Accelerated Resolution Therapy®
Accelerated Resolution Therapy® (ART) is a form of psychotherapy which combines bilateral eye movements with evidence-based therapy techniques (Gestalt Psychology, Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Guided Imagery).
ART can treat post-traumatic stress disorder as well as more chronic conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, family issues, grief, and chronic pain.
How does ART work?
When you simultaneously move both eyes all the way to the right and left it can activate the vagus nerve and create relaxation; therefore, bilateral eye movements can be used to reduce physical sensations that often arise when imagining upsetting situations. When eye movements are combined with visualization, such as imagining a specific scene in your mind, they can also change the way distressing memories are stored in the brain.
Specifically, visualizations in ART can be used to rescript the narrative of an upsetting event (either to an alternative scenario or to focus on another aspect of the event). Changing the narrative during bilateral eye movements can reduce the emotional intensity of the memory.
ART can also allow the memory of the difficult experience to be recategorized. Recategorizing the memory facilitates storage in the same way a regular memory is stored in the brain. You will not forget that the upsetting situation occurred; however, because the memory is stored differently after ART is completed, it will no longer trigger strong emotions or physical reactions.
Is ART Hypnosis?
Even though ART uses eye movements it is NOT hypnosis. You are alert and are always in control of the entire ART session. The therapist is primarily serving as a guide, helping move you through the ART procedure.
Why try ART?
ART can often can reduce the amount of time needed to experience the benefits of therapy, making it more cost effective. Significant improvement is usually seen within 1-6 sessions. In most cases, individuals also leave ART sessions feeling more positive and calm. You also do not have to talk about your trauma or upsetting situations with the therapist, which can be very helpful if talking triggers strong emotions or physical reactions for you. You also can decide which aspects of the trauma to process and how much to reveal about your traumatic experience to the therapist.
For more information, visit Accelerated Resolution Therapy®, check out the ART brochure, or watch the founder’s Tedx Talk
Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy®(ART) the same as
Eye Movement Desensitization and Resistance (EMDR)?
ART
Guidance
Uses Guidance.
THERAPIST ROLE
Uses a directive approach with scripts to guide each session to closure.
Approach
Uses systematic approaches and scripts, leading to greater outcome predictability.
Eye Movements
Eye movements are consistent so patients can specifically focus on the issue.
EXPLORING MeaningS
Asks individuals to think about meaning (therapists may offer suggestions) and frequently uses metaphors.
SPEED OF RESOLUTION
Designed so that the treatment can be fully completed as quickly as possible, usually in 1-6 sessions. This decreases potential distress between sessions.
EMDR
Guidance
Little Guidance is provided.
THERAPIST ROLE
Encourages free association which may be disorienting and lead to a lack of closure in between sessions.
Approach
Is not a regimented approach; no two treatment sessions will be the same.
Eye Movements
Eye movements are unpredictable; speed is alternated and adjusted to distract from focusing on the issue.
Exploring Meanings
Does not ask meaning behind symbols, images, or why things came up.
SPEED OF RESOLUTION
Can take between 6-12 sessions.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Brightways Psychology is focused on providing the best care that is customized to your needs. Insurance typically includes restrictions (e.g. on the number of sessions provided) and requires extensive unpaid administrative work. In some cases, billing issues or clawbacks may arise.
As a small practice, we also do not have the administrative support to manage submitting and following up on the reimbursement of claims, which is very time consuming and ultimately reduces the number of individuals we can help; therefore, Brightways Psychology is not “in network” with any health insurance providers. Being “out of network” also allows us more flexibility to determine together the number of sessions and the manner in which sessions are provided (e.g. via telehealth vs in-person).
Please check with your health insurance provider to determine your “out-of-network behavioral health coverage” and whether you will need to meet your annual deductible before any coverage is provided (e.g. CPT codes: 90791 for the first information gathering session; 90834 for 50-minute sessions; 90837 for 60-90 minute sessions).
If you have a PPO plan and a percentage of the “out of network” fees for behavioral health treatment is covered, Brightways Psychology will provide you with a “Superbill” to submit to insurance for reimbursement. A “Superbill” is typically a monthly statement that lists the clinical services provided and that can be used to obtain reimbursement from the insurance for the fees you have already paid out of pocket.
For more information, download this document for suggestions and questions you can ask your insurance provider to verify your mental health out-of-network coverage.
Fees for 50 minute psychotherapy sessions are $225.00, based on usual and customary rates for psychologists in the San Francisco Bay Area. ART usually requires about 90 minutes so the fee will be prorated to $405.00. Brightways Psychology does not offer sliding scale.
If you cannot make your appointment and do not cancel or reschedule your appointment more than 24 hours in advance, you will be responsible for the full fee, unless your clinician can find someone to fill your spot. Please keep in mind that unlike other medical appointments, the session time is reserved specifically for you and typically the spot cannot be filled at the last minute.
For residents of California, you will meet virtually using an HIPAA compliant video-conferencing platform (Zoom). You will be provided with a link for the session in advance. It is important to connect using strong WiFi and to find a confidential space to join the session.
If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area and would prefer to meet in-person (because you are unable to find a private space to join a virtual therapy session), an option to meet in person on California Ave in Palo Alto on Thursdays is available.
If you decide that Accelerated Resolution Therapy® is a good fit for your needs after our phone consultation, you will be sent an email invitation to set up an account with the patient portal of the electronic medical record system Brightways Psychology uses to keep all paperwork private and confidential.
Once you accept the patient portal invitation you will be asked to provide background information and sign forms stating that you consent to therapy policies and fees. These forms may take time to read because they are focused on providing the information you need in a clear and transparent manner so you can make an education decision to engage in therapy.
Once you have completed all the paperwork, you will be contacted to schedule your first session.
The first session will be an information gathering session which is focused on obtaining an understanding of your medical and mental health history, your family history and your current symptoms or concerns. This information will be kept confidential (unless you are at risk of harming yourself or others) and used to determine the most beneficial approach for treatment. You will also be provided an opportunity to ask any questions about the practice policies and to practice the eye movements used in ART so this session may take up to 90 minutes to complete.
After the initial information gathering session, the initial ART session tends to take the longest. It is a different type of therapy so it can take extra time to adjust. It can last about 90 minutes but it can be helpful to allocate 120 minutes for the initial ART session so there is no need to feel rushed.
Once you get used to doing the eye movements and the structure of the technique, later sessions (if needed) can require less time and may be completed closer to 60 minutes than 90 minutes, depending on your chosen area of focus. ART can require anywhere from 1-6 sessions total and the number of sessions depends on the trauma experienced. For example, one discrete trauma can often be processed in one session; however, more complex trauma may require more sessions, often depending on the pace of processing which you control.