What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?

What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?

A compassionate, evidence-based approach to helping you heal from trauma.

Trauma can leave a lasting impact long after an event has passed. You may find yourself avoiding certain places, feeling on edge, experiencing unwanted memories, or wondering why your body still reacts as though the danger is happening today.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people process traumatic memories and reduce the emotional distress associated with them.

Many individuals experience meaningful improvement in fewer sessions than they expected, without having to repeatedly tell the story of what happened.

At Sound Choice Mental Health, we believe healing is possible. Accelerated Resolution Therapy is one of several evidence-based therapies that may be incorporated into an individualized treatment plan to help people move beyond trauma and reconnect with the life they want to live.

"Healing doesn't mean forgetting what happened. It means the memory no longer has the power to control your life."

How Does Accelerated Resolution Therapy Work?

ART helps the brain process difficult memories in a different way.

During an ART session, Michelle L. Bajema, PMHNP-BC guides you through a series of gentle eye movements while you briefly focus on a distressing memory. These eye movements are combined with evidence-based techniques that help your brain reprocess the experience and reduce its emotional intensity.

One of the unique aspects of ART is a process called Voluntary Image Replacement (VIR). Rather than changing the facts of what happened, ART helps change how the memory is experienced. Many people find they can still remember the event, but it no longer feels emotionally overwhelming.

Unlike some forms of trauma therapy, ART generally does not require you to repeatedly describe every detail of your experience. For many people, this makes treatment feel more approachable and less intimidating.

What Can ART Help With?

ART has been studied most extensively for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it may also be beneficial for individuals experiencing:

• Trauma and PTSD

• Anxiety

• Panic attacks

• Grief and loss

• Phobias

• Stress following accidents or medical events

• Distressing memories that continue to interfere with daily life

Every person's story is unique. During your psychiatric evaluation, we'll discuss your symptoms, goals, and whether ART may be an appropriate part of your individualized treatment plan.

How Is ART Different from EMDR?

Both Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) use guided eye movements to help the brain process traumatic memories.

ART follows a structured protocol and incorporates Voluntary Image Replacement, a technique that helps transform distressing mental images into ones that feel more peaceful, adaptive, or empowering.

Both therapies have helped many people recover from trauma. During your evaluation, we'll discuss whether ART is the best fit for your symptoms, goals, and overall treatment plan.

Does ART Work?

Research on Accelerated Resolution Therapy continues to grow.

Studies suggest that ART can significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and emotional distress for many individuals. While ART has a smaller body of research than longer-established trauma therapies such as EMDR or Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), current evidence is encouraging, and many patients report meaningful improvement in a relatively short period of time.

At Sound Choice Mental Health, our treatment recommendations are guided by current scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and—most importantly—your individual needs.

Is ART Right for You?

You may benefit from Accelerated Resolution Therapy if:

• You continue to feel affected by a past traumatic experience.

• Certain memories trigger anxiety, fear, or emotional distress.

• You've tried talking about the trauma but still feel stuck.

• You're looking for an evidence-based therapy that doesn't require repeatedly retelling your story.

No two healing journeys are the same. Together, we'll determine whether ART is the right approach for your unique needs and goals.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy at Sound Choice Mental Health

At Sound Choice Mental Health, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is one of several evidence-based treatment approaches offered by Michelle L. Bajema, PMHNP-BC.

Rather than being offered as a standalone service, ART is thoughtfully integrated into an individualized treatment plan when it is clinically appropriate. Depending on your needs, your care may include a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, medication management, supportive psychotherapy, lifestyle recommendations, ART, and other evidence-based interventions.

Whether you're seeking care as a new patient or are already established with our practice, ART may be recommended if it aligns with your symptoms, goals, and overall treatment plan.

Because every person's experience is unique, treatment decisions are made collaboratively, ensuring the therapies selected best support your journey toward healing and lasting wellness.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy in Olympia, Washington

Sound Choice Mental Health proudly provides Accelerated Resolution Therapy for individuals in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and surrounding South Sound communities.

We understand that reaching out for help can feel overwhelming. Our commitment is to provide compassionate, personalized mental health care in an environment where you feel heard, respected, and empowered throughout your healing journey.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

You don't have to continue carrying the weight of past experiences alone.

If you're interested in learning whether Accelerated Resolution Therapy may be an appropriate part of your personalized treatment plan, we're here to answer your questions and help you explore your options.

Personalized Mental Health. Compassion. Connection. Hope.

Schedule a psychiatric evaluation to learn whether Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) may be an appropriate part of your personalized treatment plan.