ONLINE THERAPY IN KANSAS, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, VERMONT & FLORIDA
IN-PERSON THERAPY IN OVERLAND PARK, KS
Heal with Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Help for Trauma, Grief, Difficult Emotions and Toxic Relationships
What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, is a research-backed gentle yet powerful therapy technique that helps you heal from painful memories and distressing experiences—without reliving them by talking about them. Gentle eye movements guide your brain to release the emotional weight so you can feel calmer and more at peace.
When we think about painful memories, our bodies often respond with heavy emotions—sadness, fear, confusion, or even physical discomfort. ART works by helping your brain “re-file” those memories so they no longer trigger the same painful responses.
The memory isn’t erased—you still know what happened—but the emotional weight can be lifted.
TL;DR: What You Need to Know About ART
ART helps you heal from painful memories without having to relive them.
It uses gentle eye movements to calm your body and guide your brain in “re-filing” distressing memories.
The memory stays, but the emotional pain attached to it fades—often within just a few sessions.
People use ART for trauma, anxiety, grief, phobias, overcoming narcissistic abuse and other overwhelming experiences.
Many clients describe ART as fast, effective, and surprisingly gentle.
ART is different from EMDR. It’s a newer therapy that combines the best of EMDR, hypnosis and trauma treatments.
What ART Helps Treat:
ART has been shown to bring relief quickly—sometimes in just a few sessions—for many kinds of struggles, including:
✔️ Trauma and post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
✔️ Anxiety and panic
✔️ Grief and loss
✔️ Painful relationship experiences
✔️ Depression
✔️ Phobias and fears
✔️ Low self-esteem or self-worth
✔️ Distressing images or memories you can’t shake
ART Uses Eye Movements
One of the unique things about ART is the use of guided eye movements. These gentle back-and-forth movements help your mind and body work together in a new way. They can:
Calm your nervous system so you feel safe and supported.
Connect the thinking and feeling parts of your brain, helping you see things from a new perspective.
Interrupt old negative thought patterns and make room for healthier ones.
Support your brain in replacing upsetting images with more peaceful, healing ones—without you having to relive all the details.
The Science Behind ART
ART is grounded in how the brain naturally stores and retrieves memories. When something overwhelming happens, your brain sometimes “files” the memory in a way that keeps it feeling raw and painful—so even years later, you might still feel the same fear, shame, or grief as if it just happened.
ART helps change that. Here’s how it works in simple terms:
Eye movements matter: ART uses guided eye movements—similar to the rapid eye movements (REM) we experience during deep sleep—to help your brain reprocess stuck or traumatic memories.
Rewiring emotional connections: These eye movements stimulate neural pathways that allow your brain to “overwrite” or reframe the negative emotions tied to the memory.
Keeping the facts, losing the pain: You don’t lose the memory itself—you’ll still know what happened. But the emotional charge, the triggers, and the distress that used to come with it can be reduced or even eliminated.
Think of it like updating an old computer file. The original memory stays in your system, but ART helps your brain save a new version—one that keeps the facts but removes the “bugs” of fear, panic, or shame.
This process is called memory reconsolidation, and it’s something your brain already knows how to do. ART simply guides and speeds up the process so healing can happen more gently and effectively.
In short: ART lets you keep your story, while letting go of the suffering attached to it.
What Happens in an ART Session?
In an ART session, your therapist will guide your eyes back and forth while you focus on a memory or situation you’d like to change your response to. This process is calming, and you are always in control. You can share as much—or as little—as you want about the memory.
As your brain works with the memory, you’ll have the chance to “update” the images and feelings attached to it. This is called voluntary image replacement. When that happens, the memory becomes far less painful, and your body can finally relax.
Your brain then naturally “re-files” the memory in its new, healthier form. This process is called memory reconsolidation. What once felt heavy and overwhelming can begin to feel manageable, or even neutral.
Examples of How ART Works
Example 1: Healing PTSD from an Accident
Imagine you were in a car accident. Even though it happened years ago, every time you hear screeching brakes or think about that day, your heart races and your body tenses up. The memory feels as if it’s happening all over again.
With ART, you don’t have to relive every detail of that accident. Instead, your therapist guides your eyes back and forth while your brain brings up the memory. In this calm state, your brain has the chance to “re-file” the experience. The images that once triggered panic can be replaced with ones that feel safe—like imagining the car coming to a smooth stop instead of crashing.
The memory of the accident is still there, but the fear and body tension no longer come with it. Instead of panic, you can remember the event with a sense of calm.
That’s the power of ART—you keep the memory, but lose the pain.
Example 2: Healing After Narcissistic Abuse
After years in a relationship with a narcissistic partner, you may carry constant self-doubt, shame, or painful flashbacks of the manipulation and hurtful words. Even after leaving, the memories can feel sharp and raw—like they’re happening in the present.
With ART, you don’t have to retell every detail. Instead, your brain is guided to reprocess those painful images and sensations. The memory of the abuse is still there, but the emotional grip—the fear, shame, or constant second-guessing—loosens. Over time, you can remember what happened without it continuing to define your worth or your future.
FAQs
You might still have questions—here are some of the most common ones I hear from clients
Will I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. With ART, you’re always in control. You can share as much—or as little—as you’d like. Many people find comfort in knowing they don’t need to describe their memories in detail for the process to work..
How quickly will I notice results?
ART often works faster than traditional talk therapy. Many people experience significant relief in just one to five sessions, though everyone’s healing journey is unique.
Will ART erase my memory?
No. You’ll still remember what happened, but the memory won’t feel as overwhelming or painful. The emotional charge fades, and your body and mind can finally feel calmer.
What kinds of issues can ART help with?
ART can help with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, grief, phobias, depression, painful relationship experiences, sexual challenges, low self-esteem, codependency and distressing images or thoughts that won’t go away.
How is ART different from EMDR?
While ART and EMDR both use eye movements, ART tends to be more directive and focused on quickly changing the images tied to painful memories. Many clients appreciate how fast and effective ART can be.
Will I lose control during a session?
Not at all. You’re in charge every step of the way. Your therapist guides the process, but your brain does the healing. You can stop at any time if you feel uncomfortable.
What does a session feel like?
Most people describe ART sessions as surprisingly calming, even while working with difficult memories. You may notice your body relaxing, your mind feeling clearer, and a sense of relief as the emotional weight begins to lift.
Interested in ART?
I’d love to tell you more about it.
If you are ready to dive into ART, let’s get started. I want to help you to overcome difficult experiences and to create YOUR BEST LIFE.
Kansas City Accelerated Resolution Therapy
If you live in or near the Kansas City metro area and want an in-person appointment for Accelerated Resolution therapy (ART), my Overland Park, KS office is located off College Blvd. in Corporate Woods, minutes from I-435 and 69-highway.
Online Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Guess what? We can successful deliver an ART session to you online. If you live in rural Kansas, or anywhere in Missouri, Vermont, Florida, or New York, we can work together online in a counseling relationship to help you heal. And even better news … according to the research, online therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions.
Outside of those states, I may be able to help you as a life coach.
