Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a trauma-focused psychotherapy developed by Laney Rosenzweig in 2008. Its core mechanism: smooth pursuit eye movements during trauma recall and voluntary replacement of the distressing image → the client keeps the narrative of what happened while the image loses its charge; ART explains this as memory reconsolidation, which is a borrowed hypothesis rather than a demonstrated finding for this protocol. This catalogue links it to PTSD, depression and anxiety, typically in individual format, very short (1-5).
Related condition topics
These links support exploration. They do not establish that Accelerated Resolution Therapy is effective or recommended for each condition.
How Accelerated Resolution Therapy works
Smooth pursuit eye movements during trauma recall + voluntary replacement of the distressing image → the client keeps the narrative of what happened while the image loses its charge; ART explains this as memory reconsolidation, which is a borrowed hypothesis rather than a demonstrated finding for this protocol
Ontology
Traumatic memories are stored with somatic and emotional distress that can be separated from the narrative content through directed reconsolidation
Therapeutic Voice
"Hold that image in mind while you follow my hand. Now I want you to replace that scene with anything you'd rather see."
View of the Person
An information-processing system whose traumatic memories can be rapidly updated by replacing the stored imagery while preserving narrative knowledge
Epistemology
Evidence
1 condition assessment available
An overall effectiveness assessment has not been completed. Completed assessments for specific populations appear below.
Condition-specific assessments
Each conclusion applies to the population and use described. These source-based assessments do not certify the full entry or replace expert clinical review.
PTSD & Acute Trauma
Population and scope: Adults with PTSD.
Guideline evidence inconclusive
VA/DoD 2023 recommendation 10 finds evidence insufficient for or against Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
Source assessment dated
Guidelines and official sources (1)
1 clinical guideline check
Read the recommendation and its scope. A source may discuss an approach without recommending it.
- Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder
Insufficient evidence for or against
VA/DoD finds insufficient evidence for a recommendation for or against ART. Emerging is not the recommendation’s strength label.
Scope: Accelerated Resolution Therapy for adult PTSD treatment.
Recorded material under review
The existing notes below are retained separately from assessment records. These recorded claims await source checking, including study design, recommendations and numerical estimates.
3+ RCTs (Kip et al., 2013; 2014; 2016)
Included in some PTSD reviews
Growing VA adoption. Rapid protocol is appealing. Uses eye movements like EMDR but with a distinct voluntary replacement mechanism. More structured and shorter than EMDR.
Training and certification
ART Basic Training (3 days). Licensed mental health professional required
ART International
Basic: 24 hrs; advanced available
$1.5K-2.5K
Clinical cautions and blind spots
Assessment and precautions
Active psychosis, unstable dissociative disorders, seizure disorders (relative), clients unable to hold imagery during eye movements, severe cognitive impairment
Blind spots
Relatively new; mechanism not well understood; voluntary replacement raises questions about whether processing actually occurs vs. avoidance; limited independent replication
Philosophical roots
Memory reconsolidation theory (Nader, 2000); Shapiro (AIP model: adapted); pragmatism (rapid results); image replacement has no clear philosophical antecedent
Compared with other approaches
Test Yourself
How does ART differ from EMDR?
Show answer
ART uses voluntary image replacement (the client consciously substitutes a new scene) rather than reprocessing; sessions are shorter and more scripted.