“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”

-Carl R. Rogers

The following information is from the website https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com explaining what ART is and how it works:

Accelerated Resolution Therapy, often referred to as ART, is a form of psychotherapy with roots in existing evidence-based therapies but shown to achieve benefits much more rapidly. The client is always in control of the entire ART session, with the therapist guiding the process. Although some traumatic experiences such as rape, combat experiences, or loss of a loved one can be very painful to think about or visualize, the therapy rapidly moves clients beyond the place where they are stuck in these experiences toward growth and positive changes. The process is very straightforward, using relaxing eye movements and a technique called Voluntary Memory/Image Replacement to change the way in which the negative images are stored in the brain. The treatment is grounded in well-established psychotherapy techniques, and the end result is that traumas and difficult life experiences will no longer trigger strong emotions or physical reactions. Importantly, clients do not even have to talk about their traumas or difficult life experiences with the therapist to achieve recovery.

ART’s powerful technique of Voluntary Memory/Image Replacement (VMR/VIR) is used when clients are very clear about wanting to get rid of traumatic images and they come to a session prepared to process out the old images and restore mental health by replacing it with a more positive image. Although they know that the new image is not the actual memory, it feels like a new start for them. The memory story remains while the images from the trauma are erased or replaced. Once this happens, the Trigger Origin (T.O.) is removed and the client’s affect changes – often in an instant. Clients have spoken of their old images becoming “like a distant dream.” Even if the old scene does not fade completely, the new scene will firmly attach itself to it so that the clients move on easily to see the new scene they have chosen.

ART incorporates a combination of techniques used in many other traditional psychotherapies. ART works directly to reprogram the way in which distressing memories and images are stored in the brain so that they no longer trigger strong physical and emotional reactions. ART accomplishes this through the use of rapid eye movements similar to eye movements that occur during dreaming. Although techniques similar to these are used in other types of therapies, ART’s very specific and directive approach can achieve rapid recovery from symptoms and reactions that may have been present for many years. ART combines long respected, sound treatment practices with safe and effective methods validated by current scientific research studies conducted by the University of South Florida.