Treating Trauma with Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

How Trauma Affects the Brain

Trauma can be defined in many ways, just as it can be experienced in many ways. Each of us is different and unique in how we experience a difficult situation or event. This is best understood by considering how the brain experiences and perceives trauma. The brain works hard for us in many ways; however, its primary function is to help us stay alive. The most primal parts of the brain form the basis of our survival. They alert us to anything that might threaten our physical, emotional, mental or even spiritual well-being. As babies, our brains are still developing, yet they alert us when we need food, a diaper change, sleep, or comfort. Those signals prompt a reaction that communicates that something is wrong. In other words, babies cry when a need is not being met.

As we grow, we face many challenging experiences. Although not every difficult experience is technically classified as traumatic, each person's brain interprets events through the lens of past experience. For example, someone who has fallen, broken a bone, suffered another injury or witnessed someone else being hurt may feel an alarm go off when beginning to climb a ladder. The brain warns that something bad could happen: the person might fall, break a bone, become seriously injured, or worse. Whether or not the danger is immediate, the physical and psychological reactions can be powerful. The person may freeze on the ladder, unable to move up or down. Even while trying to make their legs move, they may be able to do nothing but hold tightly to the ladder. This is only one simple example of how difficult experiences can influence our behavior, thoughts, and responses to future situations. It is the brain trying to protect us.

Understanding Complex Trauma

Sometimes people experience what is known as complex trauma: repeated or accumulationg traumatic experiences that reinforce one another and teach the brain and nervous system to guard against real or percieved danger. These expereinces may be stored as memories and images rooted deeply in the brain. We often try to bury them, avoid speaking abouth them, or distract ourselves so that we do not have to remember. Yet, no matter how hard we try, the effects of those memories can remain. We may not consciously think about a specific experience, but the brain continues working to protect us.

For example, someone who was physically abused may recoil when another person gently touches their shoulder. A spouse who fully trusted a partner, only to experience betrayal through that partner's infidelity, may struggle to trust again or allow anyone to get close. They may feel a constant need to protect what is most precious to them. These memories help alert us to possible danger, but the contiuing pain associated with them can become overwhelming. Over time, that pain may disrupt important areas of life, including family and social relationships, education, work, and spiritual well-being. People may feel isolated, alone, or hopeless, and they may live with a persistent sense of being on the verge of panic.

How accelerate Resolution Therapy Can Help

Therapy can help people navigate traumatic experiences and the responses connected to them. Many people say that simply coming to therapy and talking helps them find a sense of calm or peace, even if only during the session. Talk therapy can be valuable and effective. Generally, it begins at the surface and can resemble an archaeological dig: therapist and client gradually explore deeply burried memories and the pain, hurt, and difficult emotions connected to them. Reaching those experiences can take time, and therapy may end before they are fully addressed.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) offeres a different approach. It is an evidence- based method that has been used for decades to support healing and recovery. ART is an experiential psychothereapy that uses guided imagery together with rapid eye movements. During the process, a person is invited to notice a memory, or what is sometiomes called a scene, as though watching a movie or television program. Difficult emotions may arise through physical sensations associated with anxiety, fear, sadness, or other responses. Time is taken to process those sensations and the eye-movement process may help the person notice them change, shift, or even resolve.

ART does not attempt to remove or alter the facts of a memory. We cannot change what happened, but we can work to change the pain and distress associated with the experience. Many people find ART to be transformative

and begin noticing changes in how they respond to difficult memories after the first session.