Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) in Calgary
We know that trauma can stay with you long after the event is over.
But you don't have to keep reliving what happened.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy or "ART" for short, is a focused trauma therapy that can help reduce the emotional intensity of distressing memories — without requiring you to repeatedly talk through every detail.
Maybe you feel anxious, triggered, on edge, disconnected, or stuck in memories you wish you could leave behind. Maybe you understand what happened, but your body and emotions still react as though you're back there.
Ready to feel less stuck?
Virtual therapy available across Alberta.
Book a free consult to learn more about accelerated resolution therapy and how it might be able to help you.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) in Calgary
What if you could remember without feeling like you're back there?
Healing doesn't necessarily mean forgetting what happened.
It can mean being able to remember without the same fear, shame, panic, anger, or physical reaction taking over.
ART uses guided eye movements, visualization, and imagery to help you process distressing memories and experiences differently.
You remain in control throughout the process. Your therapist guides you through the work at a pace that feels manageable for you.
The goal isn't to erase the memory. It's to change the way the memory affects you now.
How can Accelerated Resolution Therapy help?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy may help when something from the past continues to affect your present.
You may be experiencing:
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Intrusive or distressing memories
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Anxiety or panic
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Feeling constantly on edge or unsafe
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Strong reactions to specific triggers
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Nightmares or sleep disruption
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Avoidance of people, places, or situations
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Shame, guilt, or self-blame
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Emotional numbness or disconnection
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Relationship difficulties following a traumatic experience
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A feeling that you are “stuck” in something that happened
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Symptoms associated with trauma or PTSD
ART can be used with a range of experiences, including childhood trauma, abuse, accidents, medical experiences, relationship trauma, grief and loss, workplace trauma, and other distressing events.
You don't need to have a formal PTSD diagnosis to explore whether ART could be helpful.
Meet the Therapist Who'll Be In the Room With You
Meghan Hole, Registered Psychologist (Alberta)
Meghan has over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families, including school counselling with Rocky View Schools focused on crisis response and suicide prevention. She's a DBT-adherent clinician with training in trauma, play therapy, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). In family sessions, she focuses on safety planning, communication repair, and helping parents carry therapeutic strategies home.
What to Expect
Your therapist will guide you through a structured process that may include:
1. Identify
You identify a memory, experience, feeling, or situation you'd like to work on.
2. Notice
You explore how the experience is showing up emotionally and physically.
3. Process
Using guided eye movements and visualization, your therapist helps you work through the distress associated with the memory.
4. Reframe
You work toward a more adaptive, empowering way of experiencing the memory.
5. Move forward
The goal is to leave the memory in the past while feeling more present and in control today.
You may still remember what happened. It just doesn't have to feel the same.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy for trauma and PTSD
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When we experience something overwhelming, the nervous system can continue responding to reminders of the event long after we're physically safe.
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That's why you can know you're safe but still feel unsafe
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Trauma-focused therapy can help create space between what happened then and what is happening now.
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ART may help reduce the emotional intensity associated with traumatic memories and make it easier to respond to the present rather than automatically reacting to the past.
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If you're experiencing symptoms of PTSD, trauma, or a distressing experience that continues to affect your daily life, we can help you explore whether ART is appropriate for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accelerated Resolution Therapy
How quickly does ART work?
ART is often a relatively focused approach, and some people experience meaningful changes within a small number of sessions, usually 5-8 sessions.
Your needs may depend on:
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What you'd like to work through
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Whether you're dealing with one experience or multiple experiences
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How long you've been experiencing symptoms
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Your current circumstances and support system
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Whether ART is being used on its own or alongside other therapy
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
Not necessarily. ART can allow you to work with a distressing memory without repeatedly describing every detail of what happened. Your therapist will help determine what information is clinically useful while respecting your boundaries.
Is ART only for PTSD?
No. ART may be helpful for trauma-related concerns as well as anxiety, phobias, grief, distressing memories, and other experiences. A consultation can help determine whether it is appropriate for you.
Does ART erase traumatic memories?
No. The goal isn't to erase the memory. Instead, ART aims to reduce the emotional intensity and distress associated with it.
How many ART sessions will I need?
It varies. Some people experience meaningful changes within a relatively small number of sessions, while others may benefit from longer-term therapy, particularly when there are multiple or complex experiences to address.
Can ART be done virtually?
Virtual ART may be appropriate for some clients. Your therapist can discuss whether online treatment is suitable for you during your consultation.
Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy the same as art therapy?
No. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a trauma-focused psychotherapy that incorporates guided eye movements and visualization. It is different from art therapy, which uses creative expression and artistic activities as part of psychotherapy.
ART or EMDR — which is better?
Neither is universally “better.” They are different approaches, and the best fit depends on your goals, experiences, preferences, and clinical needs. Your therapist can help you decide which approach to explore.