Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based eye movement therapy that has been shown to effectively treat the root of trauma, depression, anxiety, and complicated grief in a shorter period of time than traditional talk therapy. The eye movements used in ART create theta waves in the brain, which are connected to daydreaming and intuition, and deactivate the amygdala, which is responsible for our ‘fight or flight’ response. This helps calm the body and regulate your nervous system while processing painful memories, meaning your reaction to triggers will be drastically reduced or eliminated following the therapy. ART also involves replacing negative images and sensations with more positive ones, so that you keep the facts of your memories, but lose the pain. Find more details on the ART website.
It can be very challenging, scary, or overwhelming to tell your story to therapists especially if makes things to feel worse, not better. ART is a body-based therapy, focused on processing physical sensations and changing images in the brain rather than sharing the details of painful memories. There are many opportunities to talk if you’d like to, but you can share as much or as little as you’re comfortable with.
The therapist will guide you to replace stuck, negative images from your difficult experiences with more positive ones. While you’ll still have the true narrative, your relationship to it will change so it will no longer trigger any emotional or physiological symptoms.
You’ll be guided through the therapy using a directive approach that prevents you from getting stuck and allows you (and your subconscious) to find your own solutions to your problems. The therapist will be with you every step of the way to provide compassionate support and answer questions as they arise.
ART often resolves presenting problems in far fewer sessions (after assessment) than talk therapy. You may choose to continue with therapy to practice coping skills, improve relationships, and take action towards creating more fulfillment in your life. It may also be helpful to follow ART sessions with talk sessions to process the changes and insights you’ve gained from ART.
ART is research-backed and evidence-based (see research publications here). It draws upon numerous effective therapies that are also evidence-based, including EMDR, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt, Guided Imagery, and Exposure Therapy. 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. (ART website.)
Bilateral eye movements are used to calm the nervous system and facilitate visualization, similar to REM sleep. Painful past experiences lose the associated negative emotions and sensations, releasing their hold on you and allowing you to live more freely in the present.
Together we’ll explore the present day challenges you’re facing and how they may be connected to your past. We’ll collaboratively identify the painful experiences that may be underlying your issues, which will be processed using ART. Book your assessment here.
You’ll come to the session having prepared a scene of distressing images that’s at the root of your present day issues. You’ll be asked to identify related emotions and rate their intensity.
You’ll be asked to identify the location and sensation of the emotions in your body. I’ll then guide you through relaxing images and bilateral eye movements that help process out these sensations.
You’ll be guided through bilateral eye movements while visualizing the distressing scene, which will then be desensitized. We’ll then layer positive images and rescripting metaphors over the original scene, which will become more positive. You’ll keep the facts of your experience, but lose the associated pain.
You’ll then re-assess and re-rate the intensity and feelings of the uncomfortable emotions, which are less intense or gone completely. Your relationship to the distressing scene is changed forever, and your reactions to triggers will be reduced or eliminated.
In the next session, we’ll reflect on the insights and changes you’ve noticed from your ART session. We’ll identify whether there are other issues you’d like to work on using ART, and develop a plan for integrating your new perspective into your day-to-day life.
Drawing upon his extensive experience, Pete has proven expertise in helping individuals overcome the challenges of trauma, anxiety, panic, grief, PTSD, and complex PTSD. Focusing on the neuroscience of these issues, he brings the latest cutting edge approaches to brain-body integration and resolution of the triggers that contribute to the symptoms that cause disruption to one’s life. Pete is a Master Certified Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) clinician having gone through the training necessary to obtain that level of certification.
Through his supportive guidance, clients can gain a renewed sense of presence, enhanced emotional well-being, and the confidence to face life’s challenges with resilience and calm. Pete’s dedication to addressing anxiety is reflected in his commitment to facilitating positive and lasting outcomes for those seeking relief and transformation.
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