Have you Experienced Accelerated Resolution Therapy?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a brief, structured form of psychotherapy that helps people process distressing memories, sensations, and emotions associated with trauma and other stressful experiences. Developed in 2008 by Laney Rosenzweig, MS, LMFT, ART is an eye movement therapy, which draws on evidence-based components of existing therapies—such as a unique form of Gestalt, imaginal exposure, and imagery rescripting—and adds original interventions for various client issues and diagnoses. It then delivers these components together in a highly structured and time-efficient format. ART is a "bottom-up" therapy. What does that mean? ART helps regulate and adjust bodily responses by focusing on body sensations, emotional awareness, and movement impulses. This process releases energy trapped in a traumatic "freeze" response or persistent hypervigilance in fight or flight mode. This is © 2026 Helene Rosenzweig & Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery (RCRR) - All Rights Reserved.

important to adjust a client's immediate reaction to perceived threats. A person may intellectually 

understand why certain situations trigger them, but their body still sees the situation as an immediate threat. By calming the body while visualizing the traumatic event and replacing negative images with positive ones, ART can significantly reduce or even eliminate emotional reactivity. At the core of ART is the principle that painful or intrusive memories are stored in a way that continues to trigger emotional and physical distress long after the event. By re-engaging the brain’s natural memory reconsolidation process under safe, guided conditions, ART helps reprocess these memories in a way that allows them to be recalled without the original physiological and emotional charge. Clients retain the factual details of the traumatic memory, but lose the intense distress previously linked to it.

Other trauma therapies rely on exposure to create desensitization. This means a client will have to relive the memory of their trauma in a controlled environment as they rehash painful details. With ART, clients don't have to recount their trauma in detail to their therapist, making it a safer, more comfortable process. Plus, there's no homework. ART uses targeted techniques that help you process and resolve trauma effectively, focusing on how memories are stored and experienced without reliving the pain. ART shares some mechanisms with EMDR, particularly the use of bilateral eye movements and the aim of reducing distress associated with traumatic memories. However, ART differs in its structure and focus: sessions are more directive and include scripted interventions that actively guide the client to replace distressing images. ART is also briefer in format and many issues are commonly resolved in only one session—many clients complete treatment in fewer sessions than traditional trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Prolonged Exposure (PE). Importantly, ART is not hypnosis. Clients remain fully alert, oriented, and aware throughout the process. 

Nor is ART a “band-aid” fix; while it can produce rapid relief, the method works through recognized neurological processes of memory reconsolidation supported by emerging research in affective neuroscience.

Peer-reviewed studies, including several randomized and controlled trials, have demonstrated that ART can significantly reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and related conditions. A landmark trial in Military Medicine (2013) found that ART produced large and clinically meaningful improvements in combat-related PTS symptoms, including among veterans who had previously undergone other evidence-based therapies without full resolution. Replication studies have since reported similar outcomes in both military and civilian populations.

Beyond PTS, ART has shown promise in addressing depression, anxiety, grief, phobias, and pain-related distress. Case reports also suggest potential benefits for sleep disturbance and somatic symptoms. Research continues to expand, including neurobiological investigations of ART’s mechanisms and its application in primary care.

Many individuals seek ART because it offers an efficient, empowering way to resolve distress without months of therapy or repeated retelling of painful memories. For some, ART provides a bridge after other © 2026 Helene Rosenzweig & Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery (RCRR) - All Rights Reserved. therapies have plateaued; for others, it serves as an accessible first-line intervention. Because sessions are typically few in number, ART can be a cost-effective option for individuals and healthcare systems alike. ART represents an innovative approach that blends structured protocol with deep emotional processing. For clients and clinicians alike, its central promise is simple: to help people remember the facts around 

difficult memories by removing or replacing the associated negative images, and to restore calm, clarity, and resilience in the process

Accelerated Resolution Therapy® (ART) is extremely versatile and can help clients in many ways. Here are some issues that have been quickly and effectively treated by ART:

• Post Traumatic Stress (PTS)

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Phobias

• Panic Attacks

• Sleep Issues (including nightmares)

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Addictions / Substance Abuse

• Eating Disorders

• Performance Anxiety

• Family Issues

• Victimization/Poor Self Image

• Victimization/Sexual Abuse

• Relationship Issues/Infidelity

• Codependency

• Grief

• Job-Related Stress

• Pain Management

• Memory Enhancement

• Dyslexia Anxiety

• And more

• What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy® (ART) is a brief, structured form of psychotherapy that helps reduce distress 

tied to difficult experiences or memories. Using guided eye movements and visualization techniques, ART helps 

your brain reprocess troubling images, sensations, and emotions so they no longer cause the same level of distress.

• How does ART work?

ART works through a process called memory reconsolidation, which helps your brain change the way painful 

memories are stored. During guided eye movements, you’ll intentionally replace distressing images with new, 

calm, or positive images. The factual memory remains, but the emotional and physical reactions are eliminated.

• Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?

No. One of ART’s most unique features is that you do not need to describe your trauma or personal experiences in 

detail if you prefer not to. You can still fully process and resolve those memories privately, while your clinician 

guides you through the technique.

• How is ART different from other therapies?

ART is both brief and highly focused. Many evidence-based trauma therapies—like EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, or 

Cognitive Processing Therapy—can require several months of sessions. ART uses a structured protocol that allows 

meaningful change to occur in much fewer sessions, often within one to five visits. It also emphasizes client control 

and avoids prolonged reliving of trauma.

