Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based, trauma-focused therapeutic approach that uses bilateral eye movements similar to those experienced during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. These eye movements support the brain's natural ability to process distressing experiences, helping reduce the emotional and physical responses associated with difficult memories.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, ART does not require you to share the details of your experiences. You remain in control of what you choose to disclose while working toward relief from the emotional impact of past events.

At The Reclaiming Body™, ART is offered to individuals navigating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and other distressing experiences. This focused approach supports meaningful therapeutic change without requiring you to repeatedly revisit or verbally recount painful memories.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) focuses on changing how distressing memories affect you rather than changing or erasing the memories themselves. The experience remains part of your history, but the emotional and physical distress associated with it may become less intense.

ART follows a structured, therapist-guided process that allows you to remain awake, aware, and in control throughout your session. The approach is designed to help you work through difficult experiences without requiring extensive verbal discussion or repeated retelling of painful events.

The goal is to help you move forward without past experiences continuing to carry the same emotional weight in your present life.

How Does Accelerated Resolution Therapy Work?

What Can Accelerated Resolution Therapy Help With?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) was developed to address trauma-related distress, but its applications extend beyond traumatic experiences. ART may help individuals experiencing a variety of emotional and psychological challenges, including:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Distressing memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional responses associated with traumatic experiences.

  • Trauma: Childhood experiences, sexual trauma, relationship trauma, and other distressing life events.

  • Anxiety: Persistent worry, fear, and anxiety associated with difficult experiences.

  • Grief and Loss: Emotional distress related to significant losses and difficult life transitions.

  • Phobias: Intense fears and distress associated with specific situations or experiences.

  • Distressing Memories: Experiences that continue to trigger uncomfortable emotions or physical reactions long after they have occurred.

ART is individualized, and treatment outcomes vary. Your therapist will work with you to determine whether ART is an appropriate approach for your needs.

What to Expect During an ART Session

Your ART experience begins with a conversation about what brings you to therapy, what you hope to address, and whether Accelerated Resolution Therapy is an appropriate fit for your needs.

During an ART session, your therapist will guide you through a structured process using bilateral eye movements. You remain awake, aware, and in control throughout the experience. While you may experience emotions or physical sensations associated with a difficult memory, you are not required to share the details of that experience.

ART is designed to help reduce the distress associated with difficult memories, often within a relatively brief course of treatment. Every individual's experience is different, and the number of sessions needed will depend on your circumstances.

At The Reclaiming Body™, initial ART appointments are scheduled for 90 minutes, with follow-up appointments scheduled for 60 minutes. This allows time for a thoughtful, individualized approach to your care.

Frequently Asked Questions About ART

  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are both trauma-focused therapeutic approaches that use bilateral eye movements to help individuals process distressing experiences.

    Although they share some similarities, ART follows a different, structured treatment protocol and is designed to address distressing memories within a relatively brief course of therapy.

    Both approaches aim to reduce the emotional distress associated with difficult experiences, but they differ in their procedures and therapeutic techniques.

  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is designed to be a relatively brief, focused approach to treatment. Some individuals experience meaningful improvement within one to three sessions, while others may benefit from additional sessions depending on the nature and complexity of their experiences.

    The number of sessions needed varies from person to person. Your therapist will work with you to determine an appropriate treatment plan based on your individual needs and therapeutic progress.

  • No. One of the distinguishing features of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is that you do not have to verbally disclose the details of your traumatic experiences.

    Your therapist will guide you through the ART process without requiring you to describe what happened. You remain in control of what you choose to share, allowing you to address distressing memories while maintaining your privacy.

  • Yes. Although Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) was originally developed to address trauma and PTSD, it may also help individuals experiencing anxiety, grief, phobias, and other forms of emotional distress.

    ART can be used to address difficult experiences that continue to affect your emotional well-being, even when those experiences do not meet the clinical definition of trauma.

    Your therapist will help determine whether ART is appropriate for your particular concerns.