What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a structured psychotherapy approach that combines several therapeutic techniques within a specific protocol.

ART may include:

• Guided eye movements
• Attention to distressing memories or images
• Awareness of emotions and physical sensations
• Relaxation strategies
• Imagery
• Voluntary image replacement
• Therapeutic rescripting
• Grounding and emotional regulation

The therapist guides the process, but the client remains in control of what they imagine, what they change, and what they choose to discuss. ART is often used for trauma-related concerns, although it may also be considered for other emotional and behavioral concerns depending on the client, provider training, and treatment goals.

How Does Accelerated Resolution Therapy Work?
During ART, the therapist helps the client identify a specific memory, image, situation, or concern that is causing distress.

The client is then guided through sets of eye movements while paying attention to:

• Images connected to the memory
• Emotions
• Physical sensations
• Thoughts
• Beliefs
• Stress responses

As the session progresses, the therapist may guide the client through voluntary image replacement or imagery rescripting. This does not erase the memory or change the facts of what happened. Instead, the client may create different mental images associated with the experience in an effort to reduce the distress connected to the original imagery. The client chooses the new imagery. The therapist guides the process.

What Is Voluntary Image Replacement?
Voluntary image replacement is a central component of Accelerated Resolution Therapy. Many distressing memories are linked to powerful mental images. A person may intellectually know that an event is over, yet a particular image may still trigger anxiety, fear, grief, shame, or a strong physical response. During ART, clients may be invited to voluntarily change or replace distressing mental imagery in ways they choose.

For example, the client might imagine:

• A different ending
• A sense of protection
• Distance from the image
• A symbolic change
• A peaceful scene
• A different perspective
• A sense of control or safety

The actual memory remains, but the goal is to reduce the distress associated with the images and reactions connected to it.

What Can Accelerated Resolution Therapy Help With?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy may be considered for concerns such as:

• Trauma-related symptoms
• PTSD symptoms
• Anxiety
• Panic symptoms
• Phobias
• Grief and loss
• Distressing memories
• Emotional triggers
• Stress-related physical reactions
• Performance-related anxiety
• Negative self-beliefs
• Difficult experiences that continue to feel emotionally unresolved

Whether ART is appropriate depends on the individual, the nature of the concern, treatment history, provider training, and broader clinical needs.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Trauma and PTSD Symptoms
Trauma can affect both the mind and body.

A person may experience:

• Intrusive memories
• Nightmares
• Hypervigilance
• Avoidance
• Strong emotional reactions
• Physical tension
• Panic
• Difficulty sleeping
• Emotional numbness
• Distress triggered by reminders of the event

ART may help clients work with specific distressing memories while using eye movements, imagery, and other structured techniques. Some published studies have examined ART for PTSD symptoms, including among military populations. Research has reported reductions in PTSD-related symptoms in studied groups, although the total research base remains smaller than that of some longer-established trauma therapies.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Anxiety and Phobias
Anxiety and phobias often involve strong mental imagery, anticipatory fear, and physical stress responses.

ART may be used to help clients work with:

• Fear-provoking images
• Anticipatory anxiety
• Stress responses
• Physical sensations
• Avoidance patterns
• Memories connected to fear
• Catastrophic expectations

The treatment may include eye movements, attention to the feared image or situation, relaxation, and voluntary imagery changes. ART is not automatically appropriate for every anxiety disorder or phobia. Your provider will consider your symptoms, history, goals, and treatment needs.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Grief and Loss
Grief can become connected to painful images, memories, guilt, regret, or moments that feel emotionally frozen in time. ART may sometimes be considered as part of treatment for grief-related distress. A randomized clinical trial has examined ART for complicated grief and reported improvement in emotional well-being and functioning among study participants. ART does not remove the meaning of a relationship or erase memories of the person who died. The goal is to help reduce overwhelming distress connected to specific images, moments, or emotional reactions.

What Happens During an ART Session?
ART sessions are structured and guided by a trained therapist.

A session may include:

1. Identifying the concern or target memory
2. Noticing related emotions and physical sensations
3. Guided sets of eye movements
4. Attention to distressing imagery
5. Relaxation and regulation strategies
6. Voluntary image replacement
7. Additional eye movements
8. Reassessment of emotional and physical distress
9. Grounding and preparation to end the session

The therapist guides the protocol while the client remains actively involved throughout the process.

Do I Have to Tell My Therapist Every Detail?
No. ART generally does not require clients to disclose every detail of a traumatic or painful experience. The therapist needs enough information to understand the concern, assess appropriateness, maintain safety, and guide treatment. However, much of the work can occur internally through memory, imagery, emotions, sensations, and eye movements. The official ART model describes the treatment as procedural and emphasizes that clients do not necessarily need to describe all details of the trauma to the therapist.

Will ART Erase My Memory?
No. ART is not designed to erase factual memory. The client still knows what happened. The goal is to change the emotional and physical response associated with distressing memories or images so that reminders may become less overwhelming. ART focuses on how distressing imagery and emotional responses are experienced, not on deleting personal history.

Is ART the Same as EMDR?
No. ART and EMDR both use eye movements and may be used for trauma-related concerns, but they are different therapies. ART follows its own structured protocol and places particular emphasis on voluntary image replacement and imagery rescripting. EMDR follows a separate multi-phase treatment model that includes work with memories, beliefs, emotions, physical sensations, and bilateral stimulation.

The best fit depends on:

• Symptoms
• Treatment goals
• Previous therapy experience
• Comfort with the approach
• Provider availability
• Clinical assessment

Your therapist can help discuss the differences between ART and EMDR.

