EMDR vs ART: How These Powerful Trauma Therapies Help You Heal Faster in Seattle
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a licensed professional counselor with 15 years of experience in the field. I earned my B.S. in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling from Colorado State University and am the proud owner of Path to Growth Therapy and Trabelsi Coaching & Consulting.
I provide therapy for individuals and couples across Colorado and Washington, and mindset coaching and consulting services to clients worldwide. My specialties include grief, trauma, anxiety, life transitions, and relationship challenges. With a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and action-oriented approach, I help clients move beyond challenges and step into lasting healing and growth.
Meet Sheila
October 16, 2025
Table of Contents
- What Is EMDR Therapy?
- How EMDR Works: The Science Behind Bilateral Stimulation
- What Is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
- How ART Differs from EMDR
- Benefits of ART Compared to EMDR
- Similarities Between EMDR and ART
- What Issues Do EMDR and ART Help Treat?
- How to Know Which Therapy Is Right for You
- EMDR and ART in Intensives and Longer Sessions
- Virtual EMDR and ART: How They Work Online
- Cost, Insurance, and Session Lengths Explained
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- About Sheila Trabelsi & Path to Growth Therapy
- Schedule a Session in Seattle
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a highly researched, evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It’s used worldwide to help individuals recover from trauma, anxiety, grief, and other distressing life experiences.
EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess “stuck” memories, those that never fully moved into long-term, adaptive storage after trauma. When something overwhelming happens, the brain can store it in fragments, leaving emotional “loops” that keep getting triggered in daily life.
Through EMDR, clients revisit these memories safely while engaging in bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements, tapping, or tones). This allows the brain to “re-file” the memory properly so it no longer causes distress when recalled.
How EMDR Works: The Science Behind Bilateral Stimulation
Bilateral stimulation activates both sides of the brain, mimicking what happens naturally during REM sleep, when we process and file away the day’s events.
When used in therapy, these alternating eye movements help clients reduce emotional intensity while maintaining awareness. The brain integrates the memory into a narrative, so it’s remembered but no longer relived.
Did you know?
EMDR’s effectiveness is supported by organizations like the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization for treating trauma and PTSD.
What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)?
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a newer, innovative approach that evolved and inspired from EMDR 17 years ago, incorporating eye movements, imagery, and creativity. Developed by Laney Rosenzweig, LMFT, ART uses similar bilateral stimulation but with a structured, shorter protocol, often resulting in faster, more positive outcomes.
In ART, clients don’t have to retell every detail of their trauma. Instead, they are guided to change the way the brain stores the distressing images by “rescripting” or replacing negative images with positive ones while engaging in eye movements.
This approach allows clients to leave a session feeling lighter, more positive, and emotionally complete, rather than raw or unfinished.
How ART Differs from EMDR
While ART and EMDR share roots and both use bilateral stimulation to process trauma, their protocols differ in key ways:
| Feature | EMDR | ART |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987 | Evolved from EMDR by Laney Rosenzweig |
| Session Structure | Multi-phase process over several sessions | Protocols are completed in a single, structured session |
| Client Role | Focused recall and repeated reprocessing | Uses creative visualization and imagery |
| Processing Time | Typically takes multiple sessions to fully resolve a memory | Can resolve one memory or single event per session |
| Emotional Containment | Clients may leave with partial processing and need to “contain” emotions | Full resolution typically achieved during the session |
| Best Fit | Complex, layered trauma with multiple past events | Single-event trauma, anxiety, phobias, grief, or self-limiting beliefs |
Key Insight:
Because ART guides clients to a positive emotional resolution in-session, it’s often experienced as gentler, faster, and more empowering — especially for clients who want to feel better the same day.
Benefits of ART Compared to EMDR
- Faster results: Many clients notice relief in one to three ART sessions.
- Emotionally gentle: ART doesn’t require clients to verbalize painful details.
- Creative empowerment: Clients use imagination to reframe traumatic imagery into positive outcomes.
- Completed protocol: Clients leave sessions feeling calm and resolved, not emotionally “open.”
- Flexible structure: ART doesn’t require the same emotional stabilization prerequisites as EMDR, making it accessible to more clients.
Similarities Between EMDR and ART
Both EMDR and ART:
- Use eye movements (bilateral stimulation) to reprocess distressing experiences.
- Target similiar issues like trauma, anxiety, grief, and performance-related blocks.
- Are evidence-informed and neuroscience-based.
- Empower the brain’s natural healing process.
ART builds on EMDR’s strong scientific foundation while simplifying and accelerating its techniques.
What Issues do EMDR and ART help treat?
These therapies help process a wide range of issues, including:
- PTSD and trauma (single or complex)
- Anxiety and panic
- Depression and self-esteem issues
- Grief and loss
- Phobias and fears
- OCD, addiction, and intrusive thoughts
- Relationship and attachment trauma
- Medical or performance-related stress
Example:
A car accident survivor might use ART to replace the flashback imagery of the crash with a calm, safe visual — reducing fear and body tension. Someone with complex trauma might use EMDR to systematically process multiple events over time for lasting change.
