Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): An Emerging Tool in Treating Trauma and Eating Disorders

Course Description:

Accelerated Resolution Therapy is an evidenced–based practice that uses eye movements to change the way negative images and memories are stored in the brain. ART is easy to learn and use and has gained considerable attention for its ability to treat the behavioral health symptoms associated with trauma. This presentation will review the core tenants of ART, inclusive of ART development, current research, and training. We will review a pilot training program in ART that was implementedfor an eating disorder population in a treatment setting. This pilot program focused on using ART to address specific traumatic memories for patients with an eating disorder across three different levels of care. Results from pre and post–testing for 28 patients with an eating disorder who were treated with ART will be presented along with select specific cases.

Learning Objectives:

1. To Identify the core tenants of Accelerated Response Therapy along with research which supports its’ use as an evidenced–based practice for the treatment of trauma
2. To understand the ART training and implementation experience across an eating disorder treatment continuum (inclusive of Inpatient, Residential, and Clinic–based levels of care) and to review the results of a pilot study
3. To discuss case–specific cases that support the use of ART as a tool in the treatment of individuals with an eating disorder and a co–occurring trauma.