Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Experience the rapid results of Accelerated Resolution Therapy. Most clients see a significant shift in just 1–5 sessions.
What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a form of psychotherapy designed to reprogram how the brain stores traumatic memories and distressing images. While it is a relatively recent addition to the trauma therapy landscape, ART is rooted in well-established psychological traditions and is primarily a tool for forward momentum. It allows you to process trauma privately without verbalizing every detail, so you can focus on building a life you love rather than just managing one that hurts.
ART is often described as an integrative approach because it synthesizes effective elements from several therapeutic modalities. It utilizes the bilateral eye movements found in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), the directive, goal-oriented tasks of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the creative, experiential processing of Gestalt therapy. By combining these tools, ART helps clients process information both cognitively and physically.
What makes ART unique is the use of Voluntary Image Replacement. This technique allows individuals to navigate a distressing memory and “rewrite” the associated imagery. While the client retains the factual memory of the event, the painful emotional and physical “charge” is removed. Because of this structured and procedural nature, ART is characterized by its efficiency; most individuals experience a significant reduction in symptoms—ranging from PTSD and anxiety to phobias and depression—within 1 to 5 sessions. This rapid timeline makes it a practical option for those seeking to resolve daily distress without years of traditional talk therapy.
How an ART Session Works
At the Counseling Center Group, we use a structured, time-bound approach because we believe purposeful sessions serve you better than open-ended ones. During these 60 to 75 minutes, we don’t just ask what’s wrong; we ask questions like, “What would you be doing differently if you weren’t dealing with this?”. This helps us focus on processing images and sensations to move you toward that new reality.
- Total Privacy: You do not have to share the details of your trauma out loud. You visualize the “movie” of the event in your mind while the therapist guides the process.
- Bilateral Eye Movements: You follow the therapist’s hand movements with your eyes. This helps your brain rapidly desensitize the painful emotions and physical triggers connected to the memory.
- Client in Control: You are awake and alert the entire time. You act as the “director” of the process, and you can pause or stop at any moment.
- Voluntary Image Replacement: Once the distress is lowered, you choose new, functional images to replace the painful ones. You keep the knowledge of what happened, but you lose the emotional pain.
- Body Processing: We track where you feel stress in your body (like a tight chest) and use the eye movements to “smooth out” those sensations until you feel calm.
- Fast Resolution: Because we are working directly with how the brain stores images, most clients feel a significant shift in just one session.
Experience the ART difference.
Now that you know how a session works, take the first step toward rewriting your story. Our ART-trained specialists are ready to guide you through the process in a safe, private environment.
Conditions Treated with ART at Counseling Center Group
PTSD
Accelerated Resolution Therapy provides a specialized approach to treating PTSD, allowing clients to process traumatic events without having to recount the details of the experience verbally. By utilizing bilateral eye movements and the Voluntary Image Replacement technique, we help you “rewrite” the distressing images associated with the trauma. For those with PTSD, ART removes the emotional weight of the memory so you can start thriving in a version of your life you haven’t tried yet. Click here to learn more.
Anxiety
For those struggling with anxiety, ART works by identifying the physical sensations and mental “movies” that fuel a state of constant worry or panic. Instead of simply managing symptoms, the protocol targets the root images that cause the nervous system to overreact. By desensitizing these triggers, clients can navigate their daily lives with a newfound sense of calm and emotional regulation. Click here to learn more.
Depression
When treating depression, ART focuses on resolving the heavy, persistent “scenes” from the past that contribute to feelings of hopelessness or lethargy. By changing the way the brain retrieves these painful memories and replacing them with more functional imagery, we help lift the emotional fog that characterizes depressive episodes. This shift often provides the mental energy needed to re-engage with life and break the cycle of negative thought patterns. Click here to learn more.
Phobias
For individuals facing phobias, ART is highly effective because it treats the phobic response as a stored image that the brain over-processes. Whether it is a fear of heights, flying, or social situations, the therapist guides you through the frightening scenario in your mind while using eye movements to neutralize the fear response. This allows you to retain the knowledge of the situation without the paralyzing physical reaction that previously held you back. Click here to learn more.
Grief
The weight of grief can often feel stuck, especially when accompanied by distressing images of loss or “unfinished business.” ART helps facilitate a healthy grieving process by allowing you to process these painful snapshots. By replacing images of suffering with more peaceful or meaningful memories of a loved one, the therapy helps transition the grief from an acute, overwhelming pain into a manageable and integrated part of your personal history. Click here to learn more.
