First off, clients are ALWAYS in control of their sessions. The therapist helps guide the client through their visuals the painful event and often traumatic event, using calming eye movements and Voluntary Image Replacement to change the way memories are stored in the brain. Essentially, you can think of each memory being a movie. What art does, is takes the movie, uses eye movements and mindfulness to allow the client to turn the movie into a book. The client gets to pick a new cover for the book, and re-shelve it. It does not eliminate the memory but changes the in a way that it is less intrusive for the client.

While Dr. Kat is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), this is another effective, evidenced based eye movement therapy that was developed in the 1980’s. There is some overlap, and at times Dr. Kat integrates tenets of this approach. EMDR focuses on content of the memories, uses free association, is more self directed by the client, and uses a variable number of eye movements.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) was developed in 2008 by Laney Rosenzweig, and also uses eye movements. ART differs from EMDR in that it focuses more on the negative images that impact both the physical and emotional sensations within the body. ART is a procedural and directive therapy, in other words the client is guided through their memories in a structured way by the therapist. ART uses and builds upon aspects of other evidenced based therapies including EMDR, CBT, Gestalt, Psychodynamic and mindfulness, yet is unique unto itself.