What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a short‑term, structured form of psychotherapy designed to help individuals quickly resolve emotional distress tied to past experiences. Developed in 2008 by Laney Rosenzweig, LMFT, ART integrates rapid eye movements with proven therapeutic techniques—such as EMDR, CBT, Gestalt, and guided imagery—to reprogram how painful memories are stored in the brain Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Harper Clinic Utah.

How It Works

1. Identify distressing images or events: You focus briefly on a memory or metaphor that causes discomfort.

2. Bilateral eye movements: While following the therapist’s hand movement, your brain engages both hemispheres—similar to REM sleep—to reduce emotional intensity Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

3. Voluntary Image Replacement: You then choose positive or neutral images to replace negative ones—without sharing details—so the memory remains factual but no longer triggers emotional pain .

4. Body scan and resolution: The session ends with checking for residual tension in the body and integrating the new mental image into your felt experience laurageftman.com, catharsishealth.org.

Why ART Is Distinctive

• Fast results: Many clients report relief in just 1 to 5 sessions (average ~3.7 for PTSD) psychcentral.com, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, kentuckycounselingcenter.com.

• Minimal verbal processing required: You don’t need to recount painful memories in detail, making ART more tolerable and less retraumatizing Accelerated Resolution Therapy, psychcentral.com, laurageftman.com.

• Structured yet flexible: The protocol is directive and manualized, yet clients guide what images they replace—the therapist simply facilitates Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

• Evidence-based recognition: ART is recognized by APA’s Division 12 and listed on the SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence‑Based Programs and Practices Accelerated Resolution Therapy, laurageftman.com.

Who Can Benefit?

ART has been successfully used to address:

• Trauma and PTSD, including complex or childhood trauma

• Anxiety, panic attacks, phobias

• Depression, grief, codependency

• OCD, substance use triggers, performance anxiety

• Physical concerns like chronic pain or sleep disruption Accelerated Resolution Therapy, catharsishealth.org, Harper Clinic Utah

What to Expect in a Session

An ART session typically lasts 60–75 minutes and follows a clear structure:

• Intake and goal-setting

• Focused visualization plus eye movement sets

• Image replacement and body scanning

• Reflection and grounding before closing the session

Many clients report feeling calmer, lighter, and more in control—even after a single session—and resolve their presenting issue in just a few sessions laurageftman.com, laurageftman.com.

In Summary

ART is a powerful, fast, and client‑centered approach to emotional healing. By directly changing how distressing memories are encoded—without graphic detail or survivor trauma—ART offers a gentle yet transformative path toward relief and renewal. With official recognition and growing research support, ART may be the right choice for individuals seeking effective therapy with fewer sessions and less emotional overload.