of their own mental creation. Releasing distressing sensations from the brain naturally reveals new insight, often to the client’s great relief and delight. It is thus both a directive and a creative therapy experience. There is no wrong way for clients to do it.
ART works quickly. Processing and resolution of a trauma take place in 1 treatment session. After clients have experienced the efficacy of 1 session, they often choose to apply ART to other traumas or problems in their life, but that is often not necessary and is always based on the client’s judgment and desires.
ART works in tandem with other therapies. This means if you are working with another therapist or are seeking integrative services from Conscious Practice, you can absolutely continue that work while engaging in ART. Many clients find it helpful to use this very short-term intervention and continue (or begin) in talk therapy for integrating their new perspective and continuing to develop skills, grow beyond their healing, and work towards their goals.
ART does not require any homework. You do not need to do any trauma recall or particular exercises after or between sessions. Less is more. Processing is done by the end of the session.
ART does not require any medication. People benefit from ART with or without medication. There are some medications that decrease the effectiveness of ART, which can be discussed prior to treatment.
