Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a form of psychotherapy that uses a combination of techniques—including elements of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), guided imagery, and memory reconsolidation—to help individuals process and resolve distressing memories and symptoms of psychological trauma.

What Is ART?

ART is a brief, structured therapy designed to reduce the emotional impact of trauma and other mental health issues. It was developed by

Laney Rosenzweig in 2008 and is particularly effective for:

-Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

-Anxiety

-Depression

-Phobias

-Grief

-Addictions

-Relationship issues

How Does It Work?

Image Replacement: The client is guided to recall a traumatic memory while engaging in a series of rapid eye movements. Unlike traditional talk therapy, the focus is more on visualization than verbal processing.

Voluntary Memory Replacement: The therapist helps the client replace distressing images associated with the memory with more positive or neutral images—this is the "resolution" part.

Eye Movements: Similar to EMDR, the client follows the therapist's hand back and forth to stimulate bilateral brain activity, which facilitates emotional processing.

Duration and Structure

Typically 1 to 5 sessions are neededSessions last about 60-75 minutes. It is manualized, meaning it follows a consistent and replicable structure

Benefits

Fast results compared to traditional therapiesNon-invasive and does not require medication. Clients do not need to verbalize the trauma in detail, which can reduce distress.

High rates of satisfaction and symptom reduction.

Research and Effectiveness

ART has been shown in preliminary studies and clinical trials to be effective, particularly for trauma-related disorders.

The Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs have supported research into ART for veterans and active-duty service members with PTSD.