What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and is it a fit for me?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based approach that helps individuals process and resolve distressing memories, emotions, and physical sensations in a safe and structured way. ART combines elements of established therapeutic methods—such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and guided imagery—within a unique and focused framework that promotes rapid relief from symptoms related to trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and other emotional challenges.
What makes ART distinct is its ability to facilitate significant emotional change without requiring clients to share the details of their painful experiences out loud. This feature often makes ART an empowering and more comfortable option for those who have experienced trauma or difficult life events and who prefer a more contained and private process. During an ART session, clients are guided through a series of eye movements while recalling a distressing image or memory. These movements help the brain to reprocess the event, allowing the emotional charge associated with it to decrease and, in many cases, resolve completely. The memory remains, but the emotional and physical distress it once carried is lifted.
Many clients describe the experience of ART as surprisingly gentle yet deeply effective. Unlike some traditional talk therapies that can take months or years, ART can bring meaningful relief in just a few sessions. Research and clinical experience have shown that clients often notice a reduction in anxiety, intrusive memories, nightmares, or physiological symptoms shortly after completing their first few sessions. While ART is a brief therapy model, it is also adaptable and can be integrated into ongoing counselling to support broader goals related to emotional regulation, self-understanding, and personal growth.
As a therapist trained in ART, I view this approach as both practical and compassionate. ART honors each client’s natural capacity for healing while offering a structured path to resolve what has felt stuck or overwhelming. I work collaboratively with clients to identify specific experiences or emotions they wish to address, and I provide a calm, supportive environment to guide them through the process at their own pace. My intention is to help clients feel safe, respected, and in control throughout each step of their ART journey.
In my practice, I frequently integrate ART with other modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches, and solution-focused strategies. This combination allows for a holistic approach that supports both immediate symptom relief and long-term emotional wellbeing. ART provides the foundation for resolving distress at a deep neurological level, while complementary approaches help clients develop skills to maintain balance, resilience, and a greater sense of self-awareness in daily life.
Whether someone is seeking to heal from trauma, reduce anxiety or depression, or simply let go of difficult emotions that have been holding them back, ART offers a hopeful and effective path forward. It is a therapy that empowers individuals to move beyond the weight of past experiences and reconnect with a sense of peace and possibility. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are both trauma-focused psychotherapies that use bilateral stimulation. EMDR involves revisiting and reprocessing traumatic memories to reduce emotional distress, which can be emotionally demanding and may require multiple sessions.
ART briefly accesses the memory and then replaces distressing imagery with neutral or positive images, typically resulting in a gentler and often faster therapeutic process.
If you are curious about ART or wondering whether it might be right for you, I would be happy to discuss how this approach can support your healing and growth.
Together, we can create a safe space to explore, heal, and move toward the life you want to live.
About the Author
Jade Gammon M.S.W., R.S.W.
Jade specializes in therapy for adults, teens, and couples, integrating CBT, Mindfulness, SFT, Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) in her practice. With degrees in Women’s Studies & Law and Society, and Social Work from Dalhousie University, Jade offers supportive, non-judgmental care.
Jade’s treatment focuses on depression, relational difficulties, combat trauma, women’s issues, and supporting first responders.