OCD
In the treatment of OCD, ART provides a unique way to address the intrusive images and the intense anxiety that drive compulsions. By desensitizing the “mental movies” that trigger the need for repetitive behaviors, we can lower the urgency of the obsessive thoughts. This helps the client gain better control over their responses and reduces the overall impact of the disorder on their daily routine. Click here to learn more.
Addiction
For those navigating addiction, ART addresses the underlying trauma or “typical day” stressors that often trigger the urge to use. By neutralizing the emotional charge of past events or future-oriented anxieties, the therapy reduces the need for maladaptive coping mechanisms. It empowers individuals to visualize a future free from substance use, reinforcing their commitment to recovery through positive image replacement. Click here to learn more.
Self-image
Finally, ART is a powerful tool for improving poor self-image. Often, a negative view of oneself is tied to specific memories of criticism, failure, or rejection. By processing these foundational scenes and replacing them with images that reflect your strengths and resilience, ART helps shift your internal narrative. This leads to a more compassionate and empowered sense of self, fostering lasting confidence and mental well-being. Click here to learn more.
Unique Aspects of ART
- Clients are not required to share their distressing memories with the therapist
- Clients can participate in other therapies and medical treatments
- Clients are always in control of the treatment. ART is not hynotherapy
- There is no homework, and the client does not have to recall traumatic memories in between sessions
ART vs. EMDR: How They Compare
While Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are both highly effective, evidence-based treatments for trauma, they offer different experiences for the client. At Counseling Center Group, we provide both modalities, as each has unique strengths that may better suit an individual’s specific needs. Understanding their similarities and differences can help you decide which path to explore with your therapist.
Similarities Between ART & EMDR
Both ART and EMDR are rooted in the idea that the brain can “reprocess” traumatic memories when provided with the right sensory input.
- Evidence-Based: Both are recognized globally as effective treatments for PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions.
- Bilateral Stimulation: Both therapies utilize bilateral stimulation (typically horizontal eye movements) to help the brain move stuck memories into a more functional storage space.
- Memory Focus: Both aim to take the "sting" out of painful memories so that you can remember the facts of an event without being overwhelmed by the original emotional or physical distress.
Differences Between ART & EMDR
Despite their shared foundation, the “feel” of a session differs significantly between the two.
ART:
- ART is highly directive and follows a specific, predetermined script. The therapist guides you through a structured sequence of steps, which can feel more contained for some clients.
- ART focuses on changing the actual images you see in your mind.
- In ART, you do not have to share the details of your trauma out loud at all. The therapist provides the instructions, and you do the work entirely in your mind, which is often preferred by those dealing with deep shame or sensitive information.
- ART was designed to work quickly, with many protocols completed in 1 to 5 sessions, and sessions typically lasting 60 to 75 minutes.
- The training for ART is more condensed (around 21 hours for basic training).
EMDR:
- EMDR is often more fluid. The therapist provides a starting point, and the client’s mind is allowed to “free associate,” moving wherever the brain needs to go.
- EMDR focuses heavily on shifting the beliefs you have about yourself (e.g., changing “I am powerless” to “I am safe now”).
- In EMDR, clients often talk through what is coming up during the eye movements.
- EMDR sessions are often standard 50-minute blocks and may require a longer lead-up time to build a therapeutic “resource” kit before processing begins.
- EMDR requirements are more extensive (around 44 hours).
Together with your therapist, you will identify the most effective treatment approach tailored to your specific goals.
Research and Evidence
While Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a newer modality, it is backed by a growing body of rigorous scientific research. These studies consistently demonstrate that ART is not only effective but also works significantly faster than many traditional trauma-focused therapies.
Below is a summary of the foundational research supporting the use of ART for PTSD and other mental health conditions:
- Behavioral Sciences (2012): Brief Treatment of PTSD Symptoms
This landmark study tested the efficiency of ART on a diverse group of adults struggling with PTSD. Researchers found that participants experienced a significant reduction in trauma symptoms after an average of only 3.7 sessions. Specifically, the study reported a 94% completion rate, with mean scores on the PTSD Checklist (PCL-C) dropping from 54.4 (above the clinical threshold) to 32.1 (below the threshold). This demonstrated that ART could achieve sub-clinical status for patients in under five hours of treatment.
