Therapy for Trauma
Maybe you’ve heard the saying “time heals all wounds.” Don’t believe it.
Dr. Paul Conti, author of Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic (2021) defines trauma as “anything that causes emotional or physical pain and leaves its mark on a person as life moves forward.” In other words, a harmful experience that has not been thoroughly processed and understood can haunt us for the rest of our lives if we don’t do anything about it.
Time alone will not heal us.
The memory lives on in our bodies and brains. And sometimes we return to the original feelings of fear and panic whenever we are reminded of the trauma (like when we hear, see, or smell something).
However, there is hope. There is a way to help the body and brain process the trauma and to unhook the original panic from the memory.
You no longer need to live in the shadow of your trauma.
What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
-ART is a type of psychotherapy that helps provide relief from distress caused by trauma and other problems (such as phobias, relationship issues, grief, etc.).
-ART does this by guiding you through specific tasks within the “reconsolidation window,” a discrete period of time after recalling a memory during which memories are malleable and can be changed before they are stored again.
-At the end of an ART session, you will still remember all of the facts about the event that you processed. However, you will typically no longer experience the strong negative emotions, images, and sensations that you previously associated with the event.
Do you offer stand-alone ART sessions?
No, I use ART in combination with talk therapy with my current clients to help them resolve trauma.
How does it work?
-ART utilizes back and forth eye movements. You will be given very specific directions about what to focus on as your eyes follow a light back and forth.
-Together, we will walk you through recalling the distressing event in addition to dismantling the memory and the negative sensations that are attached to the memory. You will then be guided through a process to decide which pieces of the memory you want to hold on to and which pieces you’d like to release.
-You will NOT be talking through every single detail of the experience. Instead, you will imagine it in your mind as if you were watching a scene in a movie.
Is this hypnosis?
-No, you are in total control of the process. I will guide the process, but you are in control of the content that you think about. You can also decide what you choose to share or not share with me.
What are examples of problems/issues/events that can I process in an ART session?
-Any event that is stuck in your mind that causes distress when you think about it or are reminded of it when you hear certain sounds or see a certain person or place
-Acute trauma (a single incident traumatic event like witnessing a violent attack or death, natural disaster, a combat injury, a car accident, a medical crisis, miscarriage, traumatic birth experience, etc.)
-Chronic trauma (prolonged exposure to harmful situations or people, living through a war, ongoing sexual abuse, experiencing racism or harassment)
-Vicarious trauma (witnessing the suffering of others like first responders, mental health professionals, or any caring person working/helping with easing the pain of others do)
-Is ART evidence based?
Yes, the American Psychological Association Division 12 considers ART an evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Here are links to a few articles.
Clinical, Empirical, and Theoretical Rationale for Selection of Accelerated Resolution Therapy for Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in VA and DoD Facilities (Kip & Diamond, 2018)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy for PTSD (Waits, 2018)
Randomized controlled trial of accelerated resolution therapy (ART) for symptoms of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Kip et al., 2013)
What does a typical session look like?
-A typical session lasts between 60-120 minutes. This Good Therapy article provides a good description of what you can expect in a session.
Will ART cure me from all of my problems?
-No. If you are processing a single traumatic event, an ART session may re-set you back to who you were before the event happened. If you were an anxious person before this event, you will still be anxious after the ART session, but the ART session will help you pull out and replace all of the painful parts of the event.
How many sessions will this take?
People typically feel better and experience a sense of relief after one session of processing a single incident of trauma. Processing more complex trauma (like ongoing abuse) typically takes five or more sessions to resolve. Furthermore, processing one trauma may allow other memories to surface. Those memories can be processed in subsequent ART sessions.
Where can I find more information about ART?
-PBS WEDU Quest: Accelerated Resolution Therapy
-The ART of Rapid Recovery by Laney Rosenzweig at TEDxSpringfield
What my colleagues are saying:
"Recently, Elaine guided me through an ART session to process a challenging situation with a family member. Elaine was reassuring, thorough, patient and very respectful. I felt very safe working with her. I appreciate that Elaine can bring a little bit of humor into the room at just the right time.
During the process, I was able to gather some new insights that were very helpful. I have found in the weeks and months since the session that I have felt more perspective and less emotion about this family member, allowing me to interact with her more productively. It is almost as if the ART session broke a log jam for me and I anticipate that my relationship with my family member will continue to grow."
-Nannette T., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
“Years ago, I experienced a very stressful and scary moment when I had a conflict with a family member. After that experience, I struggled to feel calm and in control whenever I remembered that moment or when, over the years, I inevitably came across this person. I dreaded being in the presence of this person and found myself feeling scared or just wanting to get away from them.
With the help of traditional talk therapy, I understood why I felt the way I did, but I still struggled to stay calm when I was around this family member. Elaine suggested that I try an ART session to help me with the residual symptoms that talk therapy did not seem to help me resolve.
The ART session was very helpful. Now, when I think back to what happened with this family member, I do not feel anxious. When I anticipate a gathering where this person will be present, I feel some level of anxiety that is normal and appropriate, but my anxiety is nowhere compared to the level it was at before my ART session. I find myself not feeling as worried or stressed. Not only that, I recently attended a family gathering where this person was present, and I remained calm and in control!
Before our session, Elaine answered my questions about ART, so I was informed and had an idea of what to expect. During the ART session, Elaine was kind, respectful, patient, and she helped me feel safe during the process. I am grateful for Elaine’s care and expertise as an ART therapist. She helped me to find relief from that traumatic experience with my family member.”
-Rachel V., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
“Recently, Elaine, guided me through an ART session to process a challenging thought that was affecting my confidence. Elaine took her time to explain every step, which helped me know what to expect. She was also very caring, patient, and understanding.
The session itself was very helpful. The result was that the session gave me a new perspective and gain a sense of confidence with this particular situation, which gave me more freedom to live both my personal and professional life.”
-Liliana R., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist