Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

Los Angeles

Do you have a problem that you struggle with daily?

Or a memory that looms over you like a dark cloud, making it hard to feel safe and hopeful?

Relief may be faster than you think.

 
 
A field of yellow and purple flowers and a lighthouse in the distance represent the healing power of Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a powerful therapy approach that can often resolve sticky problems and heal trauma in a shockingly short amount of time.

Whether it’s a longstanding phobia, a pattern of shame spirals, or intense anxiety about an upcoming event, ART is excellent for tackling those unhelpful thought patterns, distressing sensations, or stubborn habits that have been getting in your way on a daily basis.

It’s also effective for resolving traumatic memories, including sexual assaults, accidents, childhood events, and other painful losses.

Other issues that ART can help include difficult decisions, performance blocks, intrusive images, recurring nightmares, and feelings of confusion or general stuckness.

Better yet, ART requires no homework in between sessions, and there’s no need to disclose details about the issue you’re working on if you don’t wish to.

A woman in an orange hat stands at the foot of a bridge as she begins her healing journey using Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

GET YOUR LIFE BACK

What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?

Also known as ART, Accelerated Resolution Therapy is an evidence-based therapy that effectively replaces negative imagery (and other sensory information) with positive ones, thereby eliminating the distressing sensations, cognitions, and triggers that were so bothersome before. It combines elements of many other established therapies, such as imaginal and in vivo exposure, Gestalt therapy, image rescripting, memory reconsolidation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and rapid eye movement.

Developed by Laney Rosenzweig, MS, LMFT, in 2008, ART was inspired by EMDR and is used to treat post-traumatic stress, depression, grief, anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, codependence, job-related stress, substance use, performance anxiety, and numerous other issues.

FAQs

    • I will guide you as you focus on the problem event or issue while doing eye movements (or holding tappers if needed).

    • During the course of the session, though the facts of the disturbing event will remain the same, you will no longer have the distressing feelings, thoughts, and body sensations linked to it that you had before.

    • ART does not require you to go into detail about the trauma or issue you wish to process. It is not a talk therapy but rather a protocol that desensitizes you to disturbing images and then creatively replaces them. Generally, clients leave ART sessions feeling relaxed and empowered.

    • You are always in control with ART.

    • Though it varies, ART can often resolve an issue in 1-5 sessions. In general, one-time events (e.g., a stressful incident like an accident) take fewer sessions and ongoing events (e.g., daily anxiety or difficulty) may take more.

    • If you are a regular weekly client and we decide to do ART, we will probably jump in right away, since it is likely to utilize the full session time or require a slightly longer session.

  • ART works best if you:

    • can come to my office (instead of meet on Zoom)

    • can move your eyes back and forth without any issue

    • can hold onto a thought or theme for the session

    • can schedule 75-90 minute sessions

    • feel highly motivated to change.

    If you enjoy using your imagination, you may find this therapy surprisingly fun!

  • Both ART and EMDR utilize rapid eye movements and have areas of overlap, but there are many differences between the two therapies:

    • ART tends to be more directive and EMDR uses more free association.

    • ART actively engages the client’s creativity and relies heavily on metaphors.

    • ART sessions are more structured and the protocol is ideally completed within the session, which means that sessions may run 75-90 minutes, rather than 60.

    I find both ART and EMDR to be incredibly effective. The decision to use ART, EMDR, or an integration of multiple models depends on your presenting issues and preferences. I am happy to discuss options, review pros and cons, and make recommendations.

  • Absolutely, ART can be done during an intensive therapy session. ART can easily be integrated with EMDR, IFS, and other modalities as appropriate.

  • Yes! Often clients wish to see a trauma specialist while they continue to see their regular therapists. I am happy to collaborate with your therapist and to use ART on specific targets to support your regular therapy.

  • Yes! I am certified as a Master ART Practitioner, which is the most advanced level of certification.

  • You can learn more about ART, including the evidence for it, how it works, and testimonials, on the Accelerated Resolution Therapy website.

 Next steps

How it Works

01

Reach Out

Reach out to schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation. I’ll answer any questions you have and make sure we’re a good fit.

02

Intake Session

At the intake session, we’ll talk about what brings you to therapy and what changes you’d like to see through our work together.

03

Get to Work

Join me weekly to achieve your goals OR book an intensive for short-term, focused work together.