View the 2012 Behavioral Sciences Study - Military Medicine (2015): Civilian and Military PTSD and Sexual Trauma
This study focused on difficult-to-treat populations, including military veterans and survivors of sexual trauma. The research showed that ART was highly effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, and sleep dysfunction. Notably, the study measured a large effect size for the reduction of PTSD symptoms. This matters because it suggests that ART is well-tolerated by those with intense trauma; the dropout rate remained low because the protocol does not require survivors to repeatedly narrate their experiences out loud.
View the 2015 Military Medicine Study - The Kip Empirical Review (Dr. Kevin Kip)
Dr. Kevin Kip, a leading researcher in the field, conducted an extensive review of the empirical evidence base for ART. His findings consistently highlight that ART produces “large effect sizes,” which is scientific shorthand for saying the treatment has a powerful and noticeable impact on recovery. His work underscores that ART’s method of memory reconsolidation—the biological process of “unlocking” a memory and restoring it in a non-distressing way—is a robust mechanism for psychological healing.
View Dr. Kevin Kip’s Review of the Evidence
Why the Evidence Matters
The common thread through all of these studies is speed and retention. Traditional trauma therapies can take months and often have high dropout rates because the process of “reliving” the trauma is too painful. The research into ART suggests a different path: a treatment that is brief, avoids retraumatization by keeping details private, and produces measurable, lasting changes in how the brain responds to past pain.
ART at Counseling Center Group
Expert care starts the moment you reach out. Our ART-trained therapists are not just specialists in rapid trauma resolution; they are clinicians deeply committed to your growth who believe you deserve excellence.
Our ART-trained therapists hold advanced degrees (such as LCSW-C, LICSW, LPC) and have undergone rigorous certification through the International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ISART).
We prioritize a high level of expertise, with some clinicians completing both Basic and Advanced ART training. This allows them to handle complex cases, including “stuck” trauma and co-occurring disorders, with a level of precision that goes beyond standard protocols. Our team brings years of clinical experience in trauma-informed care, ensuring that while the treatment is fast, it is delivered with the steady hand of a seasoned professional.
We believe accessibility to high-quality trauma care is vital. We currently offer in-person and virtual ART sessions at the following locations:
By choosing Counseling Center Group for ART, you are partnering with specialists who understand the neurobiology of trauma and are committed to helping you find relief in days, not years.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy(ART) FAQs
Is ART suitable for adolescents as well as adults?
Yes. Because ART is a visual and experiential therapy rather than one dependent on high-level verbal processing, it is often very effective for adolescents. It allows younger clients to process stressors—such as school anxiety, social trauma, or family transitions—without the pressure of having to find the “right” words to describe their feelings.
How many sessions will I need?
While every individual is unique, the protocol is designed for rapid resolution. Most clients experience a significant shift in their symptoms within 1 to 5 sessions. Some specific phobias or single-incident traumas can even be resolved in a single appointment, while more complex histories may require the full five-session arc or a follow-up series.
What is the difference between ART and traditional talk therapy?
Traditional talk therapy focuses on the conscious mind, using conversation to gain insight into behaviors and history. ART works directly with the brain’s memory reconsolidation process. Instead of just talking about a problem, ART changes how the memory is stored, addressing the root “images” and physical sensations that talk therapy often can’t reach as quickly.
Does insurance cover ART?
ART is billed as a standard psychotherapy session. If your insurance plan covers out-of-network outpatient mental health services, ART sessions are typically eligible for reimbursement. We recommend checking with your provider to confirm your “out-of-network” benefits for individual therapy.
Is ART the same as hypnotherapy?
No. While both involve a state of focused internal attention, you remain fully awake and alert during ART. You are in total control of the “movie” in your mind, acting as the director. There is no loss of consciousness or susceptibility to suggestion; the therapist simply facilitates your own natural brain processing.
What should I expect after my first session?
Most clients report feeling a sense of “lightness” or emotional relief immediately following a session. Because the brain has done significant work, you may feel physically tired and should plan for some downtime. You will still remember the facts of what you worked on, but you will likely find that the “sting” or physical trigger (like a racing heart) is significantly diminished or gone entirely.
Your path to resolution starts here.
You don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle of past trauma or daily distress. At Counseling Center Group, we provide the expertise and the environment to help you move forward quickly.
Contact us today to speak with an ART-trained clinician.