ART vs. Written Exposure Therapy
​Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Written Exposure Therapy use very different methods.

ART uses:

• Eye movements
• Imagery
• Attention to memories and body sensations
• Voluntary image replacement
• Structured therapist guidance

Written Exposure Therapy primarily uses structured writing about a traumatic experience during therapy sessions. Some people may prefer a writing-centered approach, while others may feel more comfortable with imagery-based treatment.

ART vs. Traditional Talk Therapy
Traditional talk therapy often involves extended discussion, reflection, insight-building, skill development, and examination of patterns over time. ART is more structured and procedural. During ART, the therapist guides the client through a specific process involving eye movements, memory, imagery, emotions, and physical responses. ART may be used as a focused intervention within a broader course of therapy, or it may be combined with other approaches depending on the client’s needs.

How Many ART Sessions Will I Need?
The number of ART sessions varies. ART is designed as a relatively brief and focused treatment model, and the ART organization describes many presenting concerns as being addressed within a one-to-three-session model. Published clinical studies have also examined ART as a brief intervention. However, this does not mean every concern will resolve in one session.

The number of appointments may depend on:

• Number of target memories
• Complexity of symptoms
• Treatment history
• Co-occurring conditions
• Current stressors
• Readiness for trauma-focused work
• Individual response to treatment

Your therapist will help develop an individualized plan.

Online Accelerated Resolution Therapy in Ohio
Providers for Healthy Living offers online Accelerated Resolution Therapy through secure telehealth when clinically appropriate. Telehealth ART allows clients throughout Ohio to participate from a private and comfortable location.

During an online ART session, the therapist may guide:

• Eye movements
• Visualization
• Awareness of body sensations
• Relaxation
• Voluntary image replacement
• Grounding

Your therapist will help determine whether telehealth ART is appropriate for your clinical needs and environment.

Who May Benefit from Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
ART may be worth discussing if you:

• Have a distressing memory that still feels emotionally intense
• Experience trauma-related symptoms
• Have strong reactions to reminders or triggers
• Experience anxiety connected to a specific event or image
• Have phobia-related fears
• Are coping with grief or loss
• Prefer a structured therapeutic approach
• Do not want to describe every detail of a painful experience
• Are interested in imagery-based therapy
• Want to explore a focused trauma-related treatment option

ART is not appropriate for every individual or every clinical condition. A provider will consider your symptoms, history, safety, treatment goals, and readiness before recommending it.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Other Treatment Options
Depending on your needs, ART may be used alongside other services such as:

• Individual therapy
• Trauma-informed therapy
• EMDR therapy
• Written Exposure Therapy
• Biofeedback
• Hypnotherapy
• DBT-informed therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Psychiatry
• Medication management

Different treatment approaches work in different ways. Your provider can help determine whether one approach or a combination of services may be most appropriate.

Providers Who Offer Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Providers for Healthy Living has clinicians who offer specialized trauma-related therapy approaches for clients in Ohio. ART provider availability may vary. Our intake team can help determine whether Accelerated Resolution Therapy is currently available and whether one of our providers may be a good fit for your needs.

What to Expect When Getting Started
New patients can request an appointment to begin the intake process. After completing intake paperwork, one of our intake specialists will contact you to help determine provider fit and scheduling options. Before beginning ART, your provider will learn about your symptoms, history, treatment goals, current coping skills, and concerns. If ART is appropriate, your therapist will explain the process and help you prepare before beginning the structured treatment protocol.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, is a structured psychotherapy approach that uses guided eye movements, imagery, relaxation, and voluntary image replacement techniques to help reduce distress connected to painful memories and other emotional concerns.

What can ART therapy help with?
ART may be considered for trauma-related symptoms, PTSD symptoms, anxiety, panic, phobias, grief, distressing memories, emotional triggers, and other concerns when clinically appropriate.

How does Accelerated Resolution Therapy work?
During ART, the therapist guides the client through eye movements while the client pays attention to memories, images, emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations. The therapist may then guide voluntary image replacement or imagery rescripting techniques.

Do I have to talk about every detail of my trauma?
No. ART generally does not require clients to describe every detail of a traumatic event. The therapist needs enough information to assess and guide treatment, but much of the processing can occur internally.

Will ART erase my memory?
​No. ART does not erase factual memory. The goal is to reduce the emotional and physical distress associated with particular memories and images.

Is ART the same as EMDR?
No. ART and EMDR are different structured therapies. Both may use eye movements, but they follow different protocols and therapeutic processes.

How many ART sessions will I need?
The number of sessions varies based on symptoms, target memories, treatment history, and individual response. ART is designed as a brief, focused treatment model, but not every concern is resolved in a single session.

Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy available online?
Yes. Providers for Healthy Living offers online Accelerated Resolution Therapy in Ohio through secure telehealth when clinically appropriate.

Can ART be combined with other therapy or psychiatry?
Yes. ART may be combined with individual therapy, trauma-informed therapy, EMDR, Written Exposure Therapy, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, DBT-informed therapy, psychiatry, medication management, or other services when appropriate.

How do I schedule an Accelerated Resolution Therapy appointment?
New patients can request an appointment to begin the intake process. After completing intake paperwork, one of our intake specialists will contact you to help determine provider fit, ART availability, and scheduling options.

Take the first step toward feeling better. ​​

New patients can request an appointment to begin the intake process. After completing the initial paperwork, one of our intake specialists will contact you to schedule your appointment.

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