How to Know Which Therapy is Right for You
Choosing between ART and EMDR depends on your goals, readiness, and the type of trauma you’re working through.
- ART may be a better fit if you want faster symptom relief, prefer not to verbalize details, or have specific events or phobias to target.
- EMDR may be ideal for multi-layered or long-term trauma, or if you’re working on root-cause themes like early attachment wounds.
As a therapist trained in both EMDR and ART, I help clients decide which path will best support their healing goals. Sometimes, I even combine elements of both and often too, especially with informed IFS, or Internal Family Systems.
EMDR and ART in Intensives and Longer Sessions
Both EMDR and ART work beautifully in longer therapy sessions or intensive formats.
Because these modalities can be emotionally rich, extended sessions allow time to check in, process, and integrate before closing. Some clients might want to be able to focus on other aspects in their therapy as well so longer sessions allow for this time to process using these modalities, while also having time to address things that may have come up in your week. These longer sessions also are beneficial for clients who don’t have time for weekly session, which is preferrable for these modalities. Some clients may prefer to do 90mins twice a month, or even 2-3 hour sessions once a month to make the most progress. Consistent weekly sessions and/or longer sessions are both key for progress with these modalities.
At Path to Growth Therapy, I offer:
- 90-minute and 2-hour sessions for deeper processing
- EMDR and ART Intensives (3 and 4 hour sessions) for clients who want to do more focused work in fewer sessions
- Options for weekend or extended-day formats and destination intensives in beautiful Colorado are also options that fit busy work or travel schedules
Note: These extended formats are often considered out-of-network for insurance because they don’t fit the standard 50-minute model. However, many clients use superbills for partial reimbursement or choose self-pay for the flexibility and results.
Learn more about extended options on the EMDR and ART Therapy Page.
Virtual EMDR and ART: How They Work Online
Yes — both EMDR and ART can be done virtually with great success.
Using secure telehealth platforms, I guide clients through bilateral stimulation via:
- Visual cues or on-screen eye movements
- Self tapping or auditory tones
- Guided visualization
Clients report the same level of effectiveness online as in person, with the added comfort of working from home.
Cost, Insurance, and Session Lengths Explained
Insurance typically covers EMDR under standard therapy codes.
However, unless your provider alters the EMDR and ART processes or scripts to fit the structure of insurance, these modalities tend to take longer than typical talk therapy session. Because of this, some providers, wanting to keep to the fidelity, may choose to offer these modalities in 90min session. Extended sessions of 90minutes or more and intensive sessions, typically 3 hours or more, may fall outside of insurance reimbursement due to session length and structure.
- Standard Insurance based session: 45–60 minutes
- Extended, Preferred EMDR/ART session: 90–120 minutes
- Intensive format: 3 hours or more to multiple days
Each client’s pace depends on:
- The complexity of trauma
- Stability and coping skills
- Session frequency and length
A single-event trauma may resolve quickly in ART. Complex trauma or ongoing issues (like OCD, addiction, or chronic anxiety) may take more sessions — but both modalities are known to produce measurable results faster than talk therapy alone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can EMDR or ART be done virtually?
Yes. Both work very well via telehealth using visual, auditory, or tactile bilateral stimulation.
How many sessions does ART or EMDR take?
ART often produces relief within 1–3 sessions for single event, but could take several sessions for ongoing issues. EMDR may take several, depending on the number of memories or trauma layers being processed.
Does insurance cover EMDR or ART?
Insurance commonly covers EMDR and ART under standard session lengths. Extended sessions and intensives are not covered, despite the 53+min 90837 Insurance code. These insurance codes are not intended for extended sessions and your healing, well-being and therapists time is worth more than what insurance is willing to pay for a 53 minute session. So if you are wanting longer sessions to really dive in and get the most benefit out of these modalities, please don’t expect your therapist to extend sessions at the rate insurance is willing to pay for their time. Ask your therapist about superbills for possible reimbursement.
What makes EMDR and ART faster than talk therapy?
They work directly with how the brain stores trauma — helping to reprocess rather than rehash painful experiences.
Can I do EMDR or ART in extended or intensive formats?
Yes! Longer sessions allow you to complete more processing at once. Many clients prefer this for convenience and efficiency.
About Sheila Trabelsi and Path to Growth Therapy
At Path to Growth Therapy, I specialize in trauma recovery, anxiety, grief, and emotional wellness using EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and integrative mind-body approaches.
I also offer business and leadership coaching through Trabelsi Coaching and Consulting, helping entrepreneurs, therapists, and leaders thrive personally and professionally.
Offering virtual therapy in Seattle, Washington and across the state, I provide both in-person destination therapy intensives and online therapy across Colorado State. My work focuses on helping clients find empowerment, healing, and growth after difficult experiences.
Learn more about trauma-focused therapy options on the Therapy Services Page.
Schedule a Session in Seattle
If you’re ready to experience the healing power of EMDR or Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), I invite you to reach out today.
Together, we can help your mind and body let go of what’s been holding you back — and create space for relief, resilience, and growth.
👉 Schedule a consultation today to explore which approach is right for you.
