What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Can It Help You Heal Faster from Trauma?
If painful memories have been holding you back from the closeness and calm you want in your relationships, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) might just be the supportive, no-pressure approach you’re looking for. Here’s everything you need to know about ART and why it could be the therapy that helps you feel like yourself again—faster and without the overwhelm.
So, What Exactly Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, is a modern therapy designed to help people feel relief from trauma, anxiety, and other emotional challenges—without needing to rehash every painful detail. ART combines some classic therapy techniques with what your brain already knows how to do: process and heal. Many people feel significant relief in as little as one to five sessions, which means you can feel lighter, faster.
For anyone who’s been through trauma, including sexual trauma, ART can be a gentle way to work through difficult memories while keeping you in control. It’s a way to take the weight off those memories and feel more at ease in your day-to-day life and relationships.
How Does ART Work? A Quick Look at Eye Movements, Imagery, and Healing
ART takes a “bottom-up” approach, which means it helps heal the body and mind together—perfect for trauma, which tends to stick around in our bodies. Here’s what a session with ART might look like:
A Safe, Guided Experience
During an ART session, your therapist will guide you through each step. You don’t have to share any details of your trauma unless you choose to, making it a safe, pressure-free experience. Instead, you’ll focus on specific images or feelings that relate to the issue you’re working on.Healing Eye Movements
ART uses gentle eye movements (kind of like what your brain does during REM sleep) to help you process and release trauma naturally. These eye movements help dial down the emotional weight of memories without requiring you to revisit every moment.A “Re-Scripting” Process for Painful Memories
Through visualization, ART allows you to reimagine traumatic memories, so they’re no longer triggering. This is called “re-scripting”—you’ll still keep the memory, but the sting and intensity that come with it will be softened.Relief Sooner Than Traditional Talk Therapy
Because ART works with the body’s natural processing, you may notice relief in fewer sessions compared to traditional talk therapy. ART is designed to help you feel lighter and less weighed down without a long, drawn-out therapy process.
What ART Can Do for You That Traditional Therapy Might Not
ART can be especially helpful for trauma survivors, offering a fresh way to approach painful experiences. Here’s why ART might be a better fit than traditional talk therapy for what you need right now:
Relief from Trauma Symptoms Faster
ART can help reduce symptoms like anxiety, hypervigilance, and feeling on edge in just a few sessions. That means you can be more engaged in your relationships without that constant “fight or flight” feeling.A Compassionate Approach to Healing
You don’t have to share every detail to heal. ART respects your boundaries and provides relief without forcing you to relive painful memories. It’s about finding relief, your way.Breaking Old Patterns That Hold You Back
Trauma often creates patterns that make it hard to trust, connect, or open up. ART gently releases those patterns, so you can show up in your relationships feeling like the truest version of yourself.
How ART Can Help You Feel Safer and More Connected with Loved Ones
Imagine feeling calm, at ease, and able to share yourself with others without that guard up. ART addresses trauma where it lives—in your body—so that you can actually experience the closeness you want in your relationships. By finding relief faster, ART makes it possible to feel present, connected, and less affected by painful memories from the past.
Ready to Try ART? Here’s How to Get Started
If ART sounds like it could be the approach you’ve been looking for, the next step is to book a free consultation. This gives us a chance to connect, answer any questions, and see if ART might be the right path for your healing journey.
Book a free 20-minute video consultation today to learn more about ART and how it can help you feel at home in your relationships and with yourself!
Learn More About ART!
Want to dive deeper into the science behind ART? You can learn more about its history and effectiveness by visiting the official ART website.