What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, is a trauma-focused psychotherapy that helps you resolve distressing memories and strong emotional reactions, often in a small number of sessions. Using gentle back-and-forth eye movements, ART helps your brain replace the vivid, upsetting images tied to a memory with calmer ones. You keep the facts of what happened, but the memory stops triggering the same distress.
At Empowered Mental Health in Bismarck, ART is provided by Elizabeth Thein, LPCC and Kaydee Baker, LMSW, both trained in this approach.
What ART can help with
- Trauma and distressing memories
- Anxiety and panic
- Grief and loss
- Phobias and strong emotional triggers
- Stress reactions that feel stuck
What to expect in an ART session
ART is structured and directive, which is part of why it can work quickly. Your therapist guides you through focusing on a memory or feeling while you follow gentle eye movements. You do not have to describe the details out loud if you prefer not to.
Most people feel calmer by the end of a session, and many concerns resolve in a handful of visits. Your therapist moves at your pace and keeps you in control.
Who provides ART at Empowered
Elizabeth Thein, LPCC specializes in trauma and abuse recovery and is trained in both Accelerated Resolution Therapy and EMDR. She works with adolescents ages 12 and up and adults.
Kaydee Baker, LMSW is trained in ART and brings more than a decade of experience supporting individuals with diverse behavioral and emotional needs. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How is ART different from EMDR?
Both ART and EMDR may use eye movements while addressing distressing memories, but they follow different treatment protocols. ART is generally more structured and therapist-directed and incorporates imagery-rescripting techniques. ART is designed as a brief treatment, though the number of sessions needed varies, and research directly comparing ART with EMDR remains limited. Your therapist can walk through the available evidence and help you decide which fits your needs and preferences.
Do I have to talk about the details?
No. ART does not require describing every detail out loud. You can keep the specifics private and still do the work.
How many sessions will I need?
Many people see relief within a small number of sessions, though it depends on your situation. Your therapist will give you a realistic estimate.
Who is ART a good fit for?
ART helps with trauma, anxiety, grief, and strong emotional triggers. Elizabeth sees ages 12 and up. Kaydee works with children through adults.
Are you accepting new clients?
Yes. You can book online through our secure patient portal, or call (701) 805-1939.
Ready when you are.
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. A short conversation, at no charge, is usually enough to know whether we are a fit. In person in Bismarck, or by telehealth anywhere in North Dakota.
Book a free 15-minute consultCall (701) 805-1939