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JennaMcGonegal
THERAPY
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based eye movement therapy that has been shown to effectively treat the root of trauma, depression, anxiety, and complicated grief in as few as 1-5 sessions. The eye movements used in ART create theta waves in the brain, which are connected to daydreaming and intuition, and deactivate the amygdala, which is responsible for our 'fight or flight' response. This helps calm the body and regulate your nervous system while processing painful memories, meaning your reaction to triggers will be drastically reduced or eliminated following the therapy. ART also involves replacing negative images and sensations with more positive ones, so that you keep the facts of your memories, but lose the pain. Find more details on the ART website and learn how ART can help with anxiety on my blog.
Benefits of ART
Non-talkative
I know how frustrating it is to tell your story to therapists only to feel worse, not better. ART is a body-based therapy, focused on processing physical sensations and changing images in the brain rather than sharing the details of painful memories. There are many opportunities to talk if you'd like to, but you can share as much or as little as you're comfortable with.
Replaces Negative Images
I will guide you to replace stuck, negative images from your difficult experiences with more positive ones. While you'll still have the true narrative, your relationship to it will change so it will no longer trigger any emotional or physiological symptoms.
Directive & Collaborative
You'll be guided through the therapy using a directive approach that prevents you from getting stuck and allows you (and your subconscious) to find your own solutions to your problems. I'll be with you every step of the way to provide compassionate support and answer questions as they arise.
Brief
ART often resolves presenting problems in as few as 1-5 sessions (after assessment). You may choose to continue with therapy to practice coping skills, improve relationships, and take action towards creating more fulfillment in your life. It may also be helpful to follow ART sessions with talk sessions to process the changes and insights you've gained from ART.
Evidence-Based
ART is research-backed and evidence-based (see research publications here). It draws upon numerous effective therapies that are also evidence-based, including EMDR, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt, Guided Imagery, and Exposure Therapy.
Regulates the Nervous System
Bilateral eye movements are used to calm the nervous system and facilitate visualization, similar to REM sleep. Painful past experiences lose the associated negative emotions and sensations, releasing their hold on you and allowing you to live more freely in the present.
What to Expect
1
Assessment
Together we'll explore the present day challenges you're facing and how they may be connected to your past. We'll collaboratively identify the painful experiences that may be underlying your issues, which will be processed using ART. Book your assessment here.
2
ART Introduction
You'll come to the session having prepared a scene of distressing images that's at the root of your present day issues. You'll be asked to identify related emotions and rate their intensity.
3
Processing Physical Sensations
You'll be asked to identify the location and sensation of the emotions in your body. I'll then guide you through relaxing images and bilateral eye movements that help process out these sensations.
Processing the Scene
4
You'll be guided through bilateral eye movements while visualizing the distressing scene, which will then be desensitized. We'll then layer positive images and rescripting metaphors over the original scene, which will become more positive. You'll keep the facts of your experience, but lose the associated pain.
5
Session Closure
You'll then re-assess and re-rate the intensity and feelings of the negative emotions. which are less intense or gone completely. Your relationship to the distressing scene is changed forever, and your reactions to triggers will be reduced or eliminated.
6
Follow-up
In the next session, we'll reflect on the insights and changes you've noticed from your ART session. We'll identify whether there are other issues you'd like to work on using ART, and develop a plan for integrating your new perspective into your day-to-day life.