Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): A Gentle Option for Trauma and Anxiety
- Shannon Schell, LMHC
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
When you’ve carried a painful memory—or the anxiety it keeps triggering—for a long time, it’s easy
to wonder: Do I really have to relive it to heal? With Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), the answer is often no. ART is a brief, structured therapy that helps your brain re‑store distressing memories so they stop hijacking your body and emotions—often without requiring you to tell your story in detail (What to know about ART — PsychCentral).
What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
ART is a trauma‑focused psychotherapy developed in 2008 by therapist Laney Rosenzweig. It blends well‑established techniques—like imaginal exposure, desensitization, identifying and neutralizing potential triggers, and guided side‑to‑side eye movements—to change how troubling images and sensations are stored in memory (PHCoE evidence brief on ART (health.mil)). In practice, your therapist guides smooth eye movements while you privately recall the issue; then you rescript the distressing imagery so the memory keeps the facts but loses the pain (How ART works in plain English — PsychCentral).
What Can ART Help With?
Trauma, Anxiety, and Related Emotional Stress
Studies suggest ART can reduce symptoms of post‑traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and complicated grief—across both military and civilian groups (2024 systematic review (PLOS Mental Health); IS‑ART research bibliography).
• In a randomized controlled trial with U.S. service members and veterans, ART outperformed an attention‑control condition on PTSD, depression, anxiety, and trauma‑related guilt, with participants averaging ~3–4 sessions (Randomized controlled trial in Military Medicine (2013)).
• Follow‑up analyses in veterans—including those who had tried first‑line therapies—also found substantial reductions that were sustained at follow‑up (Veteran follow‑up analysis in Military Medicine (2023)).
A balanced note: major guideline bodies (like the VA/DoD) have not yet listed ART among primary recommended PTSD treatments, describing it as emerging with insufficient evidence for or against—another reason we talk through options and fit before we begin (PHCoE evidence brief on ART (health.mil)).
Why ART Feels Different From Traditional Talk Therapy
• It’s brief. For many concerns—especially single‑incident traumas—ART is designed as a short course (often 1–5 sessions; trials report averages near 3–4 sessions) (PHCoE; RCT details).
• You stay in control. You can work without describing painful details out loud; we focus on the images and sensations that keep your nervous system on high alert (What to know about ART — PsychCentral).
• It’s body‑aware. The eye movements and check‑ins help the body settle while the brain updates the memory, so the heart‑pound/shallow‑breath responses soften as your mind reframes what happened (PHCoE).
What Does the Research Say About ART?
How Quickly ART Can Help
In the veteran RCT above, people completed treatment in about 3.7 sessions and showed greater improvements than the control group (Military Medicine RCT).
Do the Benefits Last?
Across studies reviewed in 2024, symptom relief generally persisted at follow‑up, though methods varied—another reason we’ll monitor progress and maintenance together (PLOS Mental Health systematic review).
Is ART a Good Fit for You?
ART can be a good fit if you want a focused, skills‑guided approach that doesn’t require extensive storytelling. It has been studied for trauma‑related distress with common co‑occurring issues like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and grief; like any therapy, it isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. We’ll also discuss CBT, mindfulness‑based strategies, and other trauma therapies to match your needs and comfort (systematic review; research bibliography).
Important context: Because ART’s research base is still maturing, we treat it as a promising, evidence‑informed option. We’ll review your history, clarify safety considerations, and decide together whether to begin with ART or start with stabilizing skills and supportive talk therapy (PHCoE brief).
ART Therapy via Telehealth Across Florida
What to Know About Virtual Sessions
I provide ART and supportive therapy via secure telehealth to adults anywhere in Florida. Florida law allows licensed clinicians to deliver mental health services via telehealth, and I adhere to the same standards of care as in‑person sessions. (If you’re traveling, services depend on where you are physically located during session.) See Florida Statute §456.47 (Online Sunshine) for details.
A Gentle Next Step If You’re Curious About ART
If what you’ve read resonates—if you’re ready for a focused, compassionate way to loosen the grip of trauma, anxiety, or grief—ART may be a fit.
Click the following link to set up a consult: http://www.libertycounselingsvcs.com/contact
We’ll talk about your goals, answer questions, and decide together on the best starting place for you.
This article is for educational purposes and does not diagnose or treat any condition. Therapy services are provided via telehealth to residents of Florida. If you’re in crisis, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
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