What to Expect in Your First ART Session
Understanding Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that uses guided eye movements and visualization to help the brain reprocess distressing memories and emotions. ART works by calming the body’s stress response while targeting the way traumatic or emotionally charged memories are stored in the brain.
This process allows you to remember events without reliving their emotional intensity, creating lasting relief from symptoms like anxiety, fear, intrusive memories, or negative self-beliefs. ART is used to treat a wide range of issues, including trauma, grief, anxiety, phobias, depression, and relationship challenges.
If you’ve scheduled your first ART session, you may be wondering what exactly happens and how it will feel. Here’s what you can expect before, during, and after your first session.
Preparing for Your First Session
Your first ART session begins much like any other therapy appointment: with a conversation. Your therapist will take time to learn about your concerns, symptoms, and what you hope to accomplish. This is also your opportunity to ask questions about ART, share any hesitations, and get comfortable with your therapist’s approach.
Unlike some therapy models, ART does not require you to share every detail of painful memories out loud. If you prefer, you can keep the specifics private while still engaging in the full therapeutic process. Knowing this ahead of time often helps reduce anxiety about opening up or being retraumatized.
Your therapist may also explain how ART works from a neuroscience perspective, describing how eye movements help shift how memories are stored in the brain. Understanding this process often helps clients feel more at ease and confident about what’s ahead.
Establishing a Safe and Comfortable Environment
ART sessions are designed to be calm and supportive. Your therapist will create an environment where you feel safe to focus inward. Sessions typically take place in a quiet room, with the therapist guiding you through relaxation and grounding techniques to help you feel present and secure.
This foundation of safety is critical because it allows your nervous system to relax enough for memory reprocessing to occur effectively. Unlike exposure therapy or traditional trauma treatments, ART does not require reliving events in detail or staying in a heightened emotional state for long periods.
Walking Through the Process
Once you feel comfortable, your therapist will guide you through a series of eye movements, similar to those seen in other therapies like EMDR. You’ll follow the therapist’s hand as it moves side to side, which stimulates both hemispheres of your brain and helps regulate emotional responses.
During this time, you’ll focus briefly on a distressing memory, sensation, or feeling. Rather than talking about it extensively, ART allows you to work internally, guided by the therapist’s instructions. This keeps the process efficient and minimizes discomfort while still targeting the emotional root of the issue.
Reprocessing Painful Memories Without Reliving Them
One of the most unique aspects of ART is that it allows you to address painful memories without becoming overwhelmed. You may recall a memory in brief “snapshots,” but the eye movements and relaxation techniques help keep your body calm even as your brain reprocesses the information.
Once the emotional intensity of the memory begins to lessen, your therapist will guide you to replace it with positive imagery or a more empowering perspective. This step helps the brain “rewrite” the memory, detaching it from distress and linking it to feelings of calm, safety, or resolution.
Experiencing Physical and Emotional Shifts
Many clients notice physical changes during their first session, such as relaxed breathing, reduced muscle tension, or a feeling of lightness. Emotionally, you may feel relief, clarity, or even surprise at how quickly distress decreases.
Some people describe ART as feeling like “emotional decluttering,” where burdens they’ve carried for years suddenly feel lighter. Others notice a sense of calm or neutrality about a memory that once felt unbearable. These changes often happen in real-time during the session, which is part of what makes ART so effective and efficient.
Addressing Multiple Memories or Issues
Depending on your goals, your first session may focus on one memory or emotional trigger, or it may address several related experiences. Because ART is fast-acting, it’s common to see noticeable improvement within a single session. However, some issues may require several sessions to fully resolve.
Your therapist will guide the pacing based on your comfort level, ensuring you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed. ART is highly adaptable and can be tailored to fit your needs, whether you’re working on one specific trauma or broader patterns like anxiety or self-esteem.
What Happens After Your Session
After your first ART session, it’s common to feel lighter, calmer, or even pleasantly tired. This is because your brain has been actively reprocessing memories and emotions, similar to how it does during REM sleep.
Your therapist may recommend taking it easy for the rest of the day, drinking water, and giving yourself space to reflect. Some clients notice continued shifts in the days following their session, such as reduced anxiety, fewer intrusive thoughts, or feeling less reactive to triggers.
If you’re working on a complex issue, your therapist may suggest scheduling follow-up sessions. Many people experience significant relief within one to five sessions, depending on the depth of the issue.
Common Concerns About Your First ART Session
It’s normal to feel nervous before trying something new. Here are a few common concerns clients express before their first ART session:
“Will I have to relive my trauma?”
No. ART is specifically designed to avoid retraumatization. You will not be asked to re-experience distressing memories in detail.“What if I don’t remember the memory clearly?”
ART can work even with vague or incomplete memories. Your brain will focus on whatever is most relevant for healing.“Will it feel weird to do eye movements?”
The process is simple and natural, often described as relaxing once you get used to it.“What if I get emotional?”
It’s okay to feel emotions during the session, but your therapist will help keep you grounded and guide you back to calm quickly.
Why ART Feels Different from Traditional Therapy
Many clients are surprised at how different ART feels compared to traditional talk therapy. Instead of spending months analyzing problems or revisiting painful stories, ART focuses on resolution rather than repetition.
Because it works directly with the brain’s memory and emotion networks, change happens quickly. Clients often leave their first session feeling a noticeable reduction in distress and a sense of hope about their healing process.
The Lasting Benefits of Starting ART
Your first ART session is just the beginning of a powerful healing journey. As you continue working with ART, you may notice:
Reduced emotional triggers and anxiety
Improved sleep and physical relaxation
Greater emotional resilience and stability
Increased confidence and self-compassion
A sense of closure around past events
These benefits don’t just improve your mental health—they can enhance relationships, work performance, and your overall quality of life.
Conclusion: Walking Into Your First ART Session with Confidence
Your first Accelerated Resolution Therapy session is designed to be safe, gentle, and effective. You don’t need to relive your trauma or know exactly how to “fix” your feelings. ART meets you where you are, guiding your brain to process emotional pain naturally and efficiently.
Whether you’re seeking relief from trauma, anxiety, grief, or self-doubt, your first ART session is the first step toward lasting healing. By understanding what to expect, you can enter the process feeling informed, empowered, and ready to experience the transformative effects of this groundbreaking therapy.
If you’re ready to take the next step, ART can help you heal faster than you ever thought possible—and help you move forward with peace and clarity.
References
Kip, K.E., et al. (2013). Randomized Controlled Trial of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for PTSD in Veterans. Military Medicine. PubMed
Storey, D.P., Marriott, E.C.S., & Rash, J.A. (2024). Accelerated Resolution Therapy for PTSD in Adults: A Systematic Review. PLOS Mental Health. PLOS
Rosenzweig, L. Accelerated Resolution Therapy Overview. Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Medical News Today. (2023). What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)? Medical News Today
ResearchGate. The Emergence of Accelerated Resolution Therapy for PTSD. ResearchGate
Siegel, D.J. (2012). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are.Guilford Press.