Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

How can ART work so quickly when I've struggled with these issues for years?

Many people are understandably skeptical about the rapid results ART can produce, particularly if they've been dealing with trauma symptoms for extended periods. The key to ART's efficiency lies in how it directly addresses memory reconsolidation—the brain's natural process for updating and reorganizing stored information.

Every time we recall a memory, it briefly enters a labile state where it can be modified before being restored. ART strategically uses this biological window of opportunity, employing bilateral eye movements to facilitate processing while guiding you through specific visualization techniques that help reorganize how the memory is stored.

This process doesn't erase factual knowledge of what happened, but it can rapidly transform the emotional, sensory, and belief components associated with the memory. Because ART works with the brain's natural mechanisms rather than against them, changes often occur more quickly than with approaches that rely primarily on developing cognitive insights or gradual exposure.

Is ART similar to EMDR therapy?

ART and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) share some similarities—both use bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) and both aim to reprocess traumatic memories. However, they differ in several important ways:

• Protocol Structure: ART follows a more directive, streamlined protocol that typically requires fewer sessions than EMDR for similar issues.

• Visualization Component: ART incorporates guided imagery that allows you to voluntarily change sensory aspects of the memory, while EMDR relies more on the brain's spontaneous processing.

• Metaphors and Rescripting: ART actively uses metaphorical imagery and memory rescripting as core components of the protocol.

• Verbalization: ART requires less verbal reporting of what you're experiencing during the process, making it potentially less distressing for some clients.

Both approaches are evidence-based and effective for trauma processing. Some clients who didn't achieve desired results with one approach find success with the other, highlighting the value of having multiple trauma treatment options available.

Will I forget what happened or lose important memories?

No, ART doesn't erase factual memories or create amnesia for past events. You'll still remember what happened, but the memory typically becomes less emotionally charged and intrusive. Many clients describe it as shifting from feeling like the trauma is happening now to feeling like it's truly in the past—you know it happened, but it no longer carries the same emotional weight or sensory vividness.

This transformation allows you to think about the event when relevant without being hijacked by overwhelming emotions or physical reactions. It also preserves any positive learning or strengths you developed through navigating difficult experiences, while relieving the unnecessary suffering associated with traumatic encoding.

Is ART appropriate for complex trauma or only single-incident trauma?

While ART was initially studied for single-incident trauma and PTSD, clinical experience and emerging research support its effectiveness for more complex presentations as well. For those with complex developmental trauma or multiple traumatic experiences, ART can be incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan, often targeting specific memories or themes sequentially.

The ART protocol can be adapted for various scenarios, including:

• Processing a single, clearly defined traumatic event

• Addressing a series of related traumatic experiences

• Working with thematic material across multiple experiences

• Targeting current symptoms or triggers without directly processing past events

During your initial assessment, we'll evaluate whether ART is appropriate for your specific circumstances and how it might be integrated with other approaches if needed for complex presentations.