• What kinds of issues can ART help with?

ART has been shown to help with many issues, including PTS and trauma-related symptoms, anxiety and panic, 

depression, grief and loss, phobias, sleep problems, and chronic stress or pain with emotional components.

• How many sessions will I need?

Each person’s needs are different, but many clients report noticeable improvement within one to five sessions. 

Trauma from multiple events that are linked to one issue in the client’s brain can be often be done together in a 

single session. Your clinician will collaborate with you to determine the best pace and treatment plan.

• What is a typical ART session like?

Sessions are usually 60 minutes. You’ll be seated comfortably while your therapist guides you through sets of side-to-side eye movements and visualization exercises. You’ll focus on specific images, sensations, or emotions, while 

the clinician helps you transform how those memories are stored and experienced.

• Will I have to relive painful memories?

Unlike some traditional trauma therapies, ART is designed to minimize re-traumatization. You will recall 

distressing images briefly (which is what researchers call “imaginal exposure”), but the goal is to replace them with 

calm, safe, or empowering images—often leading to immediate emotional relief.

© 2026 Helene Rosenzweig & Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery (RCRR) - All Rights Reserved.

• Is ART hypnosis?

No. ART is not hypnosis. You remain awake, alert, and in full control throughout the session. Clients typically 

describe feeling calm and focused rather than detached or unaware.

• Is ART evidence-based?

Yes. ART has been studied in peer-reviewed research, including randomized and controlled trials with veterans 

and civilians. Studies have shown significant improvements in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and related symptoms, 

often within a few of sessions.

• Does ART work if I’ve already tried other therapies?

Yes. Research and clinical experience show that ART can be helpful for people who haven’t found full relief from 

other evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure. It offers a new pathway 

to resolve distress without prolonged exposure or repeated retelling of trauma.

• Is ART safe?

Yes. ART is considered a safe, low-risk intervention. It is delivered by licensed mental health professionals who 

have completed specialized ART training and certification. As with any psychotherapy, your clinician will ensure 

the pace and focus are appropriate for your comfort and safety.

• What does ART feel like?

Many people describe ART sessions as calm, focused, and surprisingly gentle. You may experience physical 

sensations—like tingling, tightness, tears, or relaxation—as emotions shift and release. Clients often leave sessions 

feeling lighter, calmer, and more in control.

• How long do results last?

While everyone is different, research and clinical reports suggest that ART’s effects are long-lasting. Once the brain 

has reprocessed a distressing memory, the emotional and physical reactivity tied to those memories are typically 

eliminated.

• Can ART be done virtually?

The developer of ART does not endorse virtual ART sessions, however, some clinicians provide ART through 

secure telehealth platforms, using adapted visual tracking methods. Not all clients or situations are suited for 

virtual delivery, so discuss this option with your clinician.

• How do I know if ART is right for me?

If you’ve experienced distressing memories, trauma, or ongoing anxiety that you’d like to resolve quickly and 

safely, ART may be a good fit. You can schedule a consultation with an ART-trained clinician to discuss your 

history, goals, and whether this approach aligns with your needs

ART® is an evidence-based treatment that has shown very promising results in studies to date, especially those involving PTSD and bereavement. ART is firmly grounded in techniques used in well-established evidence-based treatments, including exposure through visualization, visualized in-vivo exposure, relaxation/stress inoculation facilitated by eye movements, re-scripting of negative images, Gestalt techniques, and others. The key findings of research to date are:

1. Rapid outcomes - Clients experience rapid outcomes, with an average of 3–4 sessions and as few as 1.

2. Effectiveness in PTSD - ART produces clinically significant and lasting reductions in PTSD and comorbid symptoms across both military and civilian settings.

3. Broad symptom impact (depression, grief, comorbidity) - Across multiple peer-reviewed 

investigations, ART alleviates co-occurring depression, anxiety, and grief alongside trauma relief.

4. Sustained / durable effect - Across all longitudinal analyses, ART’s therapeutic gains have been maintained for months after treatment completion.

The Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery (RCRR) has also developed Sensation Awareness Focus Technique (SĀF-T), which is a component drawn from the Basic ART protocol that focuses on moving or eliminating distressing body sensations and promoting rapid calming. Clinicians can offer SĀF-T as an entry-level, skills-focused experience to introduce clients to ART-style regulation. We endorse it for use by certain healthcare or first responder professions that are not necessarily mental health providers, but are in a position to help people that they encounter to reduce physiological distress

Laney hosts monthly info sessions that are free for anyone to attend. You may offer potential clients (or anyone) the option to attend that session if they want to learn more about ART. They occur on the 3rd Wednesday of every month and registration is available on www.artworksnow.com. If you would like to schedule a private introduction session hosted by Laney Rosenzweig and have 6 or more people to attend, she will gladly accommodate. Contact 

Josh@ARTworksnow.com and yenal3523@yahoo.com to schedule.

Sessions are between 60 and 90 minuets long. Please plan for 90 minutes and it is possible we may finish at 60 minutes. Session cost is $150.00 per session regardless if the length is 60 or 90 minutes.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me at The Healing Nook Counseling Service PLLC to answer questions, schedule a free 15 minute consultation, or begin the intake process to start your therapy