Accelerated Resolution Therapy in Roseville, CA: A Comprehensive Guide to Healing
Discover the Transformative Benefits of ART with Audrey Schoen, LMFT
Are you struggling with emotional distress, trauma, or anxiety? Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) offers a revolutionary approach to mental wellness that can provide rapid relief without requiring you to share painful details of your experiences. As a Certified Master ART Practitioner in Roseville, California, Audrey Schoen, LMFT specializes in helping individuals and couples transform their lives through this innovative therapeutic technique.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy has emerged as an evidence-based treatment for various mental health concerns, particularly trauma-related disorders and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Whether you're seeking treatment in-person in Roseville or online throughout California and Texas, understanding the power of ART can be your first step toward profound emotional healing and personal growth.
What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a groundbreaking approach in psychotherapy that utilizes eye movements and guided imagery to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. Developed in 2008, ART has quickly gained recognition in the mental health field for its effectiveness in treating various mental health challenges, including trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues.
Unlike many traditional psychotherapies that may require months or years of sessions, patients undergoing Accelerated Resolution Therapy often experience significant improvement in just one session, with most finding relief after just a few sessions. This efficiency makes ART an appealing option for those seeking timely relief from emotional distress and traumatic memories.
The Science Behind ART
Research suggests ART works by combining elements of several evidence-based therapies into a cohesive, rapid-results approach. The therapy uses specific eye movements similar to those that occur during REM sleep—the stage when our brains naturally process emotions and memories.
During an ART session, these deliberate eye movements help activate both hemispheres of the brain, creating a state conducive to reprocessing traumatic memories. This bilateral stimulation appears to facilitate communication between different parts of the brain, allowing for more effective processing of difficult experiences.
A randomized controlled trial demonstrated that this process helps the brain:
Access and activate distressing memories
Separate the emotional charge from these memories
Reprocess and store them in a healthier way
Replace negative images with positive or neutral alternatives
This neurobiological approach in clinical neuroscience allows clients to address the root causes of their distress without becoming overwhelmed by reliving the traumatic event in detail.
Core Benefits of Accelerated Resolution Therapy
1. Rapid Relief from Emotional Distress
One of the most remarkable aspects of ART is the speed at which transformation can occur. Many patients experience significant relief after just one session, with lasting effects that continue to strengthen over time.
This quick improvement is particularly valuable for individuals whose emotional distress is interfering with daily functioning. Rather than waiting weeks or months to find relief, ART can help restore emotional balance and functionality in a matter of days.
Studies in the mental health field with diverse populations have demonstrated ART's efficiency. In research with veterans and first responders experiencing post-traumatic stress, participants often reported substantial symptom reduction within 1-5 sessions. This rapid recovery timeline stands in stark contrast to many traditional therapeutic approaches that may require dozens of sessions to achieve similar results.
2. Processing Trauma Without Reliving It
A unique approach of ART is that clients don't need to verbally recount their traumatic experiences in detail. This non-verbal approach removes a significant barrier for many people who find talking about trauma too overwhelming or retraumatizing.
Instead, clients simply need to briefly recall the troubling memory while following guided eye movements from the therapist's hand. The therapist helps direct this process without needing to know specific details, allowing clients to maintain privacy while still achieving healing.
This aspect of ART makes it particularly beneficial for:
Individuals who have avoided other therapies due to fear of discussing painful experiences
Those who have experienced multiple traumas and don't know where to begin
People who have trouble verbalizing their experiences
Clients who have tried traditional psychotherapies but found the process of reliving trauma too difficult
3. Transforming Negative Emotions and Sensations
Accelerated Resolution Therapy excels at addressing not just cognitive aspects of trauma but also the physical sensations and negative emotions that accompany distressing memories. During an ART session, clients learn to:
Identify where in their body they feel the emotional impact of trauma
Process and release these physical sensations
Replace uncomfortable feelings with neutral or positive images
Develop greater bodily awareness and regulation of emotional reactions
Undergoing Accelerated Resolution Therapy acknowledges that trauma is stored not just in our thoughts but in our physical beings as well. By addressing both aspects simultaneously, ART facilitates more complete healing for trauma victims.
