What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
A licensed clinical social worker with a wealth of experience, Alexia Eller, LCSW, uses her background in trauma recovery and mental health to inspire and educate through her writing. Her work with diverse populations provides the foundation for the insights shared in this blog along with training in EMDR and ART.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a unique approach to psychotherapy that is a brief, evidenced-based form of psychotherapy. ART is designed to help individuals quickly reduce or eliminate symptoms which can be associated to trauma, anxiety, depression, phobias, substance abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder, addictions, panic attacks and other psychological stress. (2)
ART is different because it guides the client to replace the negative images, symptoms and sensations in their brain that cause the client to choose positive images and sensations. ART can be done quickly and sometimes within minimal amounts of time versus other therapy modalities.
ART also combines an enormous power of eye movements to allow voluntary changes in the client’s brain with well-established therapeutic modalities such as Gestalt, psychodynamic therapy and guided imagery. The trained ART therapist will guide the client with a standardized protocol, the eye movements along with other enhancements to make this therapy work more effectively and efficiently for the client. (1)
What is included in ART?:
1. Use of Eye Movements
ART uses rapid eye movements (similar to EMDR—Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
The therapist guides the client’s eye movements while they recall a distressing memory.
This is believed to help the brain reprocess and store the memory in a non-distressing way.
2. Voluntary Memory/Image Replacement
A key part of ART is “image rescripting.”
The client is guided to replace disturbing mental images with more positive or neutral ones.
This doesn't erase the memory, but it removes its emotional charge.
3. Fast Results
ART is designed to work very quickly—often in 1 to 5 sessions ranging from 50 minutes to 120 minutes depending upon incidents to process and the pace of the client.
Clients typically do not need to talk in detail about their trauma or distressing experiences, which many find relieving.
What are the benefits of ART? The therapist is a guide but the client is in total control of the session. Clients tend to feel this approach is non-invasive, fast-acting, minimal in-depth recall or retelling of the traumatic event or experiences. Clients will experience a variety of emotions when processing, however it can be emotionally easier for them than traditional talk therapy.
Some clients are hesitant to start this type of therapy, due to being aware that it may stir up some emotions and elicit somatic responses they were not expecting when processing in session; however, if the client stays in touch with feedback with the trained therapist they will find that the processing they have experienced is lighter feeling.
How to find a therapist that is trained and provides ART? The easiest way is to go to the Accelerated Resolution Therapy website, click on the tab of find an ART therapist and search the zip code or State that you are looking for, whether you prefer in person or telehealth options.
If you are interested in learning about ART therapy and finding relief in this manner, feel free to reach out to our Arlington, TX office to inquire and discuss how ART therapy can be helpful in processing and healing.
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