Healing From Trauma: How Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) & EMDR Can Help

Trauma can impact every aspect of life—from how you feel in your body to how you think about the world around you. For many people, experiences such as car accidents, abuse, loss, or violence create emotional wounds that traditional talk therapy alone may not fully resolve.

That’s where Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can make a powerful difference.

At A Helping Hand Counseling Center, we offer both ART and EMDR as part of our trauma therapy services—helping clients move beyond the pain of the past to live more fully in the present.

What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?

ART is a specialized form of trauma therapy that uses guided eye movements and visualization techniques to help you “reprogram” how distressing memories are stored in the brain.

Key benefits of ART:

• Quick results—many clients see improvement in as few as 1–5 sessions
• You do not have to relive or retell your entire trauma story
• Helps resolve disturbing images, body sensations, and emotional responses tied to trauma
• Safe, gentle, and effective for adults, teens, and children

Common concerns ART can treat:

• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Childhood trauma
• Car accident trauma
• Abuse recovery
• Grief and complicated loss
• Anxiety linked to traumatic memories
• Phobias

What Is EMDR?

EMDR is another evidence-based therapy for trauma recovery. It uses bilateral stimulation—typically guided eye movements—to help process stuck traumatic memories.

With EMDR, the brain can finally “digest” and integrate the traumatic experience so that it no longer feels as raw or triggering.

EMDR can help with:

• PTSD
• Complex trauma
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Distressing memories
• Low self-esteem linked to past experiences
• Performance anxiety

How Do ART and EMDR Work?

Both ART and EMDR harness the brain’s natural ability to heal.

When we experience trauma, the brain’s normal processing system gets disrupted—leaving painful memories “stuck” in the nervous system.

ART and EMDR allow the brain to resume this natural processing:

• The memory itself doesn’t disappear, but it loses its emotional charge.
• Disturbing images, sensations, and body responses are neutralized.
• Clients report feeling relief, clarity, and empowerment after processing key memories.

What Are Sessions Like?

At A Helping Hand Counseling Center, your trauma therapist will create a safe, supportive space.

A typical ART or EMDR session may include:

1. A gentle conversation about the issue you’d like to work on
2. Guided eye movements or visualization exercises
3. Periodic check-ins to help you notice shifts and progress
4. Support for grounding and emotional regulation throughout

You remain in control of the process the entire time.

Many clients feel relief even after the first session. Ongoing work may focus on deeper layers of healing and resilience building.

Is It Right for Me?

If you are struggling with:

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories
• Nightmares
• Emotional numbness or hypervigilance
• Anxiety, panic, or fear
• Feeling stuck in the past

…then ART or EMDR may be an excellent fit.

These therapies can also be used alongside other services, such as:

• Individual Therapy
• Couples Counseling
• Family Counseling
• Psychiatric Support

Why Choose A Helping Hand for Trauma Therapy?

At A Helping Hand Counseling Center, we are passionate about helping clients heal—not just cope.

Our licensed trauma therapists are specially trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and EMDR, offering trauma-informed, compassionate care.

We provide:

• In-person trauma therapy in St. Cloud and surrounding areas
• Telehealth options for flexibility and convenience
• Bilingual therapists available
• A welcoming, nonjudgmental space for healing

Take the First Step Toward Healing

You don’t have to keep carrying the weight of the past.
Healing is possible—and it starts here.

📞 Call A Helping Hand Counseling Center at (407) 450-5985
📍 Or request an appointment online today.

Together, we’ll create a path forward.