4. Enhanced Emotional Regulation
Many clients report improved ability to manage their emotions after completing ART treatment. The therapy helps rewire neural pathways associated with traumatic responses, creating more adaptive patterns of emotional processing.
These changes can lead to:
Decreased reactivity to triggers
Improved stress management
Greater emotional resilience
Enhanced ability to stay present rather than being pulled into past traumas
Better tolerance for uncomfortable emotions related to the traumatic event
This improved emotional regulation extends beyond the specific memories addressed in therapy, often generalizing to help clients handle life's ongoing challenges with greater ease.
5. Empowerment Through Voluntary Memory Reconsolidation
ART uniquely empowers clients by giving them agency in how their memories are reconsolidated. Through guided visualization, clients can choose how they want to reimagine difficult experiences.
This process of voluntary memory reconsolidation allows individuals to:
Maintain the factual knowledge of what happened
Change how the memory feels emotionally
Create new, preferred positive images associated with the experience
Develop a sense of mastery over previously overwhelming memories
Process emotions related to the traumatic experience
This aspect of how ART works honors the client's autonomy and inherent wisdom, recognizing that each person has the internal resources needed for healing when given the right tools and support.
How Accelerated Resolution Therapy Works
ART follows a structured protocol that combines several therapeutic techniques into a cohesive process. Understanding how a typical ART session unfolds can help potential clients feel more prepared and comfortable.
The ART Protocol: A Step-by-Step Process
1. Assessment and Preparation
An ART session begins with a brief assessment to identify the specific memory or issue to address. The therapist helps the client prepare by explaining the process and ensuring they feel safe and supported.
During this phase, the client is educated about:
How ART works from a neurobiological perspective
What to expect during the session
How to focus attention on both external (eye movements) and internal (sensations, images) experiences simultaneously
Ways to communicate with the therapist during the process
2. Memory Activation and Processing
Once prepared, the client is guided to briefly bring the troubling memory to mind—just enough to activate it without becoming overwhelmed. While holding this awareness, they follow the therapist's hand with their eyes as it moves horizontally across their field of vision.
These eye movements serve several purposes:
They create a dual-attention state that helps maintain emotional regulation
They facilitate communication between different parts of the brain
They seem to help dislodge "stuck" memories and emotions
They promote a relaxation response that counteracts the stress of memory activation
During this phase, the client notices any physical sensations, emotions, or negative images that arise. The therapist guides them through repeated sets of eye movements until these responses diminish in intensity and no longer trigger strong physical reactions.
3. Imagery Rescripting
After processing the memory's emotional charge, ART moves into a powerful phase called imagery rescripting. Here, the client is invited to imagine a preferred way of seeing the troubling memory or situation.
This might involve:
Visualizing a different outcome to the traumatic event
Creating a metaphorical representation of healing
Imagining interacting with the memory from a place of strength and wisdom
Developing an entirely new set of positive images to associate with the experience
Through guided eye movements, these new, positive images become associated with the original memory context, helping to transform how the brain stores and recalls the experience.
4. Integration and Reinforcement
The final phase of an ART session focuses on helping the client integrate their experience and reinforce the positive changes. The therapist checks to ensure the memory no longer triggers distress and helps the client anchor the new, preferred state.
This often involves:
Scanning the body for any remaining tension or discomfort
Testing the memory to see if it still produces depressive symptoms or anxiety
Strengthening the new, positive imagery
Discussing how these changes might impact daily life
The Role of Eye Movements in Trauma Processing
Eye movements are central to ART's effectiveness. While researchers continue to study exactly how they work, several theories help explain their therapeutic benefit:
Working Memory Theory
According to this perspective, the brain has limited working memory capacity. When clients engage in bilateral eye movements while simultaneously recalling a memory, the two tasks compete for these limited resources. This competition appears to reduce the vividness and emotional intensity of the memory, making it easier to process.
REM-Like Processing
The horizontal eye movements used in ART bear similarities to those that occur naturally during REM sleep—a time when the brain processes emotions and memories. By mimicking this natural process while consciously focusing on specific memories, ART may facilitate adaptive processing that didn't occur naturally at the time of the traumatic event.
