What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and how does it work?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a trauma treatment that uses rapid eye movement to help the brain reprocess distressing memories and the physical and emotional responses attached to them. Unlike traditional talk therapy, ART typically produces results in one to five sessions. It does not require extensive retelling of traumatic experiences, and it targets trauma stored in the body — not just conscious memory.

What is the difference between ART and EMDR?

Both ART and EMDR use eye movement as part of trauma processing, but ART is generally more structured and directive, which is why it tends to work faster. EMDR follows a more open-ended protocol that can take many more sessions to complete. ART also incorporates specific imagery rescripting techniques that allow the patient to change how a memory is stored — not just how it feels.

Can childhood trauma cause pelvic pain or sexual dysfunction?

Yes. Unresolved trauma — including childhood trauma and medical trauma — can show up years or decades later as chronic pelvic pain, difficulty with intimacy, loss of sexual desire, or an inability to tolerate touch. Trauma is stored in the nervous system as body sensations and automatic responses, not just as memories, which is why it can produce physical symptoms long after the original experience.

What is the difference between responsive desire and spontaneous desire?

Spontaneous desire arises on its own, without external cues — it is what most people picture when they think about libido. Responsive desire is arousal that emerges in response to stimulation or context. In long-term relationships, responsive desire is actually the more common pattern, particularly for women. Many people mistakenly believe something is wrong when spontaneous desire fades, when in fact responsive desire is entirely normal and workable.

Who should not do Accelerated Resolution Therapy?

ART may not be appropriate for everyone. People with certain dissociative conditions, active psychosis, or specific neurological conditions may need a different approach. A certified ART therapist will conduct an intake assessment to determine whether ART is appropriate before beginning treatment. Anyone interested in ART should seek a therapist specifically trained and certified in the method.

How does grieving spontaneous desire help rebuild intimacy?

In long-term relationships, the loss of early spontaneous passion is normal — but many couples experience it as a sign that something is broken. Grieving that loss, rather than chasing it, allows partners to stop measuring current intimacy against an earlier phase that was never sustainable. From that point, rebuilding around responsive desire and intentional connection becomes possible.

Trauma, Lost Desire, and ART: A Breakthrough Therapy with Brooke Bralove

Name: Trauma, Lost Desire, and ART: A Breakthrough Therapy with Brooke Bralove
Uploaded: 2026-05-22
Channel: Sameena Rahman, MD, FACOG, IF, MSCP
Description: Brooke Bralove joins Dr. Rahman on how ART heals trauma in 1–5 sessions — and why it matters for pelvic pain, lost desire, and rebuilding intimacy.

May 22

Written By Sameena Rahman, MD, FACOG, IF, MSCP

Trauma doesn't always look like what you'd expect. Sometimes it shows up as chronic pelvic pain, lost desire, or the inability to tolerate intimacy. In this episode, I talk with Brooke Bralove, a psychotherapist and sex therapist who specializes in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). It's a treatment that uses rapid eye movement to heal trauma in 1-5 sessions instead of years. Brooke explains what happens in an ART session, shares patient stories including a woman who had six years of pelvic pain traced back to childhood, and discusses how trauma gets stored in the body. We also talk about desire in long-term relationships and why grieving the loss of spontaneous desire is an important step before you can rebuild intimacy.

What You'll Learn:

What Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is and how it works to heal trauma in 1-5 sessions.
How childhood trauma and medical trauma show up decades later as pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction.
The difference between ART and EMDR, and why ART works faster.
Why responsive desire matters more than spontaneous desire in long-term relationships.
How to grieve the loss of spontaneous passion before rebuilding intimacy.
Where to find certified ART therapists and who should not do ART.

Every episode of Gyno Girl Presents is a conversation I wish more women could have with their doctors — without the 10-minute clock running. Subscribe wherever you listen, and if this episode helped you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it.

TraumaAccelerated Resolution TherapySexual DesireWomen's Mental HealthPelvic PainLow LibidoResponsive DesireSex TherapyTrauma RecoveryIntimacyWomen's Sexual HealthART vs EMDR

Sameena Rahman, MD, FACOG, IF, MSCP

Dr. Sameena Rahman is a board-certified OB/GYN and founder of The GSM Collective in Chicago. She specializes in sexual medicine, menopause care, and complex gynecology, offering personalized, concierge-level care through an integrative lens.

Trauma, Lost Desire, and ART: A Breakthrough Therapy with Brooke Bralove

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Trauma, Lost Desire, and ART: A Breakthrough Therapy with Brooke Bralove

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