Accelerated Resolution Therapy is an evidence-based, imagery-based approach to processing trauma and distressing memories. It works faster than traditional trauma therapy for most people. Available at Des Moines Mental Health Center. Same-week appointments. Medicaid and all major insurances accepted.
WHAT ART IS
Accelerated Resolution Therapy was developed by Laney Rosenzweig and is grounded in established trauma research. It uses directed eye movements combined with voluntary image replacement to change how traumatic memories are stored and recalled.
The core insight behind ART is that trauma responses are maintained by the way the nervous system has encoded a memory, not the memory itself.
ART does not erase what happened. It changes the sensory and emotional charge attached to it. Most people describe this as the memory becoming something they can think about without being pulled back into the experience.
HOW IT WORKS
ART sessions are structured and therapist-guided. You do not need to verbally describe your trauma in detail, which makes it accessible for people who have found traditional talk therapy difficult or retraumatizing.
Identifying the memory or distressing experience to work on
Following the therapist's hand movements with your eyes while holding the image in mind
Noticing and reporting physical and emotional sensations as they shift
Voluntary image replacement: changing the imagery associated with the memory to something neutral or positive
Anchoring the new imagery so the memory can be recalled without triggering the original response
Sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Most people see significant change within one to five sessions, which is substantially faster than EMDR or traditional trauma therapy for many presentations.
WHO ART IS FOR
PTSD and trauma responses from single-incident or complex trauma
Phobias and specific fears
Grief and loss
Performance anxiety
Depression linked to specific memories or experiences
Anxiety rooted in past events
Anyone who wants faster resolution than traditional approaches provide
People who have had difficulty engaging with talk-based trauma therapy
ART VS. EMDR
Both ART and EMDR use bilateral stimulation and are effective for trauma. ART tends to work faster for many presentations and does not require the same level of verbal processing that EMDR does. For people who find talking through trauma difficult, ART can be a better entry point.
Your counselor will discuss which approach makes sense for your specific situation. In some cases a combination of approaches is most effective.
