Inside the Toolbox: Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Not every trauma therapist requires years of digging into the past. Some healing can happen more quickly, and more gently, than people expect. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is one of those powerful approaches. Rooted in neuroscience and designed to reduce suffering without re-traumatization, ART offers a way to rewire how distressing memories live in the brain and body.

In this post, I'll walk you through what ART is, how it works, who it's for, and why I incorporate it into my practice as a trauma-informed therapist.

What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?

ART is a brief, highly effective therapy that helps people resolve the emotional impact of trauma, anxiety, grief, and other distressing experiences by changing the way the brain stores those memories. It was developed by Laney Rosenzweig, LMFT, and is grounded in eye movement techniques, guided imagery, and memory reconsolidation.

While ART shares some similarities with EMDR, like using eye movements, it is distinct in how directive and focused it is. The goal of ART isn't to erase memories, but to reduce the emotional pain and physical reactivity associated with them.

In many cases, ART can provide relief in as few as 1-5 sessions.

How Does ART Work?

ART uses a combination of bilateral eye movements, voluntary memory replacement, and rescripting to shift how distressing memories are stored in the brain.

Here's what a typical ART session might include:

• Identifying a memory or image that's causing emotional or physical distress

• Using rapid eye movements (guided by the therapist's hand) to reduce emotional arousal

• Imagining a new way of seeing or experiencing the event - not to deny it happened, but to change how it lives in your nervous system

• Replacing disturbing images with more peaceful ones (a process called voluntary image replacement)

  
  

The protocol is structured and therapist-guided, but deeply client-centered. You're always in control of what you share and how far you go.

Who Is ART For?

ART can benefit a wide range of clients. I often use it with individuals who are:

• Struggling with traumatic memories or PTSD

• Managing grief or complicated loss

• Experiencing panic attacks or phobias

• Carrying the weight of medical trauma or childhood events

• Painful impacts of working as a first responder

• Feeling stuck in shame, guilt, or intrusive thoughts

• Seeking relief from anxiety or depressive symptoms tied to specific experiences

ART is especially helpful for clients who:

• Feel overwhelmed by talking about their trauma in detail

• Want faster results without long-term therapy

• Have already done insight-based work but still feel reactive or "stuck"

What to Expect in an ART Session

ART sessions are usually longer than traditional therapy (often 80 minutes) and follow a specific protocol. You won't have to describe your trauma out loud if you don't want to - ART can work with very minimal verbal disclosure

Sessions typically include:

• A brief check-in and target identification

• Bilateral eye movement sequences to calm the nervous system

• Memory visualization and rescripting (you'll be guided to change the distressing image to something more peaceful)

• Grounding and reflection to integrate the work

  
  

Most clients leave ART sessions feeling emotionally lighter, clearer, and surprised by how powerful the work feels - without being retraumatizing.

Why I Use ART in My Practice

One of the things I appreciate most about ART is how compassionate and empowering it is. It doesn't ask you to relive your pain over and over - instead, it respects your experience while giving your brain and body a new way forward.

ART is also incredibly versatile. It complements deeper trauma work like EMDR, and in some cases can be used first to reduce the emotional intensity of a memory before diving into longer-term processing.

I've witnessed clients walk out of their first ART session feeling a sense of peace and relief they didn't think was possible. For some, ART unlocks healing they had given up on.

Moving Forward with ART

If you're looking for trauma therapy that's fast, focused, and effective - ART might be a great fit. Whether you're starting your healing journey or need support in one specific area, this approach offers real results without retraumatization. To learn more about how I use ART in therapy, visit my services page or reach out through my contact page to schedule a consultation.

Stay tuned for the next post in this series where I will do a deep dive into Post Induction Therapy (PIT)!