We talk about grief and loss a lot here. Whether it’s for group support during the holidays, implications of grief, losing a pet, or even a significant life transition, we’re firm believers that grief just sucks. We’re also firm believers, as you probably guessed, that seeking support is a must for those struggling with grief. One of our preferred options is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a therapeutic approach to help individuals navigate grief and begin to feel like themselves again. We know that the pain grief causes may always remain in some small part. That’s part of loving someone and being human. But ART can help to take away the sting and other symptoms that go along with grief, like depression and hopelessness. Let’s talk about how ART can offer relief and comfort to those struggling with grief and loss.
What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an innovative form of psychotherapy that integrates elements of established therapeutic approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness techniques. ART aims to swiftly reprocess distressing memories and emotions, leading to rapid and lasting relief. Read more here about how ART differs from EMDR.
How Can ART Help with Grief and Loss?
Processing Traumatic Memories
Grief often encompasses not just sadness, but also traumatic memories associated with the loss. ART provides a structured framework for processing these memories, allowing individuals to confront and reframe their experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
Alleviating Overwhelming Emotions
The emotional pain of grief can be overwhelming, leading to symptoms like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ART employs techniques such as rapid eye movements to desensitize emotional triggers and promote emotional regulation, thereby reducing distressing symptoms. The analogy that we like to use is that ART is like when you leave to go to work in the morning with a messy house, and when you come home, someone has cleaned your house. The stuff that made the mess is still there, it’s just been put away, so you don’t have to see it anymore and it doesn’t cause you negative emotions.
Facilitating Adaptive Coping
Coping with grief involves adapting to a new reality while honoring the memories of what has been lost. Sure, there are the five stages of grief, seven, depending on who you ask. Acceptance is one of them. But, as these stages aren’t linear, the acceptance stage can come at any time. ART equips individuals with coping skills and cognitive strategies to navigate the complexities of grief, fostering resilience and acceptance in the face of adversity. There will come a time in everyone’s grief journey when the memory of your lost loved one brings you smiles more than tears. That’s the goal.
Fostering a Sense of Purpose
A question that’s asked often, many times throughout each stage of grief, is “Why”? Whether the loss came as a surprise or was a long time coming, we’re still hardwired as humans to ask why. This curiosity, on the positive side, is a built-in feature of evolution that taught man to create tools, forage for better types of food, and discover fire. On the negative side, it can leave us feeling lost and searching for answers. The part of the brain that becomes active when we ask why is the anterior insula and the anterior cingulate cortex. This is the part of the brain that controls executive function, allowing us a feeling of being awarded when curiosity has been satisfied and a feeling of conflict and unresolve when left unanswered. Finding meaning during grief is a central aspect of the healing process. Through ART, individuals are guided to explore the significance of their loss within the broader context of their lives, fostering a sense of purpose and integration even amidst profound sorrow.
Empowering Personal Transformation
Although it may not feel like it in the beginning, grief has the potential to catalyze personal growth and transformation. ART empowers us to reclaim agency over our narratives, allowing us to reinterpret our experiences, cultivate self-compassion, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and renewal. Getting to know parts of ourselves that we wouldn’t have otherwise known without the journey of grief is not always the most pleasant path to self-discovery, but ART helps make this process more productive and positive than it can be alone.
MUV Counseling Offers Accelerated Resolution Therapy Online and in Scottsdale
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) offers hope for those grappling with the profound complexities of grief and loss. By providing a rapid and effective pathway toward healing, ART enables individuals to process their pain, reclaim their resilience, and embark on a journey of transformation. If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, consider reaching out to ask about the potential of ART as a therapeutic modality toward healing.
