Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an innovative form of therapy designed to help individuals address distressing events, and other mental health concerns rapidly and effectively.
ART is unique in that it combines elements of several well-established therapies, such as:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Guided Visualization
Despite being a relatively new therapeutic approach, ART has quickly gained recognition for its effectiveness in treating various mental health challenges, often within just a few sessions.
At J. Gordon Psychology Group, we have multiple seasoned Psychologists who are trained in ART and available to support you or your child.
What is ART?
ART is a brief, directive form of therapy that leverages the brain’s natural ability to process and resolve distressing memories. It is an imagery-based therapy where the therapist guides the client to replace the negative images in their mind with positive images of their choosing to reduce their emotional impact. This process occurs with bilateral eye movements. Through these eye movements, ART helps individuals change the way their brain stores memories, enabling them to remember the facts of the event without experiencing the intense emotional and physiological distress.
One benefit to ART is that clients do not need to verbally discuss the details of their trauma. This can make it particularly appealing for those who find it difficult or distressing to talk about their past experiences.
Overview of an ART Session:
- Identification of the Issue: The therapist begins by helping the client identify the specific memory or situation they want to work on, without requiring the client to delve into the details verbally.
- Visualization: Once the issue is identified, the client is guided to visualize the memory while following the therapist’s hand movements with their eyes. This step mimics the eye movements that occur during REM sleep, which is thought to play a role in the brain’s natural processing of memories.
- Reframing: While still focusing on the memory, the client is encouraged to imagine a more positive or neutral outcome. This reprocessing allows the brain to store the memory differently, reducing its emotional charge.
- Checking for Distress: The therapist will periodically check in with the client to assess their level of distress. If distress remains, the process continues until the memory no longer triggers negative emotions.
- Reinforcement: Once the client reports feeling less emotional distress, the therapist may guide them through reinforcing the new, more positive association with the memory.
Who can ART help?
- PTSD
- Depression
- Grief
- Anxiety and Panic
- OCD
- Phobias
- Chronic Pain
- Attention Deficits
- Dyslexia
- Codependency
Overall, Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a powerful, short-term therapeutic technique that offers hope and relief for individuals struggling with a wide range of difficulties. For those seeking an alternative to talk therapy, ART may offer an effective solution to regain control over their mental and emotional well-being.
If you have any questions or you’re looking to complete Accelerated Resolution Therapy for you or your child, you can email, call, or submit a message using our J. Gordon Psychology Group contact form. We’re happy to connect and you get started!
J. Gordon Psychology Group
Helping resolve challenging life experiences and give space for healing.