Game Changer (Accelerated Resolution Therapy-ART)
- Jessica Barber
- Jun 21
- 4 min read
Why I Call Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) a Game Changer —
ART moves us out of survival mode AND settles whatever is needed so that survival mode around these things isn't needed any longer! ART helps foster healing and growth, typically in 1-5 sessions, for the whole body and brain.
When you have read all the books, listened to all the podcasts (and let’s be real; watched all the TikTok's), gathered all the advice and tips and tricks around you, you have even done self-exploration and become super insightful, yet still in real life, in the hard moments aren’t consistently showing up how you want. When big life events happen that are overwhelming, maybe horrific, the ones that shake you to your core and make you feel like have lost your footing in life. When persistent symptoms like chronic anxiety or that nagging chronic negative internal voice take over and you can’t put them back in the passenger seat easily.
ART works in these areas where it’s not just about knowledge and insightfulness to heal and grow. Where we need some nervous system work, where our brains and bodies need to reconnect and work through it all together to finally set it all down, take the wisdom from these things and move out of having to survive them any longer!
This is why I call it a game changer~
What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is an evidence-based therapy modality that was created from previous trauma therapies and incorporated more recent brain and trauma research in additional to the wisdom and knowledge of these former therapies. 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 (https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/)." One of the game changer parts; ART has Accelerated in the title as the typical treatment plan for ART is 1-5 sessions, this would be about one month of care to complete 5 sessions.
ART works by using a combination of bilateral eye movements, guided imagery and a lot of body somatic work to help your whole body and brain process things that are stored as trauma.
The big phrase ART uses is “keep the knowledge loose the pain” aka; the hope is that these things become just factual parts of your life story not things that you are finding you have to relive. That the survival skills that were originally developed can become things you have autonomy over, that don’t take over for survival anymore, you can choose to use them when you want to.
Think of trauma stored survival skills as your brain and body holding onto specific behaviors or ways of thinking that in the past helped you survive (ex. yelling=danger, avoid "conflict" at all costs to keep the peace and safety, busy leaves no space for feelings). Trauma stored events/things maybe; events that occurred that you have to survive, that in the moment you didn’t have the ability to wrap your mind around and/or get the support you needed to do quickly to do so, anything that occurred that was outside of your coping ability in that moment in time.
It’s Not Talk Therapy — It’s Whole Body and Brain Work
The ART difference is that it doesn’t rely solely on language, logic, or telling the story again. While allowing your body and brain to feel safe enough to do the work it needs to — without overwhelm, without re traumatizing, without long-term digging into pain.
A few of the highlights that are what I think make ART amazing:
Most of the work is done internally, there can be very little talking. You can effectively work through an ART session without ever verbally talking about what you are working on! There are spaces where verbal processing is invited, if you find that helpful, this intentionality in key to the ART process being non re traumatizing!
Bilateral eye movements, okay stick with me on this one. I truly am waving my hand in front of you as your eyes track this movement. This really is gold to the ART process…. This is the part that helps our bodies regulate and work through sensations to feel safe to do the work. While also letting our brains work in a different way to get to where it really needs to be to do the work that unlocks it all!
From Surviving to Thriving
When your brain and body gets the chance to settle, a powerful thing happens:
You stop having to hide, mask, or power through life.
You begin to feel more like yourself.
Your responses shift to more intentional vs reactive.
This is what thriving looks like — not perfection, being able to intentionally and presently live!
What will you notice first when you are not surviving life anymore?
Thank you for your time! Sending love-
Jessica Barber, LCSW-S
Therapist. Parent. Fellow Human.
Advance and Enhanced Trained ART Therapist
A Sneak Peek Into ART
(wait until the end where you can see my "calm" response to a huge thunder!)
Interested in more information about ART:
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