Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Accelerated resolution therapy (ART) is an evidence-based practice intended to process and resolve traumatic memories and other trauma-related stressors. ART may be beneficial if you're experiencing chronic trauma symptoms or if you haven't had the success you want in other forms of therapy.
At Boreal Therapy Collective, we offer ART to support clients experiencing various mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intrusive thoughts, substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more.
For ART, book with:
D’Arcy Arseneau
How Does Accelerated Resolution Therapy Work?
ART seeks to directly reprogram how your brain stores memories and negative images via rapid eye movements. This treatment is specific, structured, and directive, and many clients experience tremendous relief in just a few sessions.
Although this is a relatively new model, one large randomized controlled trial found that participants receiving ART significantly reduced PTSD and anxiety symptoms when compared to a control group. Other research has found that ART is positively correlated with treating pain, particularly chronic refractory neuropathic pain.
ART can be a standalone treatment model, but certain interventions can also overlap with other modalities, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.
What Happens During ART Sessions?
Unlike other therapies, ART emphasizes being quick, efficient, and non-invasive. The overarching goal is to rapidly replace negative images or experiences with more positive ones. Some of the other main benefits include:
Fast results: ART is aimed to resolve chronic symptoms quickly, with some treatments lasting just 1-5 sessions. Your length of treatment will vary based on your goals and symptoms.
Smooth pursuit eye movements: Like EMDR, repeated eye movements can create a desensitizing effect, decreasing the emotional intensity associated with past traumas. A relaxing effect happens as you follow your therapist's hand.
Solution-focused healing: An ART-trained therapist can be valuable in treating trauma, even if you do not want to share what happened to you explicitly. ART is not contingent on you talking about your trauma or diving deep into any specific narrative.
What to Expect from ART
ART therapy sessions adhere to a predictable protocol that entails you visualizing a past distressing event. As you share this information, your therapist will then gently move their hand from side to side. You will follow their rhythmic movements while also noting sensations that spontaneously arise in the present moment.
Eye movements: ART therapists use bilateral guided eye movements to help the brain process, integrate, and then reframe distressing material. Eye movements also aim to promote relaxation and create a sense of internal safety. This process can shift how traumatic memories are stored.
Desensitization: Your therapist will direct you to identify a specific traumatic event for processing. You will be instructed to pay attention to your sensations while your therapist moves their hand from side to side. You will focus on your therapist's hand as you simultaneously note your own physical and emotional reactions. Your therapist will continue engaging in eye movements until sensations diminish in intensity. This process is repeated until you can move through all processing with fewer or no sensations.
Imagery rescripting: During a typical ART session, you will be asked to visualize distressing events and 'rewrite' them into more neutral or positive images. The goal here is not to change the facts or sequencing of what really happened. Instead, it's about reorienting your emotional response to it. This can offer a much-needed sense of relief.
Closure: Sessions always end with a sense of processing and closure. It's important that you're able to examine your memories or traumatic experiences without feeling significant distress. This can take anywhere from one to four sessions, although it may be longer in cases of complex trauma or when other mental health conditions are present. Your therapist may continue with ART interventions or other techniques to support memory consolidation.
Is ART Right for You?
All therapy aims to reduce emotional discomfort, increase the ability to access positive feelings, and improve your overall quality of life. ART focuses on doing this via its rapid recovery process.
ART is an effective treatment that can help clients resolve their most distressing memories and improve symptoms of other mental health concerns. That said, with so many treatment options available, sometimes it's hard to decide which therapy model is best for your needs.
Accelerated resolution therapy may be helpful if you:
have PTSD symptoms adversely affecting your mental health or overall well-being
experience persistent anxiety that impacts your functioning
want a brief treatment that may offer excellent results in fewer therapy sessions
experience symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
have complicated grief and depressive symptoms associated with it
If you're not sure if accelerated resolution therapy is right for you, we welcome any questions or concerns. Our clinical practice and dedicated providers are dedicated to offering you individualized treatment focused on your specific needs and goals.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy in Fort McMurray
How to Start Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Beginning accelerated resolution therapy with Boreal Therapy Collective is easy and requires no referral. You can book your initial assessment with D’Arcy Arseneau here.
Understanding Length of Therapy and Treatment
Your first appointment will be 90-minutes long. For all future appointments, you can choose to book for 1 hour or 90-minutes. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to better understand you and your areas of struggle. This is known as an assessment. Depending on how much you share, the assessment phase can last anywhere from one to three appointments. The assessment is critical. It helps you and your therapist understand your goals, and it helps your therapist develop a treatment plan to support you in achieving these goals.
After the assessment is complete, treatment begins! Most people will have a therapy session every two weeks, and we recommend this for optimal treatment. ART is aimed to resolve chronic symptoms quickly, with some treatments lasting just 1-5 sessions. Your length of treatment will vary based on your goals and symptoms. Many choose to continue therapy once formal treatment is complete. This is referred to as maintenance. People who do this typically have an appointment once every six to eight weeks. This is not a requirement and is a matter of personal choice.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy at Boreal Therapy Collective
Where We Are Located
We’re located at 8530 Manning Avenue, Unit 104. You’ll find us in the Service Canada building (on the side of the building that faces the Clearwater River). To check out our space, click here.
Parking is located at the front and back of the building. The front parking lot is closer to us but tends to fill up quickly. There is also an empty dirt lot adjacent to our office that many use for parking. If you park at the back (where Service Canada is located), you can walk around the building to reach our office. To learn more about parking, click here.
Importantly, you do not need to be in town for treatment. We offer in-person and virtual therapy and our therapists are happy to provide whatever option works best for you!
Rates & Benefit Coverage
Initial assessments are billed at a rate of $330.00 for a 90-minute appointment. Follow-up sessions are billed at a rate of $220.00/hour or $330.00/90-minutes (you can choose your preferred appointment length when booking).
Our social workers offer direct billing to 25+ benefit providers. Many benefit providers will cover a portion or the whole amount of your therapy session. With your consent, we will always direct bill your benefit provider first. Please note that our Registered Psychiatric Nurses are typically ineligible for direct billing.
If we are unable to direct bill, you can pay via email money transfer or credit card. You will be given a receipt once payment has been collected. For more information on benefit coverage, click here.
