Non-profit ART International teaches new mental health therapy

A nonprofit organization called ART International has made its way to Austin. The group has dedicated its work to teaching mental health professionals a new form of therapy called accelerated resolution therapy.

“Accelerated resolution therapy is a very, very powerful therapy,” said Julia Clowney. Clowney is a trainer for ART International and has been teaching
Austin mental health professionals the new therapy for the past three days.

“I would say that accelerated resolution therapy is one of the most powerful tools that I have ever used as a therapist to allow change
and transformation in my clients,” said Clowney.

Clowney says powerful form of psychotherapy can help those suffering mental health conditions like PTSD or anxiety, and its very simple to learn. “The accelerated resolution therapy uses bilateral stimulation with the therapists moving their hand back and forth to guide the client's eyes. The bilateral stimulation allows the body to relax as it sees images from traumatic events or other situations, allowing the images and sensations that are associated with traumatic events to be
decreased or eliminated,” said Clowney.

The goal is for trainers like Clowney to teach therapists this form of therapy so they can, in turn, offer the technique to those who need it the most.

“The ultimate goal is for these therapists to bring this therapy to their clients and allow them to feel, you know, really deep resolution for some potentially long-standing issues that they've been having,” she said.

ART International plans to have another workshop in Austin in the future.

Find out more about the therapy here.