Dear Counsellor
My friend told me about this new therapy called ART. I am wondering if this may help me? I have had trauma in the past which has led to my anxiety being, frankly, out of control and my mood…well…pretty low most days☹. If I am being honest, although I try to hide it, most days are really tough. I have tried a few therapists, and although I have learned some strategies, I just can’t shake this feeling…I feel really stuck. My emotions can get pretty intense and it is overwhelming. I really want to let go of the past and move forward with my life. Could this really help me?
-Frustrated with Being Stuck!
Dear Frustrated with Being Stuck,
Being in emotional pain and distress is overwhelming and taxing on the body, mind and spirit. It holds us back and can be debilitating. Being stuck impacts all facets of our life. But, there is hope….
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) provides a non-invasive relief to the emotional pain and distressing memories/images that we carry by using rapid eye movements. ARTherapy® reprograms the brain by creating new neuropathways at a rapid rate, in comparison to some other psychotherapy modalities. This evidence-based therapy remarkably provides significant improvement in one to five sessions. In ARTherapy® we keep the facts/information about distressful memories but lose the emotional pain that was once attached.
This therapy provides a new hope for a “lighter and happier future”. Clients have reported to lost the negative physical sensations and memories that have held them back for years.
ARTherapy® can be used for, but not limited to, the following:
- Abandonment and Attachment issues
- Addiction/substance abuse
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief and Loss
- Learning Disabilities: Dyslexia, ADHD, Autism
- Pain management
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Phobias
- Panic attacks
- Negative self-talk
- Relationship issues
- Self-esteem (ex. poor body image)
- Self-abandonment
- Trauma
Some people are curious about the eye movements used in ART. The eye movement used are relaxing and resemble the eye movement of that in REM sleep. This is where we are able to process memory and emotion and well as conduct Voluntary Image Replacement (erase uncomfortable images with more pleasant images). The eye movements also activate the parasympathetic system, allowing the body and brain to move out of the stress response (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) to a deactivated and relaxed state.
If you’re interested in accessing ART, start by scheduling a 60-minute session with an ART trained clinician. At Aspire Too, we have two trained ART clinicians – myself and Kim Steiger de Moissac. I have Advanced and Enhanced training for in ART. During your first appointment, I will conduct an assessment with you and gather information regarding your current situation and hopes for our work together. We will then determine a treatment plan for ART.
I have witnessed remarkable transformation in clients who have accessed this treatment and am so pleased to be offering this modality within our community. To book an appointment, please phone the office at (306) 382-2391 or use our convenient online scheduling system found on our website aspiretoo.ca.
Sincerely,
Jill Jenkins, RSW
Clinical Counsellor / Registered Social Worker