What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
March 13, 2024October 20, 2024
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Abuse, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Assault, Attachment Issues, Disordered Eating, Grief, Healing, Mental Health Struggles, Pain Managment, Post Traumatic Stress, PTSD, Rapid Resolution Therapy, Trauma Therapy

What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

WHAT IS ART?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a unique approach to psychotherapy. This technique that helps to restore mental health by changing the way distressing memories and images are stored in the brain. When we recall sad, scary, or confusing memories or situations, we experience uncomfortable emotions and feelings in our bodies. If we can change the images, we eliminate the symptoms. ART Therapist guides the client to replace the negative images in the mind that cause the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress with positive images of the client’s choosing. And this is done quickly, most often within one session! Once the negative images have been replaced by positive ones, the triggers will be gone. Nightmares and repeated intrusive thoughts will stop.

It’s just that simple.

ART is also unique in that it combines the enormous power of eye movements to allow voluntary changes in the client’s mind with well-established therapies like Gestalt, Psychodynamic Therapy and Guided Imagery. Within the ART protocol, the eye movements, along with other ART enhancements, make these therapies work much faster and more effectively.

WHY ART USES EYE MOVEMENTS

  • Eye movements aid in mind/body integration and learning

  • Eve movements help bring both the rational and emotional sides of the brain together which helps to make new connections and generate new solutions

  • Eye movements appear to assist the brain in interrupting negative thoughts, images and feelings resulting in positive changes in behaviour

  • Eye movements appear to enhance our ability to make positive changes to memories and keep us relaxed in the process

DOES ART ONLY DEAL WITH TRAUMA?

ART is a rapid recovery from trauma but also many other mental health problems such as:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Eating disorders

  • Phobias

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  • Post Traumatic Stress (PTS)

  • Addictions

  • Performance Anxiety

  • Poor Self Image

  • Victimization

  • Infidelity / Relationship issues

  • Sexual Abuse

  • Codependency

  • Grief

  • Job Related Stress

  • Pain Management

  • Memory Enhancement

  • Dyslexia Anxiety

  • Fear

  • And so much more!

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING AN ART SESSION?

During your ART session, your therapist will guide your eyes back and forth. This is called bilateral stimulation. This technique helps calm your body and assists your brain in accessing the information or memory it wants to work on. This is called opening the reconsolidation window. You are welcome to share as much or as little about the memory as you want. Once the brain accesses the memory or information, it has an opportunity to ‘update’ or ‘edit’ the images associated with the memory. This is called voluntary image replacement. When the memory is reprocessed in a less distressing way, the sensations in your body will typically be more comfortable. Your brain then files this memory back in storage the way you directed it. This is called memory reconsolidation. Your amazing brain does all these steps naturally every time you recall a memory, so the process of ART is simply guiding your brain to do the work it knows how to do!

HOW CAN I GET THIS THERAPY?

Reflective Soul Counselling has two ART trained therapists.

Katya is a Basic Level trained Art Therapist and Coleen is a Masters Level trained ART Therapist

Reached out to Coleen at Reflective Soul Counselling and she can connect you with a counsellor to start your healing journey. We are located in Kelowna and offer in person or online sessions.

Contact: [email protected] or call 250-300-6215

Counselling & Psychotherapy – Kelowna, BC