Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) in Florida & Wisconsin

If past experiences, anxiety, stress, or distressing memories continue to affect your life, you may be looking for an approach that feels different from traditional talk therapy.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a therapeutic approach that uses elements of guided imagery, memory reconsolidation, and bilateral eye movements to help people process distressing experiences and the emotions or physical sensations associated with them.

At Holistic Care Therapy & Consulting, Karie Johnston, a licensed therapist, incorporates ART into an integrative, client-centered approach designed around each person's individual needs and goals.

Schedule a 15-minute consultation to learn whether ART may be appropriate for you.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy, commonly called ART, is a structured therapeutic approach that can help people work through distressing memories, difficult experiences, and unwanted emotional responses.

During ART, a therapist guides you through specific eye movements and visualization exercises while you focus on aspects of an experience that continue to cause distress.

ART may help you develop a different relationship with a difficult memory or experience. Some people report that memories feel less emotionally intense or that they are able to think about an experience differently after treatment.

ART is not about erasing your memories. Instead, the goal is to help you process experiences in a way that may reduce the distress associated with them.

ART sessions are structured and guided by a trained therapist.

Depending on your individual situation, a session may include:

1. Identifying What Is Causing Distress

You and Karie will discuss the experience, memory, thought, emotion, or situation you would like to address.

2. Guided Visualization

You may be asked to bring aspects of the experience to mind while remaining grounded in the present.

3. Bilateral Eye Movements

Karie guides you through a series of eye movements while you focus on specific aspects of the experience.

4. Processing the Experience

The process is designed to help you work through the emotional and sensory components associated with the experience.

5. Developing a Different Perspective

You may be guided through techniques that allow you to visualize the experience differently and explore more helpful thoughts, feelings, or associations.

Your experience during ART is individual. Some people notice changes during a session, while others may need multiple sessions to work through what they are experiencing.

ART may be used as part of therapy for a variety of concerns and difficult life experiences.

Depending on the individual and their circumstances, ART may be incorporated into treatment for:

• Trauma and distressing experiences
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Grief and loss
• Phobias and fears
• Distressing memories
• Low self-esteem
• Relationship difficulties
• Life transitions
• Other experiences that continue to cause emotional distress

ART is not appropriate for every person or every situation. Karie will discuss your concerns, goals, and treatment options with you to determine whether ART may be a good fit.

ART may be worth exploring if you:

• Continue to experience distress related to a past event
• Find yourself repeatedly thinking about a difficult experience
• Feel emotionally triggered by certain situations, places, or reminders
• Experience anxiety or stress connected to a specific experience
• Want to explore an approach that goes beyond traditional talk therapy
• Are looking for a structured, guided therapeutic experience

You do not have to know exactly what type of therapy you need before reaching out.

A consultation can be a starting point for discussing what you're experiencing and determining what approach may best support your goals.

One of the things people often appreciate about ART is that you don't necessarily have to spend an entire session verbally describing every detail of a difficult experience.

Instead, Karie guides you through a structured process while you focus on the aspects of the experience that are important to you.

You remain in control of what you share.

Sessions are individualized based on your needs, comfort level, treatment goals, and clinical considerations. Karie may also incorporate other therapeutic approaches when appropriate, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Therapy.

ART is different from traditional talk therapy in some important ways.

Traditional talk therapy may involve talking extensively about thoughts, feelings, relationships, and experiences. ART uses a more structured process that incorporates guided imagery and bilateral eye movements while addressing distressing experiences.

That doesn't mean one approach is right for everyone.

For some clients, ART may be incorporated alongside other therapeutic approaches to create a treatment plan that addresses their individual needs.

Integrative Therapy With a Whole-Person Perspective

Karie Johnston is a licensed therapist who takes an integrative, client-centered approach to counseling.

Rather than relying on a single therapeutic method, Karie considers the individual as a whole and may incorporate different evidence-informed approaches based on the client's needs and goals.

Her therapeutic approaches include:

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Solution-Focused Therapy

Other integrative and whole-person approaches

Karie works with clients in Florida and Wisconsin through virtual therapy services.

Her goal is to create a supportive environment where clients can explore what they're experiencing, develop practical tools, and work toward meaningful personal growth.

ART and EMDR are different therapeutic approaches, although they share some similarities.

Both may incorporate bilateral eye movements while a client focuses on aspects of a distressing experience. However, the techniques, structure, and therapeutic processes are not identical.

If you're trying to decide between ART, EMDR, traditional talk therapy, or another approach, a consultation can help you better understand your options.

There is no single number of sessions that is right for everyone.

The number and frequency of sessions can depend on your concerns, treatment goals, personal history, and response to therapy.

Karie will work with you to determine an appropriate treatment approach rather than promising a specific number of sessions or a guaranteed outcome.