Accelerated Resolution Therapy - Transforming Mental Health Treatment
The process of ART focuses on desensitizing the emotional impact of our challenging and traumatic experiences in a non-invasive way, meaning clients do not have to verbalize the details of their experiences that may lead to re-traumatization. ART addresses a wide range of psychological conditions, including:
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- depression
- anxiety disorders
- phobias and
- substance use disorders.
Research has consistently shown that ART produces significant improvements in symptom severity and overall well-being.
Are you struggling with moving past a traumatic experience, overcoming daily anxiety, or the overwhelming symptoms of a panic disorder?
Have you tried multiple approaches but still find there is something holding you back?
Then, it may be time to consider Accelerated Resolution Therapy. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a highly effective therapeutic approach that a number of our therapists are trained in. ART aims to rapidly alleviate symptoms and emotional distress associated with trauma and various mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, panic disorders, substance abuse, and more.
Many of our clients have experienced immediate and lasting relief from symptoms and experiences that they have been carrying for years.
What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) ?
ART was developed in the early 2000s by Laney Rosenzweig, a licensed mental health counsellor and certified hypnotherapist. Drawing upon her background in cognitive behavioural therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and guided imagery, Rosenzweig sought to create a more efficient and streamlined therapeutic approach.
The result was ART, a modality that combines elements of various evidence-based practices to provide rapid relief from trauma-related symptoms.
How Does ART Help People?
Numerous studies have examined the efficacy of ART in addressing a wide range of psychological conditions.
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- anxiety disorders
- Phobias
- substance use disorders.
Research has consistently shown that ART produces significant improvements in symptom severity and overall well-being. Moreover, the effects of ART have been observed to persist over time, suggesting its long-lasting impact.
What Studies Have Shown Results Using ART?
A notable study conducted in 2019 by Kip et al. examined the effects of ART on military veterans with PTSD. The results demonstrated that ART led to a substantial reduction in PTSD symptoms, with 80% of participants no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD after an average of four ART sessions. These findings provide compelling evidence of ART's effectiveness in treating even severe cases of trauma.
How Does Accelerated Resolution Therapy Work?
The ART process involves a series of structured therapy sessions guided by a trained ART therapist. These sessions usually last an hour to 90 minutes depending on the client’s needs.
The therapy begins with an initial assessment to identify the client's specific symptoms and concerns, allowing the therapist to tailor the treatment accordingly.
ART incorporates various techniques such as rapid eye movements (similar to those used in EMDR), imagery rescripting, and cognitive restructuring. The therapist guides the client through a process of recalling distressing memories or images while simultaneously engaging in eye movements.
This process helps to desensitize the emotional impact associated with the traumatic event and facilitates the integration of positive imagery to replace negative emotions.
Throughout the session, the therapist assists the client in developing new cognitive insights and perspectives, enabling them to reframe their experiences in a more adaptive and empowering manner. The ART process focuses on resolving negative emotions, enhancing emotional resilience, and fostering personal growth.
What are the Benefits of ART?
ART offers a myriad of benefits that make it a compelling choice for individuals seeking rapid and effective relief from psychological distress.
- Firstly, the accelerated nature of the therapy makes it particularly suitable for individuals who are looking for faster results compared to traditional therapy methods. The positive outcomes achieved through ART can often be observed in a relatively short time frame, with most clients seeing results after only one session.
- Secondly, ART is a non-invasive treatment approach that does not require individuals to disclose the details of their traumatic experiences. This makes it especially valuable for individuals who may find it challenging to discuss their trauma or those who have difficulty verbalizing their emotions.
- Thirdly, ART is well-tolerated by clients, with minimal side effects reported. It does not involve the use of medications, making it an appealing option for individuals seeking drug-free treatments.
- Finally, ART's versatility is a notable advantage. It can be effectively applied across various populations and age groups, including children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. Our therapists implement ART alongside our client-centered approach which means they will support and guide you every step of the way, ensuring that this is a positive addition to your therapeutic experience.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy FAQ
How does A.R.T facilitate healing and emotional expression?
ART therapists help individuals access and integrate feelings, bodily sensations, and nervous system responses in addition to their thoughts about their negative experiences. In this way, ART provides an alternative and/or supplemental intervention to talk therapy which primarily targets our conscious thoughts-neck up.
Once clients can recall and activate more components of their stressful and traumatic experiences with the therapist’s support, therapists can help clients access a calm state using bilateral stimulation techniques. Why is this significant? When clients experience this new association between their conscious memory and more physiologically relaxed states, they essentially refile it as less distressing.
In addition, while in this more relaxed state, clients can intentionally reframe what their experience meant to them instead of feeling disempowered. This means, the next time the memory is activated, clients are less distressed and find it easier to make decisions and take action that align more with their preferred ways of being.
As you can see, ART is a creative process that allows individuals to re-experience their distressing events in a safe and expressive way, enabling them to construct narratives, gain a deeper understanding of their feelings, and move out of flight/fight/freeze modes to living a quality of life.
What is the relationship between ART and EMDR in therapy?
ART and EMDR are two distinct therapeutic approaches that both utilize bilateral stimulation to assist in the reprocessing of distressing memories. ART stands for Accelerated Resolution Therapy, while EMDR refers to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
While both therapies share a common goal of addressing painful or stressful memories, they employ different techniques and protocols to achieve this. Laney Rosenzweig, a licensed mental health counsellor, began her own training in EMDR and hypothesized that the potentially lengthy EMDR process could be shortened while maintaining positive client outcomes. In the 2000’s she devised ART and began safely practicing her ideas. She was right and has since demonstrated that many clients have found great relief from this shortened and more directive protocol. Simply because EMDR has been around since the 1980’s, it has undergone more evidence-based studies highlighting its effectiveness.
How does ART differ from EMDR?
There are some key distinctions between ART and EMDR in terms of their therapeutic methodologies. For one, ART therapists adhere solely to rapid eye movements and follow a fixed number of eye movement sets as it was found to optimize healing. EMDR therapists on the other hand, utilize a variety of bilateral stimulation techniques to accommodate client’s preference as well use variable number of eye movements depending on the distress and intention of the immediate therapy.
Additionally, while EMDR therapists help clients move through their distressing experiences with free association, ART therapists guide clients through a more structured procedure and alternate between encouraging clients to focus on visual imagery or emotional and physical sensations.
Despite these differences, both therapies aim to provide relief and healing by reprocessing distressing memories and reducing their impact on individuals' well-being.