Interhemispheric Communication
The left-right eye movements may enhance communication between the brain's hemispheres, similar to eye movement desensitization approaches. This improved neural integration helps create more adaptive associations and promotes a more complete processing of traumatic material.
Who Can Benefit from Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
ART has shown effectiveness for a wide range of concerns and can be tailored to individual needs. While originally developed for PTSD treatment and trauma-related disorders, its applications have expanded considerably.
Specific Issues ART Can Address
Trauma and Painful Experiences
ART was initially designed to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and continues to excel in this area. The therapy can help process various types of trauma, including:
Childhood adversity and developmental trauma
Military combat experiences
First responder trauma
Medical trauma
Accidents and natural disasters
Interpersonal violence
Grief and loss
The therapy helps transform how traumatic memories are stored in the brain, reducing their emotional impact and allowing individuals to move forward without being defined by past experiences.
Anxiety and Perfectionism
ART provides powerful tools for addressing anxiety disorders and perfectionism by targeting both the cognitive patterns and physical sensations that fuel these conditions.
For those struggling with perfectionism, ART can help:
Process early experiences that contributed to perfectionistic tendencies
Release the emotional charge behind rigid self-expectations
Develop more self-compassion and flexibility
Create new, healthier internal messages about achievement and worth
Similarly, for those with anxiety, ART addresses:
The root memories and experiences that contribute to anxious responses
Physical sensations associated with anxiety
Worry cycles and catastrophic thinking
Fear responses to specific triggers
Self-Criticism and Self-Doubt
Many people struggle with harsh inner critics and persistent self-doubt that undermine their confidence and well-being. ART can help address these challenges by:
Identifying and processing formative experiences that installed the critical voice
Transforming the emotional impact of past criticism or failure
Creating new, supportive internal messages
Developing a stronger sense of self-worth and capability
This work can be particularly valuable for entrepreneurs and professionals who face high-pressure environments where imposter syndrome often thrives.
Relationship Patterns and People-Pleasing
Our earliest relationships form templates that often unconsciously influence our adult connections. ART can help transform unhelpful relationship patterns by:
Processing formative relational experiences
Releasing emotional attachments to dysfunctional dynamics
Creating new internal models for healthy relationships
Developing clearer boundaries and authentic self-expression
For those struggling with people-pleasing tendencies, ART addresses the underlying fears and beliefs that drive excessive accommodation of others at the expense of one's own needs.
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Research suggests that ART can be helpful in addressing substance abuse issues by:
Processing underlying trauma that may drive addictive behaviors
Reducing emotional triggers that lead to cravings
Strengthening internal resources for making healthier choices
Building resilience to manage stress without substances
When integrated with other appropriate treatments, ART can be a valuable component of recovery.
Money Anxiety and Financial Concerns
Financial therapy is a growing field that addresses the emotional and psychological aspects of our relationship with money. ART can be a valuable component of financial therapy by helping:
Process early money messages and experiences
Release shame, fear, or avoidance related to finances
Transform limiting beliefs about abundance and worthiness
Create healthier approaches to earning, saving, and spending
This specialized application of ART can be particularly beneficial for entrepreneurs and business owners whose financial decisions impact both personal and professional realms.
ART for Couples
Couples can also benefit from ART, either through individual sessions that address personal issues affecting the relationship or through adapted protocols designed specifically for relationship healing. A family therapist trained in ART can help couples address:
Process relationship injuries and rebuild trust
Transform reactive patterns that damage connection
Heal individual trauma that impacts the relationship
Develop new ways of relating that foster security and intimacy
This approach can be especially valuable during couples retreats, where the immersive environment allows for deeper work and more immediate integration of changes.
Finding the Right ART Therapist: What to Look For
When seeking an ART therapist, several factors can help ensure you find a qualified mental health professional who is the right fit for your specific needs.
Certification and Training
The most important qualification to look for is proper certification in Accelerated Resolution Therapy. Certified ART therapists have completed comprehensive ART training and demonstrated proficiency in the technique.
Key credentials to look for include:
Completion of Basic ART Training
Advanced ART Training
Certification through the Accelerated Resolution Therapy International organization or the Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery
Master ART Practitioner status (for those with extensive experience)
Beyond ART-specific training, consider the therapist's overall professional background in the mental health field. Licensed mental health professionals (such as LMFTs, LCSWs, psychologists, or counselors) bring valuable clinical expertise to their ART practice.
