Eye Movement Therapy
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Are you suffering from anxiety, panic, post-traumatic stress, phobia(s), grief, or other distressing experiences? Do you find it hard to feel sustained comfort and relief?
If so, you may benefit from Accelerated Resolution therapy (ART). ART is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that utilizes back-and-forth eye movements and a technique called Voluntary Image/Memory Replacement to help individuals address and heal from psychological pain, discomfort, and trauma. It is not the same as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR); however, both psychotherapies use eye movements. In experiencing ART, you may find that you connect pieces of information already stored in your memory to help resolve your issues. While focusing on a problem and concurrently using eye movements, the brain makes new connections with a person’s strengths and problem-solving abilities.
ART is a very focused eye movement therapy and, as such, produces quick, effective, and safe results in treating anxiety, depression, phobias, relationship issues, post-traumatic stress, and grief, to name a few concerns. ART is effective with adults as well as children.
About the Technique
You will be in total control of the therapy. This is not hypnosis; you will speak with your counselor just as you would during a psychotherapy session that does not involve eye movements. Initially, your counselor will ask you to rate the intensity of the emotions related to your problem. They will sit across from you, slightly to your left or right, and have you follow their hand or another object with your eyes while you think about your problem issue. You will be asked to describe what you experience during the brief time you move your eyes, and your counselor will assist you in processing through physical and emotional sensations so that these sensations disappear and positive feelings become enhanced. Your counselor will guide you through the process of Voluntary Memory/Image Replacement, during which you will process out the old, traumatic images and restore your mental health by replacing them with more positive images. Although the new images are not actual memories, clients report that reprocessing the images feels like a new start for them. The original memory story remains while the images from the trauma are erased or replaced, which brings about emotional relief.
Length of Treatment
ART has been shown to be effective after one session. The average length of treatment is around three to five sessions. After experiencing relief from your initial problem issue, you may choose to continue in therapy to resolve other issues. In addition, you may wish to use traditional talk therapy sessions to process the changes and insights you have gleaned from your ART sessions.
An Evidenced-Based Approach
In November 2015, the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) officially recognized ART at the federal level. Specifically, NREPP, which is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), found ART to be an effective psychotherapy for PTSD, depression, stress, and personal resilience. ART was also classified as a promising therapy for treating symptoms of phobias, panic, anxiety, sleep and wake disorders, disruptive and antisocial behaviors, general functioning, and well-being. The International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (IS-ART) offers additional information and links to publications on the evidence base of ART.
Our ART therapist
Steven Montesinos, LMHC, has received intensive training to prepare him to provide ART, having completed the basic, advanced, and enhanced training. He was trained by the founder and developer of ART, Laney Rosenzweig, LMFT. For more information about ART, please visit acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com.
Meet the Founder of ART, Laney Rosenzweig
Hear from Laney Rosenzweig, LMFT, as she shares the benefits of ART.