What to Do If You Have a Bad Reaction After an ART Session
Understanding Reactions After Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is known for its rapid, effective approach to healing trauma, anxiety, depression, and other challenges. While many people leave a session feeling lighter, calmer, and even amazed at the sense of closure they achieve, not every experience feels smooth in the moment. Sometimes, people report feeling emotionally drained, physically fatigued, or more sensitive than usual after a session.
In rare cases, someone may feel like they are having a “bad reaction.” This might include overwhelming emotions, intensified dreams, heightened anxiety, or resurfacing memories. If this happens to you, it’s important to understand that this does not necessarily mean the therapy isn’t working. Instead, your nervous system and mind are likely still processing what surfaced during the session.
Why Strong Reactions Can Happen After ART
During ART, eye movements and guided visualization help your brain reconsolidate distressing memories. Essentially, you are reprocessing painful experiences and shifting the way your brain stores them. This is powerful work, and just like deep physical healing, emotional healing can sometimes be uncomfortable before you feel the benefits.
Reactions after an ART session may occur because:
Your body is still processing trauma release. Old stress responses may temporarily flare up as your nervous system integrates the changes.
Unprocessed emotions surface. Sometimes grief, anger, or fear that was long suppressed becomes more noticeable before it resolves.
Your sleep cycle is adjusting. ART often brings vivid dreams, which can be unsettling, but these dreams usually support emotional processing.
Your system is fatigued. Just like an intense workout, therapy that works deeply can leave you feeling temporarily drained.
These responses are part of the body’s natural healing cycle. They can feel uncomfortable, but they are often a sign that the therapy is “working” on a deeper level.
Common Experiences That May Feel Like a Bad Reaction
Not every reaction feels manageable. Some people describe their post-session experience as confusing, scary, or overwhelming. Here are a few examples of what you might encounter:
Feeling emotionally raw or tearful for a day or two
Heightened anxiety or restlessness
Physical sensations like heaviness, tension, or fatigue
Disturbing dreams or nightmares
Memories or emotions that temporarily resurface
A sense of being “off balance” or disoriented
While these experiences may feel like setbacks, they are usually temporary and resolve within a short period. Understanding them as part of the healing process can reduce fear and help you respond with self-compassion.
Self-Care Strategies After a Difficult ART Session
If you find yourself struggling after ART, there are steps you can take to care for yourself. These practices can help ease discomfort and support integration of the therapeutic work:
Rest and Give Yourself Space
Healing can be tiring. Allow extra time for rest, naps, or simply quiet moments where you don’t have to be “on.” This isn’t laziness—it’s your nervous system doing important work.
Ground Yourself in the Present
If you feel overwhelmed, grounding strategies can help. Try:
Placing your feet firmly on the floor and noticing the support beneath you
Naming five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste
Using calming breathwork, such as inhaling slowly for four counts, holding for two, and exhaling for six
Hydrate and Nourish Your Body
Drink plenty of water to support your body’s natural regulation. Eating balanced meals with protein and healthy fats can also help stabilize mood and energy.
Journal Your Feelings
Writing down what you are experiencing can create clarity and perspective. Sometimes just putting your emotions on paper helps release their intensity.
Lean on Safe Support
Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist if you need someone to listen. You don’t have to process alone.
Engage in Gentle Movement
Walking, stretching, or yoga can help release lingering tension in your body and bring your mind back into the present.
When to Reach Out for Professional Support
While most reactions resolve on their own within a few days, sometimes additional support is needed. Contact your ART therapist or another mental health professional if you notice:
Intense distress that doesn’t ease within a few days
Suicidal thoughts or urges to harm yourself
Panic attacks or extreme anxiety that feels unmanageable
Disorientation or difficulty functioning in daily life
Disturbing memories or emotions that continue to spiral
Your therapist can provide reassurance, offer follow-up support, or adjust future sessions to better match your needs. Therapy is collaborative, and it’s important to communicate openly about your experiences.
How to Reframe a Difficult Experience
It’s natural to want therapy to feel smooth and easy. However, sometimes the hardest sessions create the biggest breakthroughs. If you view a difficult reaction not as failure but as progress, it can shift your perspective. A strong emotional release means your body is no longer holding trauma in the same way—it’s coming to the surface so it can be healed.
Think of it like a wound that has been hidden under the skin. When it’s finally uncovered, it may hurt more at first, but only then can it properly heal. ART is designed to move you through that process quickly and effectively.
Preparing for Future ART Sessions
If you’ve had a difficult experience, it doesn’t mean ART isn’t right for you. It may just mean you need to prepare differently or communicate more openly with your therapist. Consider:
Letting your therapist know exactly what you experienced
Asking for shorter or slower-paced sessions
Building in extra time for grounding at the end of each session
Planning self-care activities for the day after therapy
Practicing grounding techniques daily to strengthen your resilience
These adjustments can help you feel safer and more empowered as you continue your healing journey.
The Role of Hope in the Healing Process
Experiencing a bad reaction after ART can feel discouraging, but it’s important to hold onto hope. Many people who initially struggle go on to report profound, lasting relief from trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief through ART. Your current discomfort is not the end of your story—it may be a meaningful step toward deep and lasting healing.
Finding Compassion for Yourself
Above all, be gentle with yourself. Healing trauma is not about perfection; it’s about progress. If you have a hard reaction, remind yourself:
You are doing courageous work.
Your body and mind are processing years of stored pain.
Temporary discomfort does not define the outcome of therapy.
Offering yourself compassion in these moments can be just as healing as the therapy itself.
Taking the Next Step
If you’ve experienced a difficult reaction after ART, know that you’re not alone—and support is available. With the right guidance, coping strategies, and therapeutic adjustments, you can continue your healing journey safely and effectively.
If you’re ready to explore ART or want support after a challenging session, I’m here to help. Together, we can create a path forward that feels safe, supportive, and empowering.
👉 Click here to schedule a consultation or intake session today.
Peer-Reviewed Sources
Kip, K. E., et al. (2013). Evaluation of brief treatment of symptoms of psychological trauma among veterans residing in a homeless shelter by use of Accelerated Resolution Therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 9.
Wand, T., & White, K. (2018). Examining accelerated resolution therapy as a brief and novel treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder: A review of the literature. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(1), 188–195.
Kip, K. E., et al. (2016). Randomized controlled trial of Accelerated Resolution Therapy for treatment of symptoms of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Military Medicine, 181(11-12), 1135–1142.
Waits, W. M., et al. (2017). Accelerated Resolution Therapy: An innovative evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health, 25(4), 50–56.