Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a short-term, structured form of psychotherapy that helps people quickly reduce or resolve the distress connected to difficult or traumatic memories. 

Instead of talking through every detail of what happened, ART uses:

• Guided eye movements

• Imagery and visualization

• A step-by-step protocol

to help your brain swap out the painful images connected to a memory with new, calming images of your choosing. The facts of what happened remain, but the emotional charge, triggers, and body reactions can shift dramatically. 

Many people experience significant relief in as few as 1–5 sessions, sometimes after just a single session.

How ART Works

ART is built around how the brain naturally processes and stores memories.

During an ART session, your therapist will guide you through:

1. Settling & Safety

   You’ll start by grounding, getting oriented, and identifying the issue or memory you want to work on.

2. Eye Movements

   Your therapist will move their hand back and forth in front of you while you follow with your eyes.

   These back-and-forth eye movements help calm the nervous system and support the brain in reprocessing stuck material, similar to what happens in certain phases of sleep. 

3. Imagery & Memory Processing

   You’ll briefly bring up the distressing memory or sensations while continuing the eye movements.

   Then, with your therapist’s guidance, you begin to change the images connected to that memory into ones that feel safe, strong, and empowering.

4. Voluntary Image Replacement

   A key element of ART is that you choose the new images and how you want the story to look and feel now. The memory isn’t erased—but your mind no longer carries it in the same painful way. 

5. Calm & Integration

   Sessions typically end with a noticeable reduction in distress, often replaced by calm, relief, or even a sense of lightness and joy as your nervous system stands down from “high alert.” 

What Makes ART Different?

ART stands out from many other therapies because:

• You don’t have to retell every detail

  With ART, you do not need to describe your trauma in depth to your therapist for it to work. You can keep details private if you choose. The work happens inside your mind, guided by the protocol and eye movements. 

• It’s highly focused and efficient

  ART was designed to be rapid. For many clients, triggers, nightmares, and intrusive images reduce or disappear in a very short number of sessions. 

• It uses the power of the body and brain together

  ART combines eye movements with elements from established therapies (such as guided imagery and parts of Gestalt and psychodynamic approaches), making change faster and often more comfortable than talk-only work. 

• Evidence-based recognition

  ART is recognized as an evidence-based treatment by the Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12) of the American Psychological Association, based on growing research supporting its effectiveness. 

What Can ART Help With?

Research and clinical practice show that ART can be used for a wide range of concerns, including: 

• Post-traumatic stress (PTS/PTSD)

• Anxiety and panic

• Depression and low mood

• Phobias (fears of flying, driving, animals, etc.)

• Grief and loss

• Childhood trauma and abuse

• Military/combat trauma

• Job-related or first-responder stress

• Relationship pain, betrayal, and infidelity

• Negative self-image and shame

• Addictions and unhealthy coping patterns

• Performance anxiety (sports, work, creative performance)

• Chronic stress and some types of pain

If your life feels hijacked by images, flashbacks, body reactions, or “old stories” you can’t seem to shake, ART offers a way to change how those memories live inside you.

Why Clients Often Like ART

People are often surprised by how gentle yet powerful ART feels.

Clients commonly report that:

• The process feels structured and contained, not overwhelming

• They appreciate not having to recount the trauma in detail

• The emotional intensity connected to a memory can drop sharply

• They feel more in control of their healing, because they choose the new images and outcomes

• The changes hold up over time, even when they think back to the old memory again 

For many, ART becomes a turning point—especially when other approaches haven’t fully resolved the triggers.

ART at Bring2Life Creative Counselling

At Bring2Life, we offer Accelerated Resolution Therapy as part of our commitment to effective, accessible, and compassionate mental health care across Saskatchewan.

Our ART services are:

• 🕊️ Client-centred – You choose the focus and pace

• 🌿 Trauma-informed – Safety first, always

• 🚐 Accessible – Options for in-person and online sessions

• 💛 Affordable – Low-cost counselling with no wait list where possible

We serve individuals from the Parkland Area and rural Saskatchewan communities who may have limited access to specialized trauma care.

What to Expect in a Session

A typical ART session at Bring2Life may look like:

1. Check-in & Goal Setting

   We talk briefly about what you’d like to work on—maybe a traumatic event, a recurring nightmare, or a strong body reaction to certain triggers.

2. Explaining the Process

   Your therapist will walk you through what ART is, what it isn’t, and what you can do if anything feels too intense. You’re always in control.

3. Guided Eye Movements & Imagery Work

   You’ll follow your therapist’s hand with your eyes while bringing up and then transforming the images and sensations linked to your concern.

4. Replacing the Old Image

   Together, we help your brain “file” the memory differently—keeping the facts, while changing how it feels and how your body responds.

5. Debrief & Grounding

   You’ll end with grounding exercises, a check-in on how the distress level has changed, and a plan for the time between sessions.

You can stop the process at any time. We go at your pace.

Is ART Right for Me? (FAQ)

Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?

No. One of the benefits of ART is that you can keep the details to yourself if you prefer. Your therapist only needs enough information to guide the process.

How many sessions will I need?

Some people experience major shifts in one session. Others may work on several memories or themes over multiple sessions. We’ll decide together what feels right.

Is ART safe if my trauma is very severe?

ART is designed specifically with trauma in mind and uses a structured protocol to reduce overwhelm. Your therapist will always prioritize your safety and readiness.

Can ART be combined with other therapy?

Yes. Many clients use ART alongside ongoing counselling, medication, or other supports as part of a holistic plan.

Ready to Try Accelerated Resolution Therapy?

If you’re tired of being pulled back into the past by images, triggers, or body reactions, ART offers a different way forward.

✨ Book an ART session with Bring2Life Creative Counselling

📍 Serving the Parkland Area & surrounding area

💛 Low-cost, trauma-informed, and accessible