Experience with Your Specific Concerns
While ART can address many issues, some therapists develop specialized expertise in particular areas. Consider seeking someone who has experience treating your specific concerns, whether that's post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, relationship issues, or other challenges.
Therapists who specialize in working with certain populations—such as first responders, veterans, or couples—may have valuable insights into the unique aspects of your situation.
Personal Connection and Comfort
The therapeutic relationship is a crucial factor in any therapy's success. Even with a technique-focused approach like ART, feeling comfortable with your therapist matters.
Consider scheduling an initial consultation to assess:
How comfortable you feel with the therapist
Their communication style and approach
Their understanding of your concerns
Their ability to explain how ART works in ways that make sense to you
Their overall philosophy about healing and therapy
Trust your instincts about whether the therapist feels like the right fit for your journey.
What to Expect in Your Accelerated Resolution Therapy Journey
Starting any new therapy can feel uncertain. Having a clear understanding of what to expect can help ease anxiety and prepare you for a productive experience.
The Initial Session
Your first appointment will typically be longer than subsequent sessions and focuses on:
Building rapport and establishing a therapeutic relationship
Gathering information about your history and current symptoms
Explaining how ART works and answering your questions
Setting goals for your work together
Possibly beginning some preliminary ART work, if time allows
This session helps lay the foundation for effective therapy by ensuring you feel informed, comfortable, and ready to engage in the process.
Typical ART Treatment Timeline
While everyone's healing journey is unique, ART generally follows a briefer timeline than many traditional therapies:
Most clients find relief within 1-5 sessions for a single issue, with some experiencing significant improvements in just one session
More complex or multiple issues may require additional sessions
ART sessions typically last 60-90 minutes
Sessions are usually scheduled weekly, though some practitioners offer more intensive options
This efficiency makes ART particularly valuable for those seeking timely relief or who have limited time for the therapeutic process.
Intensive Therapy Options for Rapid Recovery
For those who prefer a more immersive approach or are traveling from out of town, intensive therapy options provide an alternative to the traditional weekly session format. These might include:
Half-day intensives (3-4 hours)
Full-day intensives (6-8 hours with breaks)
Multi-day retreats for deep, transformative work
These intensive formats allow for addressing multiple issues in a concentrated timeframe, often leading to significant breakthroughs and more immediate integration of changes.
Between-Session Experiences
As your brain continues processing after ART sessions, you might notice:
Changes in dreams or sleep patterns
Shifts in how you perceive past events
New insights or perspectives emerging
Gradual improvements in emotional regulation
Decreased reactivity to former triggers
These between-session changes are a normal part of the healing process as your brain integrates the work done during therapy.
Combining ART with Other Therapeutic Approaches
While ART is powerful on its own, it can also complement other therapies, creating a comprehensive approach to healing and growth.
ART and Brainspotting
Brainspotting, another therapeutic technique that uses eye positions to access and process trauma, shares some similarities with ART but differs in its approach. Some therapists trained in both modalities may integrate elements of each or recommend one over the other based on a client's specific needs.
The combination can be powerful, with:
ART providing structured protocol for memory reconsolidation
Brainspotting offering additional tools for accessing deeply held trauma
Both approaches supporting nervous system regulation and emotional processing
ART for Pain Management
In addition to emotional healing, research suggests ART can be effective for pain management issues related to trauma or emotional distress. By addressing the brain's processing of pain signals, ART may help:
Reduce the emotional component of chronic pain
Process traumatic memories related to injury or medical procedures
Develop new coping strategies for managing pain
Create positive imagery that supports comfort and healing
ART in a Holistic Treatment Plan
For many clients, ART works best as part of a comprehensive approach to wellbeing that might include:
Individual therapy using various modalities
Couples or family therapy for relationship concerns
Mind-body practices like yoga or meditation
Lifestyle adjustments to support mental health
Community connection and support
Your therapist can help develop a personalized treatment plan that integrates ART with other therapies based on your unique needs and goals.
Common Questions About Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Is ART Right for Me?
