What to Do After an ART Session: A Guide
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) isn’t just transformative during your session — the healing continues long after you leave the therapist’s office. ART works by “positizing” traumatic memories: transforming them from distressing images into neutral or positive visuals. Through a process called reconsolidation, your brain rewires how memories are stored, helping you form new, healthier beliefs and perspectives Accelerated Resolution Therapy
1. Embrace Rest and Relaxation
ART sessions facilitate deep brain processing. Clients often report feeling more energetic, hopeful, and inspired afterward Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Take time to relax: read a comforting book, soak in a warm bath (e.g. with magnesium salts), sip soothing herbal tea, or simply unwind in nature Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
Recognize that it’s normal to feel mentally or physically fatigued—in therapeutic circles this is sometimes called an “emotional hangover” and reflects meaningful emotional work realsimple.com.
2. Gentle Movement to Support Integration
Engage in light activities like stretching, yoga, or a walk in nature. These mirror ART’s bilateral eye movements, stimulating further emotional processing Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
Moves like walking naturally promote bilateral stimulation while also giving you fresh air and a change of scenery Next Chapter, Alexandria Art Therapy, LLC.
3. Discover Expressive Outlets: Create or Journal
ART activates creative brainwaves (theta waves), opening up access to intuition and symbolic thinking. This primes you for exploring creativity after the session Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
Parsing your session experiences through journaling can be highly helpful. Writing helps capture insights, emotions, and images you may otherwise forget while tapping into both analytical and imaginative sides of your mind Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Wikipedia.
Alternatively, you can create using artistic media—sketch, doodle, garden, or craft something to help represent and process your current state Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Wikipedia.
4. Ground Yourself Mindfully
Practice meditation or mindfulness—anchoring yourself in observation of breath, body, or sensations. This facilitates deeper integration of the mind‑body connection ART reinforces Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Next Chapter.
Slow down transitions after the session: sit or stand slowly, take careful sips of water, walk gently—giving your nervous system space to recalibrate Next Chapter.
5. Allow Time and Space
Schedule buffer time after your session—ideally 15–20 minutes just to rest, reflect, or nap if possible, before diving back into daily responsibilities realsimple.com.
Even if a full nap isn’t possible, brief downtime—quiet sitting, breathing, gentle walking—can be enough to reset Next Chapter, Alexandria Art Therapy, LLC.
6. Nurture the Rest of Your Day
Treat yourself gently throughout the remainder of the day. Avoid taking on intellectually demanding tasks or emotionally heavy conversations Alexandria Art Therapy, LLCallure.com.
Make time for self-care: nourishing food, pleasant downtime, a calming hobby or sensory experience Next Chapter, Next Chapter.
If helpful, connect with a trusted person—but remember: you’re not obligated to share session details unless you choose to Alexandria Art Therapy, LLC.
Final Thoughts
ART is a powerful, efficient therapy that leverages the brain’s neuroplasticity to shift the emotional impact of trauma Summit Counselling Services But the benefits aren’t confined to the therapeutic hour. Healing continues afterward—and so does your brain’s work. What you do between sessions plays a key role in deepening that transformation.
Encourage your clients to view this post-session time not as aftercare—but as part of the ART experience itself.
With thoughtful self‑compassion, awareness, and intention, clients allow ART’s effects to take root more fully—and step into lasting relief and empowerment.
If you’re curious about finding an ART‑certified therapist or specific self‑care routines for your practice, feel free to reach out anytime.
