Accelerated Resolution Therapy – What Is It?
Mental health treatments have come a long way in the last few decades. One of the most exciting developments in trauma therapy is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). You may have heard of it from a therapist, a friend, or while searching for a faster way to heal from emotional pain. But what is ART exactly? And how does it differ from traditional therapy?
In this in-depth post, we’ll cover:
What Accelerated Resolution Therapy is
How ART works
What happens in an ART session
Who ART helps
Benefits and side effects
Research and clinical evidence
How to find a trained ART therapist
Whether you're seeking therapy for trauma, anxiety, or emotional blocks, this guide will help you understand if ART could be the right approach for you.
What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a brief, evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people resolve trauma and emotional distress quickly, often in just 1 to 5 sessions. ART uses a combination of eye movements, voluntary memory visualization, and image replacement to change the way the brain stores distressing memories.
The technique was developed in 2008 by Laney Rosenzweig, LMFT. It blends principles from several therapies, including:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Guided imagery
Gestalt therapy
Despite drawing on other approaches, ART is distinct in its use of Voluntary Image Replacement (VIR)—a process where the client replaces upsetting images with peaceful or empowering ones.
The goal of ART is not to erase memories, but to reduce the emotional charge and physical symptoms associated with them.
What Makes ART Different from Traditional Therapy?
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which may take months or years, ART is focused and rapid. Most clients report relief after just a few sessions.
Key Differences:
You don’t have to talk about the trauma in detail
Each session is structured and goal-oriented
ART focuses on how the memory is stored, not just what happened
Uses bilateral eye movements to activate the brain’s natural healing
Rather than analyzing thoughts endlessly, ART helps your brain "re-code" disturbing experiences so they no longer trigger emotional or physical reactions.
How Does Accelerated Resolution Therapy Work?
ART uses bilateral stimulation, primarily through rapid eye movements, to activate the brain’s natural ability to reprocess painful memories. The process is somewhat similar to EMDR, but with key differences.
The Mechanism:
You identify a target memory or problem.
The therapist guides you to recall the memory while following their hand with your eyes.
This desensitizes the emotional response.
Then you voluntarily replace the imagery in the memory with a more empowering or neutral image.
You do body scans to notice and release physical sensations related to the trauma.
After reprocessing, your brain stores the new version of the event, often relieving emotional and physiological symptoms for good.
What to Expect in an ART Session
If you're wondering what happens during an Accelerated Resolution Therapy session, here’s a breakdown:
A Typical ART Session Includes:
Preparation: Therapist explains the process and helps you identify a target issue or memory.
Eye Movements: You follow the therapist’s hand back and forth, stimulating both hemispheres of your brain.
Memory Visualization: You silently recall the event or emotion while doing eye movements.
Image Replacement: You choose new images or narratives to overlay the memory.
Body Work: You scan your body to release any remaining tension.
Wrap-Up: Therapist checks that the emotional charge is gone and you feel grounded.
Sessions last between 60 to 75 minutes, and you’ll often focus on one memory or issue per session.
Who Can Benefit from ART?
ART has shown powerful results for a range of psychological conditions, especially those tied to trauma and unresolved stress.
Conditions Treated with ART:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Complex PTSD
Anxiety and panic attacks
Depression
Grief and loss
Phobias
Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
Substance use triggers
Performance anxiety
Childhood trauma
ART is especially helpful for first responders, veterans, and survivors of abuse, but is equally effective for anyone struggling with distressing life events.
Benefits of Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Why are so many therapists and clients turning to ART? Here are some of the major benefits:
✅ 1. Rapid Results
Most clients experience relief in fewer than 5 sessions—sometimes in just one.
✅ 2. Non-Invasive
You don’t have to retell or relive your trauma verbally.
✅ 3. Minimal Side Effects
Compared to medication or exposure therapies, ART has few side effects.
✅ 4. Whole-Body Healing
ART addresses not only the emotional aspects of trauma but also physical sensations like tension, pain, and fatigue.
✅ 5. Lasting Change
Once processed, the distressing memory no longer triggers the same emotional or physical response.
Potential Side Effects of ART
While ART is generally safe, you may experience temporary discomfort as your brain processes difficult material.
Possible Side Effects:
Emotional fatigue or crying during the session
Tiredness or vivid dreams afterward
Short-lived increase in emotional sensitivity
Discomfort from facing difficult emotions
These effects usually resolve within 24–48 hours, and most clients report a significant sense of relief afterward.
What Does the Research Say?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is supported by a growing body of clinical research and peer-reviewed studies.
✅ Kip et al. (2013) – University of South Florida
Showed significant improvement in PTSD symptoms among veterans after just 3–5 sessions.
🔗 Read study
✅ Kip et al. (2016) – Follow-up study
Demonstrated ART’s effectiveness in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
🔗 Read study
✅ D’Andrea et al. (2013)
Found ART highly effective for sexual assault survivors, with minimal dropout rates.
🔗 View article
✅ Endorsement from SAMHSA
ART is listed on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
ART vs EMDR: What’s the Difference?
Though both ART and EMDR use eye movements and target trauma, ART is generally:
While both are effective, ART offers a faster and less invasive option for trauma recovery.
Finding an ART Therapist
You can find trained practitioners through the ART International Training and Research Directory:
🔗 Find an ART Therapist Near You
When searching for "accelerated resolution therapy near me," make sure the provider is certified, as ART involves specific protocols that require training.
Final Thoughts: Is ART Right for You?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is one of the most promising breakthroughs in trauma treatment. Its fast, focused, and gentle approach makes it a great option for people who want relief without years of therapy or revisiting trauma aloud.
Whether you’re dealing with PTSD, panic attacks, or lingering grief, ART may offer you the freedom and peace you’ve been seeking.
✅ Quick Recap
ART is an eye-movement-based therapy that changes how trauma is stored in the brain.
It often works in just 1–5 sessions.
It’s effective for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and more.
You don’t have to talk through traumatic events.
Research shows high rates of success and client satisfaction.
✅ Take the Next Step
If you're curious about ART, the best place to start is with a consultation from a trained professional. Look for someone certified and experienced in trauma work.
🔍 Use the ART Therapist Finder