ART can be beneficial for many people but may not be the ideal approach for everyone. It tends to work best for those who:
Have specific memories or issues they want to address
Are willing to briefly focus on difficult material (even without discussing details)
Can follow instructions and engage in the eye movement process
Are open to visualization and imagery
Are in a stable enough place to process emotional material
In some cases, preliminary work with other therapeutic approaches may be helpful before beginning ART, particularly for individuals with:
Active substance abuse that impairs cognition
Acute psychosis or severe dissociation
Extremely complex trauma requiring stabilization first
A qualified mental health professional trained in ART can help determine whether this treatment is appropriate for your specific situation.
How Does ART Compare to EMDR?
ART and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) share some similarities, including the use of eye movements to process traumatic memories. However, they differ in several key ways:
ART typically requires fewer sessions than EMDR
ART uses a more directive approach to imagery rescripting
ART's protocol is often more structured
ART places more emphasis on the voluntary memory reconsolidation process
Both approaches have research supporting their effectiveness for trauma, and the choice between them often comes down to therapist expertise, client preference, and the specific issues being addressed.
What Scientific Evidence Supports ART?
Research on ART continues to grow, with multiple studies demonstrating its effectiveness for various conditions. Notable findings include:
Significant reduction in PTSD symptoms among military personnel and veterans
Improvements in depression and anxiety levels
Reduction in trauma symptoms for civilian populations
Decreases in physical manifestations of stress
Effectiveness for treating sleep disturbances related to trauma
Research suggests ART is particularly effective for post-traumatic stress and related symptoms. As a relatively new treatment in the world of therapy, research on ART is still evolving, but the existing evidence is promising and continues to expand through ethical reflections and clinical studies.
How Should I Prepare for an ART Session?
Wear comfortable clothing
Ensure you've had adequate rest and hydration
Avoid substances that might affect concentration
Be prepared to briefly focus on difficult material
Plan some downtime after your session for integration
Trust the process and communicate with your therapist
Your ART therapist may provide specific guidance based on your individual situation and needs.
Taking the Next Step in Your Healing Journey
If you're considering Accelerated Resolution Therapy as part of your path to healing, connecting with a qualified therapist is the next step. Audrey Schoen, LMFT offers both in-person therapy in Roseville, California, and online therapy throughout California and Texas.
As a Certified Master ART Practitioner with extensive experience in trauma, anxiety, depression, relationships, and financial therapy, Audrey provides compassionate, personalized treatment tailored to each client's unique needs and goals.
Beyond individual therapy, Audrey offers:
Couples therapy using ART principles
Intensive therapy options for accelerated healing
Retreats for deeper transformative work
Business coaching for therapists looking to grow their practice
Each approach is designed with the same goal in mind: helping you live a more authentic, connected, and fulfilling life free from the limitations of past experiences.
Reaching out for support is an act of courage and self-care. Whether you're struggling with trauma, anxiety, self-criticism, relationship challenges, or financial concerns, Accelerated Resolution Therapy offers a pathway to relief and renewal.
Conclusion: The Transformative Potential of ART
Accelerated Resolution Therapy represents a significant advancement in the field of mental health, offering hope to those who have struggled with emotional distress, trauma, and anxiety. By harnessing the brain's natural capacity for healing through eye movements and imagery, ART facilitates profound transformation in a remarkably efficient timeframe.
The benefits of this innovative therapeutic approach extend far beyond symptom reduction. Many clients report not just feeling better but experiencing a fundamental shift in how they relate to themselves, others, and their past experiences. This deeper healing creates ripple effects throughout all aspects of life.
With its combination of neurobiological foundations, compassionate approach, and rapid results, ART stands at the forefront of modern therapeutic techniques. For those ready to move beyond limitation toward greater freedom and fulfillment, it offers a powerful tool for transformation.
Your journey toward healing is unique, and finding the right support is an important part of that process. Whether ART is your first experience with therapy or a new approach after trying other methods, it offers a pathway to addressing the root causes of distress and creating lasting positive change.
The path to healing begins with a single step. When you're ready to take that step, support is available to help you find relief and guide you through the process of reclaiming your life and moving toward the future you deserve. Contact our office in Roseville to learn more about how Accelerated Resolution Therapy can help you or a loved one, including a child, today.