Accelerated resolution therapy (ART) can be an important treatment component for people with severe depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other psychological conditions. This recently developed treatment method seeks to help people who have experienced trauma by desensitizing them to their traumatic memories and making it easier to cope with the memories.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
In 2008, Laney Rosenzweig developed ART based largely on her experience with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
- ART primarily involves imaginal exposure, which consists in reliving memories, and image rescripting, which works to change the client’s visual memory but leaves their declarative memory unaltered.
- Rescripting the memory helps reduce the intense emotional and physiological reactions it induces.
Benefits and Effectiveness of Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Clients who undergo ART can receive several benefits
- Unlike in exposure therapy, they will not have to recall and process traumatic memories outside of the clinical setting between sessions or do any “homework.”
- This increases clients’ willingness to continue treatment and makes it easier for those who may not have the time to delve into at-home assignments.
- The treatment is so brief, occurring over just two to three weeks, many people report experiencing a rapid reduction in their trauma-related symptoms. The short duration also keeps the dropout rate lower compared to psychotherapies like EMDR and CBT.
The Future
Continued research regarding ART interventions’ effectiveness can help legitimize this method further and bring it into the mainstream.
- Those interested in this type of therapy can begin their search for an accelerated resolution therapist by using the Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery Accelerated Resolution Therapy directory.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy Work
The approach is client-driven, with individuals deciding the specific memories they will share at different times.
- ART typically lasts a short duration, consisting of up to five one-hour sessions, spread over three weeks, compared to other common therapies like cognitive processing therapy which necessitates at least 12 sessions.
What to Expect in an Accelerated Resolution Therapy Session
To establish a physical baseline, the therapist asks the client to describe their physical feelings and sensations throughout their body before recalling a memory.
- The client then recalls the traumatic memory or image, even if there are memory gaps because of the traumatic nature of the experience.
- As they recall the memory, the client may begin to feel the physiological effects.
